Gratitude

It has been a crazy month. Tina and I hosted 3 Red Couch Gallery fundraisers featuring arts and crafts by: Tina Blu Creationz, Mikal Whoberry, Rachel Malinak with AphroditeXchange, Nacala Ayele of Euphoryia, Nick Moorhead, VJ, and a few others. I was also the featured performer at Ladies 1st this June. Between fundraisers, art and book sales, and some very generous donations, I am happy to announce that I was able to reach my financial goal. I've purchased my tickets and I will be leaving Seattle on July 2.

The general itinerary...subject to change:
July 2 Portland, OR
July 12 Phoenix, AZ
August 15 Ghana (via NYC)
August 24 Morocco
September 1 Spain and Portugal (am working out a side trip to Lisbon)
October 1 New York, NY
October 5 Washington DC
From there...not quite sure.

While I am thrilled to have made the money, this has been a hard process. I've realized that I don't like asking for help...which I suppose is why I don't do it very often. It's uncomfortable and sometimes vulnerable, but I have been blessed and at times overwhelmed by the generosity I've experienced. The Buddha teaches us that our energy is karmic and has an echo...that the things in our life are a reflection of what we've put out. I don't know what I could have done to be so well blessed, but truly I will up my game and be a better person to my entire community simply to feel worthy of these amazing gifts.

First and foremost I have to thank my family, especially my parents who have been wonderfully supportive. And thank you to Mz. Blu my sister and roomate, who has gone above and beyond by helping to recruit artists and always pushing me to do the smart thing even when I was cranky and didn't want to do it anymore. Special thanks to all those who were able to contribute financial and also those whose contributions were in time, support, organizing, and cleaning.

THANK YOU: Mom, Dad, Julie, Tina, Lyndon, Karen, Nacala, Torito, Julie and Jason B, VJ, Mikal, Rachel, Mike and Courtney, Pedro and Luzelvia, Nick, Jeannie, Ron, Callie, Kendall, Camille, Joan, Nancy, Diane, Linda and Russ, Meghan and Melissa, Roman, Anna, Lori, Samantha, Alex, Tamika, Sylva, Sarah, Paula, David, Julia, Yaneth, Ossob, Lindi, Shana, Bea, Sonia, Eric, my entire sangha...Michael, Laura, Gia, Garth, Katie, Sheri, Not A Number Books and Gifts, CSL, Amazing Grace, Black Girl Crew, CARA, The Neo Arts Program, The Meridian School, and the Wallyhood Blog.

I will be taking my computer with me and thanks to some lovely co-workers I will have grounded adapters for each country...meaning I won't be frying my laptop with the change in electrical current. So get ready for the adventure! I know I am.