Carter-Ly tells her story of a mother's rite of passage while single parenting seven children-attempting to keep a pot on the stove, and the rent paid each month. This memoir follows her as she marries, only to endure horrific abuse from the husband. The Game Plan demonstrates a faith in God and is a testimony to believing in the impossible. The Game Plan develops into a plot, a you deserve better design for seven innocent children. Joyce shares the lessons learned through many years of discovery, struggle, self actualization, and intense parenting, and it is an inspiration for any caregiver who seek to change a situation for the sake of the children.

The Game Plan

A Journey of Spiritual Enlightenment, Success, and Self ActualizationBy Joyce Carter-ly

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 Joyce Carter-ly
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4620-6707-7

Contents

INTRODUCTION.....................................viiACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................xiPreface..........................................xviiMother Love......................................1Early Memories...................................5A Lesson In Love.................................11Generational Curses..............................13I Am Not Supposed To Be Here.....................23Getting Past The Past............................27Dreams Deferred..................................31The Game Plan....................................37Change...........................................43Healing Moving Forward.........................47Home Sick........................................49The Recruited Mom................................51Plus One.........................................57Living My Dream..................................59Dumping Family Baggage...........................61Redemption.......................................69Reflections......................................73

Chapter One

Mother Love

The Game Plan: A Journey of Spiritual Enlightenment, Success, and Self Actualization: is not complete without a mention of the profound effect of mother love plays in the person I am. Mattie Amelia Huggins had a family, community and me as I see it. I smile whenever I write, think, or speak of this woman because she was a loving Mother, a happy wife, and church member. Mother Huggins `aura' comes to Joyce's mind, especially in those moments of uncertainties. Mattie, a quiet person by nature, embraced motherhood as an endearing career, and worked hard to nurture a strong family foundation. Moms' passion for being a Mother is always evident in her lifecycle because with every trial and tribulation she found a resolution. I had the opportunity of having an exclusive relationship with Mother my entire life and now this bond continues to embrace my soul. Mother and God together worked on my behalf to guide me through the worse times of my life and this grip of endearment that sustains me as I age.

My birthplace, 238 Madison Avenue, Troy, Ohio and Gradual & Mattie Huggins provided an abundance of lifetime lessons. The initial property was one room when originally purchased long before I arrived and Daddy, a master plumber added the additional rooms as the family expanded. There were eight Huggins children namely Cecile, David, Delores, Robert, George, Janice, James, Gloria, and me. David died as an infant. Mother loved her husband in a very silent manner. I knew this because the family household was calm as Mother gave each child the attention, affection, and adoration we needed. Mattie and Gradual both migrated from Memphis, Tennessee. Daddy is from a large family and Mom was an only child. She had a half brother but Mom was not close with him. I only remember Uncle Motey being at our house for funerals. My grandparents, Hattie and William Moton owned property near the home place and Grandma walked over every day for a visit. Mother hid her smoking from grandma and one day, Mom darn near swallowed a cigarette when Grandma showed up unexpectedly. When I laughed, I was banished from the house until grandma left. Mothers' best friend is my name sake, Catherine Bradford. When Aunt Catherine appeared, she always gave me my special hug then I had to skedaddle because kids are not allowed in the house when adults are talking. Aunt Catherine's' husband was the neighborhood podiatrist and I sometimes accompanied Mother to his office. Mother had a foot condition which I did not understand so Doc Bradford took care of her

Dr. and Mrs. Bradford had two children, Patricia & Wesley Junior, who became medical professionals later. Mrs. Bradford and Mattie Huggins were good friends, Aunt Catherine and I had a special relationship. She was a full figured woman with a skin condition and when she hugged me, I smelled baby power on her.

I do not remember Mother visiting other people; I think Mothers' love for her family, church, and home were enough for her. My parents believed that children should be respectful of adults, manner able, seen and not heard. The Huggins children could never call an adult by their first name; adult visitors are introduced as Mr., Mrs., Uncle or Aunty. Mattie Huggins preached daily the ideal of good manners with all her children. This is just the way it was in the Huggins family at 238 Madison Avenue.

Mattie and Gradual Huggins owned considerable property on Madison Avenue. On each side of the 238 residence and behind the main house was a smaller dwelling that was occupied by a rental tenant, Mr. Rochelle. Mother insisted her children stay in their own yard and everyday we had plenty of playmates. This included brothers Bob and Wade Ferguson who showed up every day with a sugar sandwich. Later "Bob" Ferguson became was an American football running back and member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He is considered by many to be the greatest fullback in the history of the Ohio State University Buckeyes.

Huggins' family celebrations became memorable events in my childhood because church members, neighbors, and passersby's filled the yard. Mother celebrated each child's birthday in a big way. There is always lots of fresh foods and Mr. Tunney' well known homemade wine for the adults. The grape arbors in the back yard grew big fat purple grapes for daddy's special Christmas wine but were tempting to snatch and taste. A Huggins holiday celebration always begins in Zion Baptist Church then at 238, in the basement or the yard. A Christmas tree covered with a gazillion bright lights and gifts galore or a barbeque pit covered with fresh meat was always the spot to gather. Holidays were extra special because it meant a daylong shopping trip to Dayton, Ohio to Rikes' department store and visits to Grandma Huggins house where a half dozen cousins lived. Daddy also makes the best popcorn with fresh corn kernels; you know the kind that explodes in hot oiled black iron skillet? Next, the popped corn is dumped in a large scrubbed dishpan, doused with heated butter, sprinkled with salt, stirred with his bare hands, and served to the anxious siblings sitting on the living room floor watching television. The smell of fresh popcorn was a big part of my childhood memories. Each summer Daddy had a large garden and my siblings and I had to pull weeds then pick vegetables to sale for spending money. Fresh mustard greens, tomatoes, green beans or corn on the cob from daddy's garden was part of dinner and a common summertime chore in the family. Sometimes my sisters and I could pick a bushel of mustard greens, cucumbers or prize tomatoes for sale or carry to the annual church picnic.

Early Memories

Mattie Williams and Gradual T. Huggins migrated from Memphis, Tennessee with their respective parents then later meet in Troy; marry after Mattie graduates from the Troy High School as the first African-American female. My Grandfather was a Baptist minister, Reverend Huggins when they settled in Troy, headed the Huggins clan. Mattie a light complexion attractive women with long black curly hair contracted poliomyelitis as a child before a vaccination was developed and one leg was shorter than the other one. Her childhood is vague but she tells me that the hue of my skin will make a difference in peoples' reaction to me. Gradual, called Tunney by most...