The Representative of Blue….

My name is Arlene Renae Wallis.  I am the oldest of three kids and hail from Albuquerque, New Mexico where I was born and raised.  My parents Stafford R. Wallis (deceased) and Bertha N. Williams are both from Louisiana where I spent my summers while growing up.  I grew up in performing arts and continued to dance and perform thru high school and beyond.   I am a military brat by trade and have traveled across the United States but never overseas.  I graduated from Seaside High School, Home of the Spartans in 1983 while my mother was stationed in Fort Ord, CA.  I participated in the Fort Ord Theater group where I had the opportunity to do musicals such as The Wiz, Once Upon a Mattress, Chicago, Grease and the Summer Soldier Productions that took place every summer. I did attend college at Jacksonville State University in Anniston, AL but soon left to find myself so to speak.  I moved back and forth from Albuquerque, to California to Maryland for quite a time during this period.  I joined the Army National Guard in 1987 and climbed to the rank of Specialist 4 before getting out after six years. I met my then husband in the military. I have 4 wonderful children (2 by marriage and 2 from other relationships) that have been the sunshine of my life since the day they took their first breath!

I began writing in high school when my English teacher told me that I had a gift. I never took my gift seriously enough to publish because all I wanted to do was dance.  I did make the finals of the NAACP ACT-SO competition in 1984 and traveled to New Orleans but it wasn’t until years later when I posted my first poem with the Library of Congress that I started writing more.  I continued to buy blank journals and write what was on my mind in these journals but never really saw myself as a true writer until my my father passed away.  My father always told me that he wanted to see my gift touch the lives of others.  I never knew if he meant dancing or writing but we know which one took hold.   I branched out with my first poem Forgive Forgiven which i did for an open mic night hosted by Sabrina Williams and Sheek n Sassy Entertainment. I had gotten such a warm reception that I came back to help with Jae the Lyoness’ release party for God Save Me.  I then decided to change my stage name from Thikmadame to Lady Blue and start a website.  After a radio show with Darling Dena and Must be the Music, I realized that people were really listening to what I had to say and eagerly waiting for my next writing.  I also took home the Media/Blogger of the Year at the Rep Yo Grind awards and met so many wonderful people that night who told me that they do not start their day without seeking out my morning inspiration.

My goal with my website (ladyblue1.com and The Blooming Point) and inspirational page (Joy Does Come in the Morning) was to give others a positive way to make it thru their day.  Starting the day on a good vibe is important to me.  I also wanted others to know through my writing that they are not alone in this world.  Others go thru the same things just at a different place in the world and time. My message is more than just a feel good message and a focus on positive things that are happening.  I want readers to peek in side and see and feel the soul in the writing whether it is my pen or an article on someone making a positive impact in the DMV or abroad.

As a domestic violence survivor, I know all to well the pain, silence, shame, curiosity, self doubt, guilt and other emotions felt when in this situation.  I did not know where to go or who to speak with that would believe me.  I was turned away by family and only had myself to rely on.  I spent my time with police and in the ER.  I watched the man who claimed to love me tell officers that I was just emotional and then turn into something I had never seen when they would leave.  I have been at the other end of a knife and a fist.  I went through homeless shelters,lack of sleep, sleeping at a bus stop, eviction, no food, etc.  I have built back up and lost everything several times because I spent many years being the victim and never the victor in the situation.  I carried that baggage with me thru other relationships and wondered why I would watch them walk away and be with someone else like i never existed.  It was not until i went through that one relationship, the last relationship, when I realized that I had had enough and it was time to take me back.  I stood toe to toe with my abuser and said get it over with so I can move on.  It was a long road but now I want to be a voice to those who don’t have one, no longer have one or would rather stay silent.  This epidemic is real and deserves as much of a forefront as breast cancer, cancer, and any other disease that gets national attention.  I hope to turn my inagural 50 Shades of Blue event into a yearly 3-day event to include a walk/run for domestic violence victims, conference workshop and more!