World Cup Fever

The only time I wish I owned a T.V. happens once every 4 years. I like the Olympics, and I'll watch a few events, but I LOVE the world cup. Though I haven't played on a team for several years after about 12 years of being a goal keeper, I haven't lost my love of the game. There is something still pure about it...the athleticism, the drama, what's not to love.

My heart is still pounding from the US vs. Algeria game. I can't believe we're actually advancing.We played well, even though they robbed of us of a goal (the instant replay shows we were NOT off sides!). The Algerian keeper was amazing (and gorgeous), but their defense just wasn't there. I think this is the only time this week I've voluntarily gotten up earlier than 7am, but it was well worth it. All the games are being shown in the local pubs no matter what time they start. I remember not being able to watch the games when I was younger because we didn't have cable, now they're on everywhere.

The first world cup I remember really watching was when I was 16 and in love with Italy. My mom and I were traveling in Senegal and every time we went to a bar or restaurant with the game on, I was busy trying to figure out if my team was going to move on, much to the amusement of the Senegalese people who really did not understand why a 16 year old American girl would care. Then there was the world cup in Japan/Korea. I was living there at the time and even playing on a team again for the first time in ages. I did everything I could to get tickets, short of spending the night out on the street, but due to a glitch in the electronic system, I (like many others) couldn't get tickets. I had to settle for pub watching, but it was still amazing. It's the energy, the elation, the devastation, the intensity of watching your team work through the matches. Like the Olympics, people from all over the world put their collective attention on the games and though we're hardcore about supporting our teams, there is still a camaraderie about simply being there and watching, no matter who you're cheering for. I can't quite explain it. It's like for this brief window of time we're all on the same page, we're all wondering what's going to happen next.

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.

Red Couch Gallery Tomorrow!

We're gearing up for the second Red Couch Gallery tomorrow. We will be featuring art by: rejj arts, Tina Blu Creationz, Mikal Whoberry, AphroditeXchange, VJ, Nick Moorehead, Pedro DeValdia, and more. Check us out in the Wallyhood at 1804 N. 51st from 3-9PM. Also check out the article written about us on the Wallyhood blog! http://www.wallyhood.org/

The Evolution of my Trip...

When the travel agent said $7,000, I thought...and that's just the airfare! No way. That's not realistic. And then my mind went spinning down a negative spiral of I can't...I can' afford this trip. I can't leave my job yet. I can't quit a perfectly good job when I don't have something else lined up. I'm surrounded by loads of overqualified unemployed people telling me that I am stupid or crazy or both for wanting to do this thing...maybe they're right. It went on and on.

And then the trip itself started to dissolve. My friends didn't get the funding to go to New Zealand, so I could go, but I wouldn't get to visit the Maori schools and I wouldn't have a place to stay. Then I heard from my friend who was headed to Colombia. Her brother became very ill, so she had to go early and when she got back, she realized she wouldn't be able to go in July...so I could go and stay with her family, but it wouldn't be the same. Moreover, after finally finishing the first draft of my novel, I am now totally off my time frame for edits, because I'm tired and cranky and busy trying to figure out what the hell I'm doing with my life.

Then I remembered, every one's journey is their own. And my journey is my choice. Maybe I'll make a botch of it, maybe I'll get half way around the world and realize I made a huge mistake...but let it be my mistake. I don't want to let it be my fears that dictate how I live, let it be my courage, let it be my faith that guide my actions. Moreover all this round and round of worries and what am I doing...has done nothing but make me dizzy and throw me off my center. So I took a deep breath and began again to reconnect with the vision I had for not just this trip, but my life. On June 17th, I'll be saying goodbye to my students and like them on the 23rd, I'll be graduating from this stage of my life. And also like them, whether I feel it or not, I am ready, ready to move on to my next adventure, ready to be open and flexible.

What came to me is that what happens next is all about raising my mental equivalent. My friend Eric said it best when he told me that whatever happened to me during my brief trip to Ghana last year shattered whatever ideas I was holding onto about who I could be as a black woman in this world. I became new. I did things I'd always wanted to do,but never had the courage or the discipline to do. It's no coincidence that this is the year I finally published my book of poetry and finished the first draft my novel. These things happened because I experienced a fundamental shift in my thinking. And as Eric says the genie is out of the bottle now...there is no going back, only forward...

But as I step further into my spirituality, and explore my freedom to really choose my life, I have had some weird experiences that I won't go into. It's come to my attention that now is a time I really need to learn more about energy work, self protection and of course how to let go. With these realizations, I have had to release my original idea for my trip and began to embrace the opportunities that are appearing.

I will still be leaving Seattle in July, but not for New Zealand or Colombia, but much closer fist to Portland, for some down time with my Dad, then to Arizona to help my mom as she recovers from knee surgery. While I'm there, I will be exploring the energy vortexes and meeting with a Native American Shaman in Sedona. From Arizona it is my intention to travel to Ghana and Morocco with Michael Beckwith, Rickie Byars Beckwith, and the Agape Spiritual Center...a sister church to the Center for Spiritual Living. From Morocco, I will head solo to Spain. From there I don't know...

So next week, I am taking the proceeds from the first red couch gallery and putting a down payment on my trip. Thank you again to everyone for contributing, not just to my travel fund, but to helping make my dream a possibility. And for those of you who couldn't make it, I hope to see you next Saturday for the next Red Couch Gallery!

The Red Couch Gallery
(the sequel)
Saturday, May 15
3:00 - 9:00PM
1804 N. 51st

Our featured artists include: REJJ Arts, Tina Blu Creationz, Mikal Whoberry, AphroditeXchange, Euphorya, Pedro DeValdivia, Nick Morehead and more.

Are we there yet?

Number 1 on the top 10 most annoying questions to ask on a journey, yet it's one I ask myself almost daily. Am I there yet? Am I on the path? Am I making good decisions? Am I happy? I don't know. Yes. I think so. Sometimes.

Today is day 2 back from Spring break, my long day actually and my first day back in the classroom. It went well. I had no real plan (I know I'm not supposed to admit that, but sometimes it just happens that way), but as soon as I got there and got the kids warmed up, I launched into a lesson on past tense and they totally got it. So maybe that's my miracle for the day. I'm grateful. And also a little distracted. During spring break, my boss made the big announcement. While I've known since August that I was going to leave, my kids just found out and they don't like it. Their parents wish me well when we pass one another in the halls,and if I'm not moving fast enough or don't look busy enough they pepper me with questions. Or really it's just the one question they nail me with every time: What are you going to do next?

Sometimes I say I'm going to travel. Sometimes I say I'm going to join the circus, write a novel, start a business, retire...whatever comes to my mind first. There is a part of me...probably the part that spent the morning stuffing envelopes like a trained monkey...knows that leaving my little school is actually a very good decision. But there is a part of me...the part that enjoys things like health insurance and regular paychecks...is saying...um Afro? Maybe you want to rethink this a little. Maybe you should sell that novel you just wrote before you leave the cushy steady paycheck thing. It seems no matter how much I change or grow, no matter how much my life evolves to support my dreams there is always this moment of self doubt, this moment of what the hell am I doing that keeps me wondering Am I there yet?

Maybe tomorrow.

The Red Couch Gallery

The Red Couch Gallery
April 17, 2010
Noon-10:00PM
1804 N. 51st Street
Seattle, WA 98103

The Red Couch Gallery is a one day only collaborative art show / fundraiser. There will be snacks, good music, and arts and crafts by a variety of local artists and crafts-people. Stop by, bring some friends, hang out, shop, chill with cool people, enjoy beautiful art, snack, have a drink, and if you feel moved, make a donation.

This is a “Fund-my-vision” project co-sponsored by REJJ Arts and Tina Blu Creationz for the purpose of raising money to send me on a spiritual journey around the world.

FEAUTRING ARTISTS Include:
REJJ Arts
Tina Blue Creationz
Chrissy Waiching
Moxy Jo Designs
Euphorya
Mikal Whoberry
Verbal Oasis
Pretty Prudent
V.J.
AphroditeXchange
and more...

A trip, A dream, An opportunity...

As I deepen my spiritual practice and enter into a space where I am discerning my goals and my life's path, I feel myself ever drawn back to my art, writing and traveling. I love teaching. I love the little school that I work for and it is a very comfortable existence, but there is something in me that says I am ready for my next step. Publishing my book of poetry and the subsequent positive reaction had given me much needed confidence, and more importantly perspective on what things are possible. Like so many people, I grew up with practical parents who raised me to think about life like a realist. While they always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, it was always within reason. Sure, be a writer, be a painter, be whatever, but make sure you can support yourself and make sure you have health insurance. There is an undeniable logic there, however, I have entered a place in my life where being logical is at odds with my greater good.

I am currently working on my first novel and I have decided that this July I want to travel around the world. I thought about all the ways I could make this happen. I looked at applying to work for semester at sea and the peace boat and all sorts of other programs where I could make use of my MA in International Education and also get to travel, but when it came down to it I realized that if I did a trip through an organization as an employee, I wouldn't really be having the experience I want to have. I want to visit an ashram and do love meditations at the Taj Mahal in India. I want to learn about Condomble in Brazil and visit Maori schools in New Zealand. I want to meet the children at our sister school in Barranquila, Colombia. I want to visit Ishmael Tete's church in Ghana.

There are so many places I want to go and so many things I want to see and do. Everything is telling me that the time is now, I just have to have the courage to step out on faith and believe I can really do this. So that said, I have put in my notice at my job. I will be finishing my contract at my little school and finishing out my lease in June and by July I would like to be on the first leg of my trip around the world.

Here is the thing. I'm not independently wealthy (yet). I have been saving and I have some money, but I don't have quite enough to really go everywhere I want to. It has been suggested that I scale back my trip, but I really don't want to diminish my experience. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity ...the chance for me to really live out my dream. I know that there are a million and one great causes to support, but this is one more, and I know you can find it in you to support my journey.

I am surrounded by people everyday who do what they think they have to do. They sacrifice their dreams for their children, or for their jobs, or sometimes simply because they don't have the guts to go for it...whatever the reason, they watch their dreams die. I've been that person. I've been the one who wants to do this or that, but in the end settles for what is possible and I am absolutely committed to not letting that happen to me again. I am ready to walk in my good. I am ready to shed my fears and follow my heart. Now here is what you can do to help: April 17, from noon to 10:00pm, I am hosting a fundraiser / art gallery at 1804 N. 51st Street in Seattle, WA 98103. Stop by, chill, snack, and shop. There will be art by several local artists as well as food and good music. This is a great opportunity for you to support someone in following their dream. Thank you.