Resilience of a Black Woman

By Scott V. L. Mac

In this book, Scott V.L. Mac wants her readers to know that even though situations in life get hard, it is not the end of the road. She strives for brighter days even more than before, with her wanting more out of life. Wanting to leave a legacy behind for her family. Here she is introducing her sweat and tears Resilience of a Black Woman

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9781984585950

Scott V. L. Mac

Scott V.L Mac is more than a robust minded individual; she is driven by honesty, resiliency, and passion. What is more, Scott V.L Mac's life experiences have taught her how to be wise, cautious, and understanding. She reminds herself of her parents. Hard worker and determined in which she gets from her Farther. The loving and passion side of her she gets from her mother. In this book, Scott V.L. Mac wants her readers to know that even though situations in life get hard, it is not the end of the road. She strives for brighter days even more than before, with her wanting more out of life. Wanting to leave a legacy behind for her family. Here she is introducing her sweat and tears Resilience of a Black Woman

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Copyright © 2020 by Scott V. L. Mac.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Rev. date: 06/20/2020

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CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

A NEW BEGINNING

CONTROL

HONEY

TUNA

NO ROOM FOR AN IGNORANT IMMIGRANT

IRAQ

MEXICO AND SURGERY

CLOSURE OF AL TAQADDUM

CAMP PARKER

INDIANS AND UGANDANS IN IRAQ

CONCLUSION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

NO ONE WALKS alone on the journey of life. God allowed me to see his beautiful creation. Without him there is no life. I would like to thank Him for giving me the will and the strength to continue my journey in life. How do I begin to thank those who have joined me, walked beside me, helped me along the way, and who continuously urged me to write a book and put my thoughts on paper? Over the years, they are the people whom I have met, worked with, shared my insights, and the secrets to my positive approach to life; and all that life throws at us.

So at last, here it is. Perhaps this book and its pages will be seen as thanks to the ones who have helped make my life what is today. Much of what I have learned over the years came as the result of being a single mother to two wonderful and delightful children, Alexis and Keith, who in their own way inspired me and contributed a tremendous amount to the content of this book. A little bit of each of them will be found here weaving in and out of the pages—thanks kids! I cannot forget my brother, sisters, nieces and nephews. Thank you for your support and understanding of what I had to do. I also need to thank some people who changed me completely; and they were Deborah Walker, Jacqueline Davis Tootle, and Jose Curet. They taught me humility and how to value the lives, thoughts and expressions of others, and how to care for and understand the needs of others.

Hester, I just want to thank you so much. If you had not entered my life, I do not know where I would be. As you said, Get off your butt and do something with your life. Momma and dad are not going to be here forever.

I also need to thank my international Indian family to whom I now dedicate the best four years of my life of working side by side with the most amazing, kind, polite, humble, and God-fearing men. It is through their teachings, encouragement, and support that I have gained and grown so much during those four years. Through this book and my travels I will continue to spread their message of support to others who wish to develop as human beings. I found out first hand that our Marines are tougher and have much more discipline, pride, and higher standards when it comes to combat. It is strange to think that I have been working and traveling around the world and that this is my first book. The people who encouraged me to want to complete this work were Xlibris and my editor, Jeanne Ainslie.

Xlibris is an amazing organization comprised of talented individuals; all of whom are dedicated to sharing their knowledge with others so that they too might go on to become successful in their lives. They shared their knowledge, ideas, and numerous tips all of which culminated in the completion of this book. Thanks guys. Visit them at Xlibris.com. My final thanks go out to Calvin Davis. The one and only who put joy back into my life when I thought nothing was possible.

INTRODUCTION

IT HAS BEEN a blast getting to know people from all over the world. Being in Iraq and seeing different people and cultures, such as eating food not made by Americans, were the most rewarding experiences. Getting to know one-on-one how the military defends their country, their people, and how they react in combat. Every last one of us from Al Taqaddum (TQ) really saw the Marines in action. If you do not know much about Iraq, please take advantage of knowing and reading about this country and its’ surrounding cities. There are many references to Iraq in the Bible.

My book is about life, obstacles, sacrificing, family values and my journeys to Russia, Iraq, Mexico, Dubai, Al Taqaddum, Al Asad, and Baghdad. The people whom I came in contact with were from Bosnia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Prishtina, Turkey, Iraq, Nepal, Andhra Pradesh, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uganda, and Americans from all over the US and Panama, the Marines, Army, and the Royal Air Force. It is about heartache, pain, and accomplishments, being a single mother with single mother issues, losing your loved ones, and living in an abusive marriage. This book is also about what my life was like before I left for Iraq.

A NEW BEGINNING

THE LIFE OF LATRELL AS it began. Latrell, or Trell - whom her auntie used to call Pepper was a young adult and ready to leave the nest. She was in love at the age of thirteen with that light skinned brother, Vance, for one hot month before he went off to school. When he came back home the time was right. She was seventeen and ready to date a nice young man. She was living the adult life, in high school, having a family, being young, and in love.

She fell for everything about Vance. His light skin, light brown eyes; everything about that man was light. After getting married and living with his mother, Trell began to think his brother did not get used to Vance being married. He would always knock on their bedroom door four or five times a night for no reason. Finally, they had a talk with him to let him know that he could not keep doing that. By living with her mother in law, the only thing she required from them was that they buy their own personal things. They lived with her for about a year and a half.

After their son was born, Vance started doing odd jobs here and there, but it became more difficult trying to raise their son. She decided to look for a job. Her father stopped by the house to tell Vance to come down to the shoremens’ hall the next day. Morning came and that evening Vance came home with his National Shoremen’s Association (NSA) union card. They were so happy. Her father wanted the same for them as he had and not to have to struggle so much in life. After a while, things started getting really tight, so Vance slowed down on going there and then he eventually stopped.

No one said it would ever be easy, but being young and just starting out with a family, they were still learning in life. Trell did not know how her mother dealt with this. She could remember there were times when her father had to take odd jobs just to feed his family. Vance was not as determined as her father. There was not any money coming in, and they could not tell their child that he had to go without eating for a few days.

Vance needed her support as well, so it was time for her to go out there and find a job. She found one at a fast food place—her first job ever. Having a job, going to school, and having a family meant only one thing; welcome to the real adult world. Times were really hard for Trell and Vance. Out of all those years together, she enjoyed being married to him, but their lifestyle could have been much better. Living in the projects was fine for a small family who were just getting started.

After they moved there, she became a stay-at-home mom because by that time they had another child, Baby Girl. Junior was planned, but Baby Girl was a total surprise. Vance was employed with the city; which meant more money. Yes with Vance and their two kids together reflected that they now had a little family. They still had a long way to go just starting out. What is that old saying, You have to crawl before you walk? Boy, did they do a lot of crawling. Being married so young nowadays, is not a reflection of what the grandmamma and granddaddy use to have together back in the day; but that generation no longer exists.

Being with Vance and having their little family, not knowing too much on how to be married at a young age, Trell winged most of it. For thirteen years, there were good times and then there were some bad ones, but they made it through all those years not knowing what either of them was doing. She came from a family where her father took care of his responsibilities, but living as they were, was very hard. Everything was hard. Vance was not like any ordinary man. He was very easy to persuade and most people saw that.

Years later she started getting sick for no reason. She would get unexplainable headaches. When she went to the doctor, they could not find out what was wrong. The headaches continued to get worse. The doctor put her on medication. The first one her doctor prescribed was too expensive, so she gave Trell a medication that she could afford. The headaches were a little better, but with not working and no insurance, she could not continue taking the medication. Trell figured Vance thought his family did not need any health insurance; even though it was offered at his job. The headaches where so bad until her mother even knew she was really sick. Her mother sat there with her that night explaining to her that she needed her there with her and that it was not her time to leave.

Being sick and not knowing what made her feel like that was all in her head. The day when Vance told her he was leaving her and the kids, everything began to make sense. A few weeks later, her headaches were gone. Even today, she still does not know why she was having headaches. There were theories, but she just did not know for sure.

Friday, May 1st. She remembered this like it was yesterday. Vance did not ask her for a divorce; he just said that he was leaving on Friday. That Friday evening he left his thirteen year marriage. He no longer wanted to be in the marriage. She was young and in school trying to better herself. The day he told her he was leaving, she asked him if there was anything she could do to make him stay so that they could be a family. He said very firmly, No. From then on the only thing she could do was to give him what he wanted—a way out. Little did she know that after he left her and the kids, their lives would change. He left May 1st and on May 7th she received papers in the mail—something she had not anticipated. DIVORCE PAPERS. It was very hurtful. He could not be man enough to say that he wanted a divorce face to face. That is not a real man, but he was pretending to be one. For him to walk out on his family and start a new one with someone else, how could he? Vance married his own godsister while he was still married to her. This made her think of all the things that she could not accept. The mother of his wife, his godsister, died a few months later at the table eating dinner. Trell was told by her elders that karma is something you do not want to play with—it will come back to you twice as hard.

He finally got what he wanted. It literally took him a year and some months to get the divorce. She told him that she was not signing anything and that he would have to get the divorce the best way he