Showing posts with label James Baldwin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James Baldwin. Show all posts

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Close to My Heart (Dar Williams)

A snippet of something I shared on Facebook today, in response to a meme:  "...I also include sobbing uncontrollably, craving solitude, swearing like a f*cking sailor, shutting down, snapping at well-meaning friends and family, using sleep as an escape, etc." later adding:  "Semantics. My English major/Journalism minor self has a tendency to put words under a magnifying glass, trying to find just the right one for every occasion (annoying to others, but so very me). My friend Fred (who is a Hospice Chaplain) reminded me that, re: the Stages of Grief scale: "Sometimes it's never acceptance. Sometimes it's enough to get to resignation." "

Thank you, FM.  I cannot imagine getting to Acceptance anytime soon, if at all.

My dear friend Nancy, whose Love Language is Food, has been waiting so patiently, while cooking up the proverbial storm, and she wanted to drop something off today, fully prepared to leave it at my doorstep; difficult as it was, I asked her to come in because I needed a hug and, goddess love her, she stayed for almost two hours (once I started, I couldn't stop talking), in full listening mode, allowing me to spew, sob, snot.  I felt a bit of peace after she left (of course, she went home with an extra burden... 😟)

I may be ready for more peopling, but only in baby steps (which made me tell Duyen about What About Bob?, which was one of Eric's favorite movies).  We talked about watching it "together", her in Atlanta, and the rest of us here in South Florida.

Chico and I have been trying to do everything ourselves and allowing our children to grieve, then realized we've been doing them a disservice.  Now we are delegating, which is of course so much better on many levels.  It is insane what needs to be accomplished after someone dies.  I have a 20-item To Do List, and it's not even Monday yet!

Many of you know I had planned to fly up to the Baltimore area on Wednesday for Thursday's Dar Williams concert at The State Theater of Havre de Grace.  I am Booking Lead on the board of The True North Project, and was thrilled to add her to our schedule. Pam (Creative Director) and I were going to stay in a Bed & Breakfast for almost a week, hang out in the funky little town of HDG, and enjoy deep as well as hilarious conversation.  Obviously, there's no way now, as I cannot imagine being normal, much less joyful, and there is a huge hole in my heart.

Speaking of hearts, I wrote this post waaaaaay back in 2007; I've tried very hard not to repeat songs over the course of my blogging, but who knew it would have such a different interpretation 16 years later?.. 💞


SONGClose to My Heart by Dar Williams

BOOK:  100 Poems To Break Your Heart by Edward Hirsch

POEM:  For Nothing Is Fixed by James Baldwin

For nothing is fixed,
forever, forever, forever,
it is not fixed;
the earth is always shifting,
the light is always changing,
the sea does not cease to grind down rock.
Generations do not cease to be born,
and we are responsible to them
because we are the only witnesses they have.
The sea rises, the light fails,
lovers cling to each other,
and children cling to us.
The moment we cease to hold each other,
the moment we break faith with one another,
the sea engulfs us and the light goes out.

QUOTE:  "Sometimes, I’m the mess.  Sometimes, I’m the broom.  On the hardest days, I have to be both." ~ Rudy Francisco

Friday, June 19, 2020

Don't Let the Sunshine Fool Ya (Guy Clark)

[Oh, Lesley Anne Numbers... if I could wallpaper my entire house with your stunning prints, I would... 💚]

So, it is indeed Feel Good Friday.  It is also Juneteenth, a historical milestone which commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. in 1965, which I knew about, but not as well as I should have.  As is tradition, five items below of beauty, interest, and humor to brighten your day/weekend/week.  Enjoy!  


Stonehenge livestream of summer solstice tomorrow (Saturday, June 20)


~ The Supreme Court is rockin' it this week.  6-3, 5-4... both decisions have come out in favor of human rights.  The Notorious RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsberg) will always be my first love ("smells like justice and bubble gum... but mostly bubble gum") but I might have a bit of a crush on Chief Justice John Roberts now as well...  ;-)
Supreme Court Delivers Major Victory To LGBTQ Employees:  In a historic decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex. The ruling was 6-3, with Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Trump's first appointee to the court, writing the majority opinion. The opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's four liberal justices.
Supreme Court blocks Trump from ending DACA in big win for Dreamers:  Chief Justice John Roberts was the swing vote in the 5-4 decision, dealing a big legal defeat to President Trump on the issue of immigration.

Celebrating Life's Milestone Moments While Trying To Stay SafeDrive-by birthday parties. Passover Seder on Zoom. Even weddings livestreamed on YouTube.


Social DistanceA Randy Rainbow Song Parody


28 Books That Talk About Race:  With heart and unflinching honesty, these titles celebrate the power of diversity, freedom, and truth.



SONGDon't Let The Sunshine Fool Ya by Guy Clark 

BOOK:  I'm Still Here:  Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by 
Austin Channing Brown

POEM:  
Emancipation by Priscilla Jane Thompson

‘Tis a time for much rejoicing;
      Let each heart be lured away;
Let each tongue, its thanks be voicing
      For Emancipation Day. 
Day of victory, day of glory,
For thee, many a field was gory! 

Many a time in days now ended, 
      Hath our fathers’ courage failed, 
Patiently their tears they blended; 
      Ne’er they to their, Maker, railed, 
Well we know their groans, He numbered, 
When dominions fell, asundered.

As of old the Red Sea parted, 
      And oppressed passed safely through, 
Back from the North, the bold South, started, 
      And a fissure wide she drew;
Drew a cleft of Liberty, 
Through it, marched our people free. 

And, in memory, ever grateful, 
      Of the day they reached the shore, 
Meet we now, with hearts e’er faithful, 
      Joyous that the storm is o’er. 
Storm of Torture! May grim Past, 
Hurl thee down his torrents fast. 

Bring your harpers, bring your sages,
      Bid each one the story tell;
Waft it on to future ages, 
      Bid descendants learn it well. 
Kept it bright in minds now tender, 
Teach the young their thanks to render. 

Come with hearts all firm united, 
      In the union of a race; 
With your loyalty well plighted, 
      Look your brother in the face, 
Stand by him, forsake him never, 
God is with us now, forever.

QUOTE:  “This world is white no longer, and it will never be white again.” ~ James Baldwin

Thursday, June 18, 2020

N***** Lover (Grant Peeples)

[thanks to MegHS for always keeping me apprised of Mrs. Mallard and family's (Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack and Quack) connection to the political climate... 💗 ]


I have no doubt you all were devastated... devastated, I tell you... that I did not offer up my usual Wednesday post yesterday...  ;-)  "Where is she?  Is she okay?  What else is going on to cause this blip in her like-clockwork M-W-F blog schedule?!?"  Ha ha ha ha ha!  I actually already had something planned, and ready on Tuesday afternoon to hit Publish on Wednesday morning, when Tuesday night found me logged into Grant Peeples' (a gravel-voiced, singer-songwriter/poet/provocateur in the best possible way, who I was lucky to present four times at our UU church Labyrinth Cafe concert series) Clay Tablets, a monthly online streaming show:  "art, music, poetry, guests, prose, viewer mail, video, photography, philosophy"...  :-)

The guest interview was with Carrie Elkin (via Grant's cell phone); May was Steve Poltz.  It was a wonderful hour of cheer as well as thoughtfulness...  and I loved the chat aspect, with many music-loving friends in attendance:  BrianW, RobbyG, BeckyA, Sparky, LouiseB, AmiliaS, even Carrie's mom Donna.  I was so inspired by Grant's song and shared poem (below) that I completely recalibrated my offering, which took a bit more time and effort.  Also invited Nancy on a short road trip for a patio visit with Reba, bringing her romaine and raisin bread (hmmm, title for a song or memoir?).  Then stopped at Parlour Vegan on my way home to pick up a previously-placed order of tamales, empanadas... and guava pastellitos for my husband.  Home by 3 p.m.  Out of steam, tired, done.  Leftover Sicilian Supper for dinner, finished my book (Shrill by Lindy West), then capped off the evening with two episodes of The Durrells in Corfu.  I've gotten very attached to this family and their various escapades of life on a Greek Island, and will be sad when I get to the end of Season 4... 😢

And that's why I was a day late in posting!



SONG: Nigger Lover by Grant Peeples (lyrics below)

“You're a nigger lover and I don't like your looks
Just you wait till the school bell rings
I'm gonna whip your little nigger loving ass
Can't wait to smash your stupid face in
I hate your guts, nigger lover”

Yea, that's what they called me
on the playground at school. But that was a lotta
years ago, and those kids have all grown up and
they don't use those words any more
– hardly
No, these days they use other words
They say other things, thing like

“You're a liberal socialist, a Communist activist
And you're gonna see in the next election
We're gonna snatch our country back for real Americans
We'll be proud again, stand tall again
Gonna put an end to all you bleeding heart liberals”

Yea, that's what they say NOW days
That's what you hear
But they haven't changed, and I know they still mean:

“You're a nigger lover and I don't like your look
Just you wait till the school bell rings
I'm gonna whip your little nigger loving ass
Can't wait to smash your stupid face in
I hate your guts, nigger lover”

I hate your guts...”

~ words and music, copyright Grant Peeples - LeftNeck Music - SESAC

BOOK:  
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

POEM:  by Haroon Rashid


We fell asleep in one world, and woke up in another.
Suddenly Disney is out of magic,
Paris is no longer romantic,
New York doesn’t stand up anymore,
the Chinese wall is no longer a fortress, and Mecca is empty.
Hugs & kisses suddenly become weapons, and not visiting parents friends
becomes an act of love.
Suddenly you realise that power, beauty & money are worthless, and can’t
get you the oxygen you’re fighting for.
The world continues its life and it is beautiful. It only puts humans in
cages. I think it’s sending us a message:
“You are not necessary. The air, earth, water and sky without you are fine.
When you come back, remember that you are my guests. Not my masters."

QUOTE:  “Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” ~ James Baldwin