We’ve all had that experience of creating usernames and then forgetting what they are. I finally decided to heed the advice of experts by creating a username that is simple and meaningful. This is the story of how “Mo5” was created. “Mo” is my name Monique abbreviated. I needed to pair “Mo” with a number. I couldn’t just have letters without at least one number! I believe in the Yin and Yang concept, the idea that opposites attract and compliment each other. After some thought, the number 5 emerged as the lucky winner! The number of my childhood house was 15, my first apartment was in a building - number 359, and I currently live at number 5 on my street. I was born in a year with the number 5 and the two digits of my date of birth add to a sum of 5. “Mo5” looks pretty interesting too. There’s something reassuring about the way the small “o” sits protected by the imposing columns of the upper case “M” to the left and is nestled by the break on the 5 to the right… Now, if I could only win big with the number 5 in the lottery.

I’m aware that the USDA-United States Department of Agriculture recommends at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables each day. The problem though is that it’s been about two weeks since I’ve ventured out to the grocery store, so that colorful bowl of fresh fruit and veggies that I’m painting in my head is not going to be on my table today. I take inventory of the contents of my refrigerator: a head of lettuce, a tomato, and a few ribs of celery. Okay there is hope here-celery soup. I start a google search for celery soup recipes, but it doesn't look too promising since I don’t have heavy cream which I’m now learning is a key ingredient in celery soup. Who needs heavy cream anyway? There must be a healthier version of celery soup sans the cream. Success! I finally happen upon a recipe that looks promising! Now begins the scavenger hunt for an onion and vegetable broth. I rummage through the pantry and hit pay dirt with an onion and also a potato which are both starting to sprout. At the back of the refrigerator I find that bottle of “Better Than Bouillon” vegetable base that I haven’t opened since Thanksgiving. Great, I’m all set! I remove the celery from the bag, and it sadly droops in my hand. Limp. No problem, I reassure myself. (I’m too invested in this now.) I pull up the recipe again on the screen, and about 20 minutes later my celery and onion are simmering gently in the vegetable broth. And that potato which was not on the ingredient list? Well that was the icing on the cake! Hey, when your refrigerator gives you limp celery, make a healthy celery and potato soup.

Each day I live I want to be a day to give the best of me. I've lived to be the very best. I want it all, no time for less. It's my life. It's now or never! I ain't gonna live forever! I broke my heart, for every gain. To taste the sweet, I face the pain. I rise and fall, yet through it all... My heart is like an open highway. Like Frankie said I did it my way. I want one moment in time When I'm more than I thought I could be. When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away And the answers are all up to me, Give me one moment in time When I'm racing with destiny. 'Cause I'm a conqueror And I won't accept defeat! Try telling me no... One thing about me Is I'm a conqueror. I am a conqueror! And I'll rise up, I'll rise like the day. I'll rise up! I'll rise unafraid! I'll rise up... And I'll do it a thousand times again...

'Cause I'm a conqueror...

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Songs:

“One Moment in Time” -Whitney Houston

“It's My Life” -Bon Jovi

“Rise Up” -Andra Day

“Conqueror” -Empire Cast