love in other places

most of you know i have a 9 year old daughter.  we watched the hannah montana movie last weekend while i went through the two-day process of doing her hair.  hot oil treatment, deep conditioning, combing, plaiting, parting, sleeping, cornrowing … got it.  well i never expected to find some words of wisdom that really resonated in my heart … in a hannah montana movie.  but i take my wisdom just like i take my love – in all its divine forms. 

hannah/miley cyrus’ love interest in the movie (a blonde haired country white boy) says to her at one point: “life is a climb.  but you get to enjoy the view.”

wow.

as a woman who suffered from depression in my mid-twenties (i can say that cuz i’m 32 now) i did not understand, at that time in my life, the simple words of a 16 year old.   maybe the actor wasn’t 16 but he portrayed a 16-year-old or something like that.  i didn’t understand that life was always going to be hard.   but that just living was a reward in itself.  that being in the moment and looking around you was a mercy and a blessing.  that getting through trials and tribulations and challenges only enhances your view.  it takes you higher.  i didn’t understand the joy in difficulties.  i didn’t understand that it never gets any different or easier.  it’s ALWAYS a climb.  it’s ALWAYS one thing after another.  it’s ALWAYS hard.  and it’s ALWAYS about your perspective through it all.  so nowadays, i CHOOSE to enjoy the view.  cuz i climbed this far … why shouldn’t i?  thank you hannah montana ‘the phenomenon’ and the writer of that script.  thank you JESUS!

i often check a blogsite called the root … it’s come a long way.  it’s pretty much all about black shit.  i.e. things that pertain to black culture and black communities and most of the writers are of color.  some of them you’ve seen at some tavis smiley symposium or cnn ‘being black in america’ bullshit cuz they’s the ‘experts’ on blackness.  they ain’t my experts but i do enjoy reading about my folks from my folks’ perspective.  and i am glad they got more advertising cuz the site is now classier, better organized, and prettier .  i can’t speak to the quality of the content … the writing is ok … pretty mainstream black-but-not-in-a-bad-way if you ask me.  but they didn’t ask me or i would be writing for them.  which i would do … cuz i like giving the non-mainstream take on mainstream shit.  enough of that.  the point of the story is the root put me on to an exciting new theater show going on now.  (actually they have put me on to a lot of shit which is why i wanted to share their presence with you.)  i love fela kuti and his son, femi.  i love fela’s music and i love his politics.  some negro – i think named jones - did a theater performance about FELA!  the review in the root is cool so check it out if you want to know more about fela being produced for the stage, how to get tickets, where it’s showing, and more details about fela that i don’t feel like going into here.  i am just happy the antibalas band and fela get some (off?) broadway shine. 

there’s a lot of love in kuti.

this ‘divorce papers’ song is all over the radio … and i find it fascinating.  i am one of those people who will not get married until i’m ready to stay in it forever.  NO MATTER WHAT. hell or HIGH WATER i’m in it to win it.  granted that may be why i’m not married right NOW but shit … i aint gon make a commitment and then back out.  what really throws me is that usher sings about how he is still in love with his wife (36 yrs old) … and that just don’t make sense.  if you’re still in love why you getting divorced?  if you still in love you should work it out … no matter what it takes.  my pet theory is that usher is not still in love with his wife and that there is a MAJOR reason they are breaking up that he cannot put in a song.  so, instead he paints himself as a tortured man struggling to make the best decision.  whatever.  if you could make a pop song about signing your damn divorce papers then you aint in no emotional turmoil.  this track is no marvine gaye’s, ‘here, my dear.’  and why the girl in the video look like chilli??  LOL  aren’t you excited about the future of the black family?  daddy’s in the club singing that he’s ready to “sign nem papers!”

ummm i had no idea sammy sosa …. his original color was so beaufitul too – all reddish and brown – such a lovely contrast to his hazel eyes …. and now don’t certain parts of his face look … GRAY?  skin bleaching is now taking off in india i hear.  so much so that they have started their own ‘dark is beautiful’ campaign reminiscent of the black is beautiful movement here in the US back in the day.  (which clearly was such a success).   the blog i stole this photo from was excellent and is written by an indian woman. 

my president is black … and now sammy sosa is gray.  yes, it is going to be 2010 in two months.  who’da thunk ….  will little dominican, haitian, ghanaian, or pittsburghian children take sammy seriously?  some will.  some will.  self-hatred takes a long time to heal from.  but we shoulda known from sammy’s perm that he was headed in this direction.

i take my fashion seriously.  only in the sense that what goes on MY body has to make sense only to ME.  and as a youth growing up i began to know myself and my tastes.  i am picky about clothes, shoes, handbags … sometimes a type of material throws me off.  i don’t really have any rules but in general i am not drawn to shoes with bows or lots of buckles.  i hate boots that have mixed materials i.e. suede and leather.  who wants BOTH suede and leather on one boot.  that’s tacky to me.  i can’t explain why i care for some looks and not others.  but i thought i would share with you today that all those boots in the picture  … can SUCK IT.  they ugly.  i don’t like those styles and i understand what the boot-world is trying to do but these particular boots are not cute.  ladies, i know you may be trying to achieve a certain look but don’t jump at the first furry boot you see.  just like i know you all one day want to be married … don’t jump at the first man who looks the part.  but as we all do … sometimes … our judgement lapses and we fear that a cuter, more streamlined, sexier, less over the top, lacking-a-wedge-heel, non-corny boot will come into our lives.  LADIES!  PLEASE!  HOLD OUT!  don’t flood the streets of america with these lame ass boots above.

and if you already own these boots and you are reading this:  it’s just my personal taste.  you have to rock what you think is hot … so please, don’t take offense.

forget yall. i love this shit. i think it’s sexy. the way he sings these lines: “get you to the crib … put you in the bed … pull back nem sheets” is like a slow, deep thrust. period. now listen again. i wouldn’t necessarily have relations to this song but it sure would make me think i invented it.

the thought of the day comes from my new favorite christian pamphlet, our daily bread.  i never thought i would ever be a christian-pamphlet-reading-person.  [just goes to show how thoughts ... are as powerful (or as insignificant) as we make them.]

the thought of the day is not a new concept to me.  but it is the essence of my life.  it is the essence of this blog.  it is the thought that changed my life.  it is the thought that shed light on a dark place – my depressed brain.  here it is:

“it may not occur to us that perhaps he had to fight for his serenity, and that we might win if we would do the same.”

ery day … i fight the good fight.

cuz happiness is a choice.  serenity doesn’t just get found at the grocery store.  like bread.

my president is black.  my lambo don’t exist.  my homegirl in korea sent me a postcard.  i’m early at coming in late to work.  i have all my fingers and toes.  i have my nose.  i recently got my eyebrows did.  i met my goal of market share at work whatever that means.  i have clothes.  i have nice clothes.  i have nice shoes.  i have a donut on my car.  but i have a nice car.  i have a daughter 3-4 days a week.  i have weak communication skills when i don’t understand the people i’m in relations with.  my daughter thinks i am a good mommy and she kisses my cheek.  i have an infusion of youngblood.  i am fit and healthy.  just a slight touch of h1n1.  not too much.  i don’t have calluses.  i don’t have acne.  i think fast.  learn quick.  take care of my house.  leave my car dusty.  i try.  i do the best i can.  i am simply blessed.  that’s all i want to remember about who i am and what i have today.