I never knew this about Maya Angelou...

[Kind of Blue]

18. Although I didn't know it back then, I was fortunate that Ms. Angelou came

to one of my parents' parties when they were all young between '67/'69. She must have been in her mid-late '30s, as my dad, and my mom around 25, 26.

As usual, I'd sneak out of bed to listen to the grown folks talk and not only hear but feel their laughter vibrate the walls. At one point, Ms. Angelou had the floor and my dad said something like, "That woman talks too much." The party of at least 20 people went dead silent. Immediately Ms. Angelou laid into him so hard, it was stunning followed by silence. Then mom said, "Tell him, Maya!" My dad burst into uproarious laughter and said to Ms. Maya, "That's why I married E," my mom. "She's too much and I love that." Yeah, he recovered real quick and the good times resumed with the three of them talking about how domineering men are.

Years later in my high school Black Lit class, "Caged Bird" was required reading. When my mom saw it she was so pleased. I never would have related the Maya of 10 years before with the author. My mom said, "Don't you remember Maya? She was the lady who told your dad off. I know you heard it because I saw you sneaking around that night but decided not to punish you. It was good for you to hear that."