Wednesday, May 31, 2017

A Blog Forgotten

Take this smile and know, that somewhere...
there was some parent beating back harsh winds and praying back forces we can't see with our naked eye, for all of the battles that they themselves knew they only had strength to endure and tomorrow they only held hope, yet no cure for the ugliness they knew was soon to come.

I'm the type of guy that would never let a controversial holiday go like May 19th Malcolm X's Birthday, Memorial Day or day without some sort of uplifting, muck-stirring, or heart-wrenching post about life well, my own has had it's share of ups and downs and my focus has not been in social media or the media. Now as the winds howl shaking the last fledglings from their nests and our loved ones are comfortably in their beds drifting hopefully into a well deserved rest, I think of so much as seasons pass.  I drive pass old stomping grounds like Coyote Point, see friends from high school and my old street in East Palo Alto and begin to see how much things change yet stay the same.

I think about the slaves, my educated parents in their old age and all the dieing bees I see at the beach on the shore at the end of their life's journey. I think of the first nations, the Native Americans, broken promises, my ancestors. I think of my own responsibility of protecting my son and the things and people that have pass and come. I think of my short comings as well and the ways I've been experiencing heaven as well as been living in Hell. All of us experience many Unspoken Battles, however within we see and begin to know many Triumphs as we seek and are also offered solutions, given Victory and begin to carry with us the Hope Which Prevails.

I watch old flames die out as new ones re-kindle and start a blaze such as Louie, Jelly Brooke and their new bundle of joy as they both got recently married and decided to start a family together.  With difficulty comes breakthroughs yet with heartache I've witnessed love and birth with friends Michael Boris and lady Natalie as they just had a beautiful baby Summer Rose. I see a post about my friend Leon about his son passing which tears my heart, I can't even imagine what he's going through. All I can do is pray and offer help. My friend Jabari calls me a few weeks later telling me his lady is in labor. When the time is right I offer to swing by although an hour away or so drive to at least see the child.  Today I see a post that Mr. Gurley, a respected elder and minister in the community has passed. He was a very loved man and very kind to everyone that came by his home that was respectful. I appreciate him and he raised his children, my friends quite well.  There are two weddings coming up, which unfortunately I cannot make.  Good news is a friend's son who was in a terrible accident like I said was in is home now and is doing great. The power of prayer people! I just found out my childhood friend Antwon and his wife just had a healthy baby girl on Memorial Day so a big congratulations to them as well.  We must create the conditions wherever we see fit, no matter the weather and strive towards excellence and for those priceless smiles.



Some days we are called to do more than what other days require. Sometimes we don't know what that is or what exactly we are capable of yet we do it, we rise to the occasion, stand, demand, meet and conquer the challenge with an unknown courage and with a strength within that we sometimes question the source.
Many things remain uncertain for us still however, if there is chance that tomorrow you are granted opportunity to rise to greet the sun... or the clouds and cough loud the n do so and be a little bit proud for the battles you've won. Just sayin!

Shifting weather patterns confuse men
Like women whose ways stay mystery
Although we create what we overly consume
What words have already been written
As paths have already been chosen and
Words that have already been dangerously spoken
While we wait no more for hearts to feel pure or mouths to be fed we
Wait no more freedom to come or for cozy bed we
Struggle til hustle becomes us completely
Love til understanding engulfs our meaning deeply we
Have got no choice left but to salvage for us in savage storms so
I open my arms when the clouds come
When the wind blows wild my heart races to catch up and
Rain is the welcoming of a new beginning
As summer comes to a Spring ending
Death sheds it's shroud softly as wedding bells ring in new destinies and
We some of us are left still with struggle yet
Nothing close to heavenly
We are told we will rise above, tougher than nails
When rains still make ground fertile
Battles are fought yet we are left with
The Hope Which Prevails

Congratulations on being a new father also Stoner Sowell!

Monday, May 8, 2017

Get Right 101 aka "Git Rite 101"

Let me try to entertain you with a little word from the wise with what those I know refer to as a little bit of "Git Rite."
Step 1: Begins with a preparation of a meditation to "Get Yo Mind Right!" Whether it be spiritual, meditation or even some choose relaxing herbal medication, which with some mouth watering munchie persuasion would lead you to...


Step 2: Diet is super essential and important, as if we don't get this right and get our bodies in balance, our whole focus might get thrown off. We must seek wiser food choices whenever possible and available, farm fresh or close to. I know first hand how difficult how hard it is to eat healthy and maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially for more than one, but we must Be the Standard of Excellence, The Example of Solidity and Solitude for our children for they have nothing else. If we want for our families and communities to feast we must provide the nutrient-rich atmosphere in every aspect, Especially for Black children. Who else are their real heroes...Obama? Jesse Jackson, Michael Jordan?  Please!! Let me continue this Git Rite Session before I teach y'all a completely different lesson.

Step 3: Excercise of body & mind.
I glanced at these stairs at Mt. Helix and thought. "Hell naw!" And did I go up those steps... "Hell to the naw," but I did work my way around that hill with my cane, I do know my limits, I was much too sore from other stair climbs other days and I had my fair share of excercise. Today while I went to the store I had to choose like everyone has to, mine was whether I walk all the way to the other side for the motorized cart or walk to the back of the store, which is probably the same length. When it comes to other situations in life, we must choose. The song "Ooh child Things are gonna get a bit easier" came on and hit home like a ton of bricks. I had a plan and I acted. Even when it comes to what we show others and how we excercise our minds. I bought some books recently off of Amazon, with intention to share them with my son and my pops remembered them from when he introduced them to me as a child. Time to order more!

Step 4: Plans & Actions, Implementations With Foundation- Chess is a game my son has learned to play well, as he has retaught me with a strategy of his own.  We must use the strategies that best work for us when figuring how to succeed for ourselves and our families. A great destination might look nice but a solid foundation will keep us strong in the long run.

All struggles come to an end and all things hard to see come eventually into light, so when we're given a second chance, the opportunity to dance in the rain once again and to succeed and achieve where once we've thought we have failed, we must give thanks for the triumph. We must then...

Step 5: Prayer, Give Thanks Session, Debrief, Celebrate!! Acknowledge that you have made it this far, that there still will be storms ahead but that you have reached your milestone!   And with a little bit of Hope, Faith & that fuel that moves mountains that can't be explained we begin to see where we're going a bit clearer and bring those we care for along for the journey. So begins the quest for a new beginning for the next Baldwin, Carson, or Eldridge Cleaver but I'm more of a soldier of a writer, not your average smooth sailing of an avid reader...are you game?

Both people and spirits knew also
To steer clear yet it wasn't fear they said
Once he came along
Mind focused with a game plan
Known to cut you or take your head off
Where you stand playing your favorite song
Walkin on solid ground
Man don't mess around
Slaying hell hounds and demons
"We've seen 'em"
Cries the child's with bright eyes
As babies can't revoke their grin and
Animals once untamed loose control within
Men from grains and cloth aren't like this
"They don't make man like dis no mo"
Says Sweet Maybel halfway out her bliss
Then she remembers a man she almost loved
Around the edges a little soft but much too rough and
What needed to be done by many
When times were nothing close to plenty
Back then felt a little much like it do now
Instead of Whole foods and Albertsons
She had a mule and a plow
Perhaps solutions this fellow will help draw nearer
Straight to the point with no bullshit
As she prefers her water...
Like sky after the fog dissipates...
                                 Clearer