Machelle Williams
Bio
I have always found solace in the written word, and I love the marketplace of ideas. I wrote my first novel when I was nine years and old and have been searching for that muse ever since. I am the proud pet parent of 2 Boston Terriers.
Stories (6)
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Sweet Nostalgia
Sweet Nostalgia When my sister and I were little girls playing dress-up and make-believe in the basement of our suburban home in Commerce City, Colorado, the outfit almost always included a white towel that we draped over our heads to pretend we had long blond hair. You see, in 1970, Goldie Hawn, Raquel Welch, and Morgan Fairchild frequently graced the television screen and the covers of the fashion magazines.
By Machelle Williams5 years ago in Humans
Dream Date
Zandy paused a moment before entering the lobby. She squeezed her eyes shut and fought back her fight or flight instincts, which were definitely leaning toward flight. "Deep breaths, deep, deep breaths," she told herself as she took a step forward to descend the small staircase leading to the lobby. To her right, she saw men and women dressed in suits and shiny shoes, that were likely fresh hours before but were now wilting under the press of business travel. Shifting from foot to foot,to ease their aching feet they were lined up to check into the hotel. To her left, she could see the beginning of happy hour brewing in the lobby bar area. Men and women eager to let alcohol take away the monotony of the day. They were leaning in to close to one another, and touching in provocative, but not yet inappropriate ways. Taking in the scene, Zandy wasn't sure why she told "Mr. too good to be true" she would meet him there. Initially, it seemed like a nice public place for a casual introduction. If things went well, they might move to one of the hotel's restaurants for dinner. If things went really well…
By Machelle Williams5 years ago in Humans
Dear New Year
In my early thirties, amid a successful stint in corporate America, I set my sights on retirement. Don't misunderstand. I was doing well, whatever that means. I was steadily progressing up the corporate ladder with increasing responsibilities, promotions, honors accolades; however, you describe "doing well," I was achieving it. But for me, success equaled misery. Wait. What? Yes, you read that correctly. Misery. I was miserable, frustrated, angry, disappointed, fatigued, and disillusioned. I knew without a shadow of a doubt. I was not going to remain in that environment until I was sixty-five plus years old. And to be clear, it wasn't the job; it was the environment. It was an endless competition for resources, navigating relationships with toxic people. Fighting the racism of low expectations and shock when you achieved something. ( You are SO articulate!) Throw in some patriarchy and misogyny, and it was a recipe for endless days of trying not to drive off of a cliff.
By Machelle Williams5 years ago in Humans
One more day in the sun
Birthdays were never my thing. As a child, it was right up there with Christmas in terms of the juice not being worth the squeeze. The day just never measured up to my expectations. I was an April baby in a sea of December babies. My Sister was born on December 6, my father, on December 14, my mother, on December 23. The entire month of December was always one long hand clap and balloon festival after another. It all culminated, of course, with the birthday celebration of all celebrations...the birth of Jesus. I was always exhausted by the time the New Year rolled around, and it seemed as if my family felt the same way. When it was time for my birthday, there were no thoughtful gifts, no big celebrations, or energy. It didn't help that we were living in Chicago, a place that is known to skip Spring altogether. As Prince once famously sang, "Sometimes it snows in April." In Chicago, that happened a lot. There were typically no festive lights to commemorate my birthday, just gray, dreary sky.
By Machelle Williams6 years ago in Wander
No More Drama
She emerged from the shadows onto the stage dressed in a gold lame pantsuit and snakeskin boots. The familiar soap opera dirge famous for being the theme song of the Young and the Restless began to play, and we all knew what was about to happen. Mary J. Blige was performing on the Grammy stage. I was a little apprehensive because No More Drama was one of my favorite songs that year, but in my experience, singers like Mary J tended to hold back in the glare of television lights, and I desperately wanted her to SANG that song!
By Machelle Williams6 years ago in Beat
