A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

When Diana Ross wrote her spiritual, positive, and arguably guarded memoir "Secrets of a Sparrow" in 1993, she pulled the title from a Gospel song "His Eye Is On The Sparrow". Now, Robin Givens has come out with her autobiographical tome "Grace Will Lead Me Home", culled from a verse of "Amazing Grace". Though her book tells an  emotional and highly personal story of her life and the struggles with her then-husband Mike Tyson, it's title read like "pun" to me as I thought about my "Amazing Grace" Nichole and how she is so much like "family" and "home" to me, it's a joy and honor that she and I have the opportunity to connect as much as we do. I just shared with Anthony how Nichole is the first person to enroll me in actually enjoying my Thanksgiving holiday away from my family. Often, here in New York City, I would get blue when I wasn't with my family, but because things sometimes weren't the same (after mom's passing), I wouldn't really want to be with my family for Thanksgiving (as different members were different places and it just didn't feel like home to me). I would make a decision to stay up North and be depressed before I'd go home and feel "emotionally scattered". Enter Nichole, who - like many others - invited me to she and her husband Tony's home (as far back as 2001, I believe). My concerns were initially "She's from Seattle. Do they know how to cook soul food?". I knew if the food wasn't good, that would be enough to throw me over the edge. But can I tell you (as chronicled this past November in "A Day In The Life of Riley"), Nichole, her sister Tory, and the rest of the family can throw down in the kitchen and the joy that comes with our times together has made this a strong, annual tradition that I will always cherish. Truly, 'Grace will lead me home' and to many other brilliant, open, and generous people who come into my life through Nichole.

This past week sparked lots of evidence around that as our dear friends DeDe McGuire and her sister Resa (both of whom I've talked about on the BLOG) joined us. Both radio broadcasters (and - in the case - of Resa, a TV anchor out of Atlantic City), they wanted some time to chill with Nichole and me. Ern, a friend Kevin, and Anthony were in the mix too. And we had a blast. We went to Cafeteria for some food (www.cafeteriagroup.com) before hitting our karaoke spot (www.karaoke17.com/). We sang all night long and just enjoyed each other's company.

On Sunday, Nichole and her "Desperate Housewives" (as I jokingly call them) gathered at her friend Monica's house (in New Rochelle). Monica, her husband Brian, and their son Miles were awesome hosts as we enjoyed lovingly-prepared fare from the grill. As things were being prepared, Anthony and I got the joy of hanging out with three-year-old Miles who has such a personality and lots of character. And what a sense of humor. He's the cutest. Just the kind of kid Anthony and I would want. And though there was an overcast and we opted out of getting in the pool, the "sunlight" came through in all the good people who were there that day. It felt like... HOME! Thank you, "... grace".