Articles by: Nathan Williams

My grandmother's sister, Auntie Peaches, was one of my favorite aunts. She was spirited and always had a great word of wisdom embedded in the simplest sayings. Plus, she always had candy, carried a pistol and cursed a lot. I absolutely loved her...

"No romance, without finance. 'Cause ain't nothing going on, but the rent!" If you're thirty-plus, you definitely remember the late Gwen Guthrie's 1986 anthem. You couldn't go anywhere without hearing that song on the radio. My memory of the song was from my mother's friend and co-worker, Cre. She was a "fly-girl" and it was clear you had to have a "j-o-b," if you wanted to be with her. Actually, that was a non-negotiable requirement for all of the women who were single while I was growing up. If you were dating a man, he at least better be able to help with some bills...

A few years ago, I was experiencing some prolonged depression. At the time, I didn't realize I was depressed, as depression was not a part of my vocabulary. While I was feeling down, I started searching for some answers — something to make me feel better. I hadn't been a student of the self-help school, but I found some very helpful concepts in the books I read...

I despise the grocery store, but one of the lessons I wish I had learned from my mother is how to grocery shop. In general, my mother is meticulous about everything. With grocery shopping, she takes it to the next level. Whether it's produce, meat or bread, she painstakingly selects the best quality for the best price. She has standards, and anything she buys must meet those standards...