April 16, 2022 By Joy Lynn Clark My other relative in the business is Billy branch of the sons of blues. I didn’t really know much about him growing up but right around the time that I got ill again, and this time with a four going on five year old son, he started getting recognition in the music business. Although I was hearing great things about his career, I did not know if we would ever get a chance to meet. On the other side, mom does her best to introduce me to some of her friends in the business. This guy lives near my dad’s house not too…

By Joy Lynn Clark April 4, 2022 Remember that show that me and Besty went on right after high school? It was the Jerry Springer show. I didn’t wanna tell a soul because I thought that my parents would be mad at me but, my mom saw it. I blushed because it was so wild, but it was OK.

April 1, 2022 By Joy Lynn Clark As a kid, I always looked forward to visiting my grandparents. My mom and dad grew up down the street from one another so I always had an awesome visit seeing them both. On my mom side there were lots of kids and when I was super young, some of them still lived at home. I was the only, “little” kid then but I loved playing with those super cool teenagers. Back then my mom and my grandparents siblings would visit periodically. Whenever my great aunt and uncle would visit there would be a huge catfish and chicken fry. I really didn’t like…

March 31, 2022 By Joy Lynn Clark Throughout my life I have always had a weekend trip or sometimes a weeklong vacation in the country. By country I mean right around the lake in Michigan. I have been there many times. On mom’s side we would travel to our favorite orchard to pick apples and grapes. This orchard is the kind where patrons buy a wooden bushel basket and fill them up. I always wanted a really special thing with the apples but we mainly just eat them for a snack. Grandma‘s real specialty was wine and vinegar. As a kid, I had had plenty of vinegar to put on…

By Joy Lynn Clark February 17, 2022 When I lived in Pilsen finding work was tough. Luckily for me, I found a cool staffing company. Times have changed! The pay was terrible but I really needed the extra cash. My only gig: proctoring the police exam. At the time, the city of Chicago was in dire need of cops and many of us were hired to proctor. It was so massive, that there were probably 200 proctors and the test was given at McCormick Place convention center. I laughed as I touched base with some of my artist friends who are also hard up for cash. We exchanged info and…