Searching and Finding Tranquility

I have just got back from attending a Gregory Douglass concert at Higher Ground, it was anything but 'murky.' An extremely comfortable setting with a voice beautiful enough to fill a room a million times the size of the one I sat in. I have not seen Gregory perform live in over two years, but much like any other time I have seen him perform live, his voice and lyrics reach a depth of my soul that I never knew existed. He has heightened my passion for music and it is his own songs that have taught me how to loose myself in the rhythm, the beats, the lyrics and the passion. His music has taught me about myself. Whenever I put his CD in or place my ipod on my dock and select one of his albums, it makes me want to close my eyes and become lost in his voice. It makes me want to dance around like a little ballerina; his music sets me free. 

Two younger girls, probably in high school reminded me of us, when we use to watch him and when we were in high school. The two younger girls reminded me of when we went to Good Times Cafe in Hinesburg and watched him perform. It made me smile and happy that we shared those times together. 

He played one of my first, favorite songs of his, 'Hard.' So many moments came to mind. Moments of taking an exam in Life Studies and listening to him on my CD player because iPods had yet to be produced. There I was listening to 'Hard,' investing myself in the lyrics and praying that I would get through that exam and knew that everything was going to work out fine. The moment we made a picture colleague and video taped it to this song, I guess it was our theme song.  Moments of him and I. Moments that he doesn't even know about. This song that I listened to time and time again to help me get through instances that seemed unbearable and situations that seemed never-ending and here I was, tonight, smiling with tears in my eyes happy to be sitting there alone and happy to finally be at this place. 

"Once in my life I knew just what was right around the corner, I knew what was right, until the minute it came crashing down." He sang this song, 'Wild World' and I thought about all the things I thought were right. The moves I was about to make and the way things were going to be, until one day it literally all came crashing down. I thought I would never be able to breathe again, I thought the suffocating feeling would never stop, I thought the waking up to dread would never surpass, I thought each day nothing would get better until time proved me wrong. I wouldn't say I quickly learned or that it instantly came to me, but over the moments time has healed me and continues to heal me. Much like any wound, it takes time for the skin to mend back together and that is what is happening, my skin is mending as life carries on. Sitting in that audience tonight I realized that his shadow was cold, it inhibited my own grass to grow, but without the shadow, flourishing has taken a stand. 

There he was, Gregory Douglass on stage making me, a complete stranger laugh out loud, tear up to the intensity of his voice, smile at the moments where I have taken his music and warm my heart. Thank you for being such an inspiring person and allowing me to listen to your music and have it help me through the days of life. 

I started writing this this morning while he showered and I was lost in an amazing morning:

Wasting away a day often feels unproductive and lazy, yet is often indispensable. Rolling over to see the clock read 10:30 and thinking, 'damn I should get up,' only to roll over again two hours later to read 12:30. Yes a lazy day, but a great sleep. A constant bit of warmth that held me tight under the covers made it seemingly impossible to ever get up. Maybe it was the bed, maybe it was the exhaustion, or maybe it was just the thought of sleeping next to you for as long as possible that made the hours discreetly slip by. 

Feeling you breathe, inconspicuously holding on to you as you are lost in sleep, keeping warm with your own warmth. An innocent adventure, letting go of all inhibitions and just being who we are. Comfortably dancing with each other in the emptiness of your kitchen, comfortably dancing with each other to the silence that fills your apartment. Comfortably in each others arms lost in the rhythm of your heart that beats upon my back.

I thought he robbed me of the things I have been feeling, I thought these feelings drowned with everything else that day, until recently they have taken me back, they have resurfaced and I find myself standing here happy to know it is still possible. I guess being thankful for everything that happens is the way it truly is. I am thankful for everything that has happened. Not just that day or today, but everyday. If things don't work out, I know it will hurt but at least now I have an idea, a vision and more definable hopes and dreams. That's the way it always is though, if something does not work out, it is good to have tried and learned. From each experience we learn and grow.  

Discreetly Dance With Me

I can't seem to put down what I was thinking earlier without making it sound like I want to run away. 

I was sitting at my kitchen table in debates with myself about going out again tonight and thought how effortlessly you can get up and walk away from a situation that just seems unreal. I thought how getting lost in the comfort is a measurement of simplicity. I thought about how easy it is to let go when the vibration of someone's voice sits upon your back. 

A simple request of 'please talk to me' allows my own thoughts to escape my mind and me to sink into the depth of their stories. A simple request that puts me at ease and makes things uncomplicated. 

A shallow whisper traced over my ear as sleep was on the brink, was it meant to be heard? 

I laughed out loud at the sight that walked by. Typical I thought, hypocritical. It was just funny to see the results, even after all the things he had said to me, even after all the things he had said to her, where did the love go? Yes, a question I have asked many times for many different circumstances, but really, that is what it comes down to. Was it ever really there if things can so quickly change without even a second look?

 It's funny that I often think I'm invincible. Does anyone else ever feel like this, or am I the sole rider? I don't know where this feeling ever came from or why I think that nothing can get to me, hurt me, or wound me, but I think the first time someone ever pointed it out to me was when I was in high school. I remember talking to my mom about something and I think the way I presented what I was speaking to her about made her question me and my idea of security. I don't know I just remember telling her that I felt like nothing could hurt me and I felt on top of the world. Yes, an amazing feeling to have, and don't get me wrong it is even to this day, but sometimes I feel that I take it to another level and feel that nothing will ever get me down or hurt me, inevitably I believe that I am invincible. 

It's crazy when suddenly something is said or you merely snap back to reality and notice that you are not invincible and things could get to you. I had this recognition the other night and then shortly after was hurt.  I don't know, I just find it funny that I often feel that way and do not realize the repetition and take it into account. 

A blog of random thoughts and discreetly touching upon little things that have occurred the past few days. Time to shower... and yes time to face a risk. 

The American Dream

Comfortably sitting in my living room on my couch listening to Ben Folds. 

Happy Veterans Day to all those veterans and soldiers in the world. I was watching the news tonight and there was a story about Veterans Day. The news team interviewed a veteran whom expressed his concerns and disappointment with the lack of people that came out to show their appreciation for the individuals who fight for our country. He stated there were more people in the parade than people watching and supporting. A sad realization, but more often than not the truth. When was the last time you took a moment to appreciate a soldier or thank them for the work and fight they have battled to keep our country safe? Please read this story (http://www.wptz.com/news/17958734/detail.html) and if you haven't already, please begin to realize that not only are we and will we always be the United States of America, but it is our soldiers who help keep our country safe, help maintain our freedom and help us reach the American Dream.  

I was outside tonight dancing around the yard in hopes to warm myself up while Barney, my grandmother's dog did his business. I stood there holding onto the leash in one hand while the other was shoved into the pocket of the fleece coat. I watched my grandma through the window as she sat in her own solitude and smoked her cigarette. She looked adorable in her pink fleece night gown, yet shrinking in her black wheelchair. I finally had a moment to sit down with her and catch up, spend time with and revisit moments in her life. She told me stories of marching bands that covered an entire football field. She described their uniforms of blue, white and gold; the look in her eyes was as if she was still sitting in that stand, amazed with the colors of the uniforms that were heightened by the stadium lights. It was as if she was still sitting in that stand next to her husband, my grandpa telling him to stop shouting at a certain player. As if she was still sitting in that stand chilled by the cool air. Her eyes, her expression, her details only helped build and paint the picture in my mind that she was envisioning before her.  An overall great dinner with my grandma. 

I met up with the photographer today that did the shoot for Steezteez. We went over the rest of the photos and I picked out the ones I liked. He showed me some videos he has been working on and many photos that he has taken. It re-opened my love for video production, broadcast journalism and photojournalism. Hopefully sometime in the future I can create my own dark room and purchase Final Cut so I can work on this video that I was working on over the summer. 

Many dreams, many visions, many goals to be reached, but without these we would be mindlessly walking through life. 

A quick note...

Yo check it out... did a photo shoot for Steezteez this summer.... shweeettt! http://www.steezteez.com/ Still waiting on the other photos.... but I'll have them up at some point. Keep reading!

Promise the Moment

Finally plopped into my comfortable bed, with my computer on my lap and a very old CD playing on my ipod dock. A long day consisting of a double, a short break in between to switch cars and spend some time with my grandma and then quickly back to work ending with a great workout at the gym. 

My mattress begins to envelop my body and my eyes suddenly feel 10 times heavier then 2 seconds previous. It was denial. My last entry, yesterday and still this moment. I know what's going to happen to her but I can't help but continuously question how it happened so fast and how alive she still seems. Yes, I'm sure much like the fact that she has cancer quickly hit us last week, so will the bad days and moments. I guess right now I can be thankful that she is still so alive and so present and so talkative and still expresses her love for everyone. All I can ask for are many more moments and days like these. Take the time to tell everyone in your life that you love them, and take the time today to help out a stranger, the world can be a warmer place if we all try a little harder.

I'm very happy that this week has gone by. Yes I know I always pry on living every moment to it's fullest, but this week has been grueling. I wouldn't take any late night, any hard work day, any tear, any laugh, any joke, any break down, any ice cream, any kiss, any question, any smile, any breath back, I'm just happy that I'm still standing. 

So I got this email today from an acquaintance and at the end of the email it said 'we'll meet up next week, I promise.' I was taken back by this promise from this mere acquaintance of mine, a person I hardly know making a promise to me. I looked at the word 'promise' a few times and then closed the email. For some reason this word has stuck with me throughout the day and I can't quite figure out why. 

I once blogged about this question of 'what can a promise endure.' I wrote about this last year when I was in Europe and began contemplating things that I had gone through and promises that had been made. It's a good question. I honestly feel like promises are open-ended and hold too much responsibility. I believe, under no circumstance, should anyone promise someone something. Shit happens and if that promise can not be fulfilled there leads to this lame disappointment that never needed to be there in the first place. For example, when two people get married, they promise each other to love and to cherish and to bla bla bla but really how can two people promise each other that their lives will always coexist? The only thing we can promise ourselves and others is the current moment. We can not make promises for the future, or for something better, because in the end we have no control over what happens and to make a promise may just lead to disappointment. 

The only promise we can make to ourselves and to others is the current moment, the current click to the clock and the current air we breathe. 

Oh I was published again for the Charlotte News! Check out my story! http://www.thecharlottenews.org/pages/velcoputsfinishingtouchesonferryroadportionofproject.html

Thank you God

It’s happening, just as the wind blows the lone leaf that sits at the foot of the open door. Time is moving, the family arrives and although it’s a sad time I feel happiness. Is she happy that it is time? Is she happy that she will soon be reunited with the love of her life? Is she looking forward to reuniting? Am I wrong to be skeptical of them ever really meeting again? Is that my lack of belief in God and religion? 

She says she has accepted it because she has felt like she lost her 4 years ago when she lost her love. Do I not feel that because over these past 4 years I feel that it has been a chance for her and I to solidify our relationship? To become not just grandmother and granddaughter, but friends. I secretly lean on her and her strength as she does the same. I went to her when I needed support. I sat next to her not speaking about the things that hurt but using her words and stories to strengthen my own will and soul, for these reasons she was and is my rock. 

Feeling selfish for the thoughts I have but needing so much. Within the past week so much has happened, so much has changed and so much is still to come. We won't know any answers until tomorrow. This week has consisted of me in pure denial, but it has also powered me to become stronger and to face reality. It's funny how it all happens at once. What's the saying, 'when it rains, it pours.' 

I find it interesting how although we are all born to die, when death has finally approached us and sits only a few weeks or months from our door it is devastating. For something we are born to do and for something we know our entire lives, I would think that it wouldn't be so shocking. 

It's so easy to push people away and I often do when things get serious. I guess it's just the way I work, it's my mechanism to avoiding the issue and making it disappear when it stands in front of me blinding my way. All I can say is thank you God for blessing us with the time and opportunity to keep our promise and gamble in Vegas together. And thank you God for giving me the chance to become so close to her. All I ask is that she passes with as little pain as possible. 

Even when I think these things or I write them out in front of me, I feel as if it's too soon. I feel optimistic and hopeful that something is going to change. Something will happen and miraculously her life will be prolonged and she will again make the coleslaw and pumpkin pie for many more Thanksgiving gatherings to come.

Optimism or denial.... either way I'll find out tomorrow.