Grover Washington Jr. - Make Me A Memory (Sad Samba)

This is a beautiful live video. "Winelight" was one of my first purchases when I first started listening to Jazz. The other was George Howard's "Asphalt Gardens." Both artist passed away at an early age. Nevertheless, I love that smooth 80s Jazz music. It brings back such pleasant memories. Enjoy.

Sunday Dreaming

Grandmother once told of Sunday afternoons when she could meet with a gentleman -- a gentlemen who was interested in seeing her on a regular basis.  This often took place sometime after church and Sunday dinner. 

In my active imagination, I envision the two meeting on the front porch on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Sitting in the swinging chair, the young man told her how pretty she looked in her pretty white dress.  He told her how sweet she smelled, and how he wished they could be alone in some place - a place that he would prepare for her someday.  He touches her hand and feels the softness of her skin as he runs his fingertips across her delicate knuckles.  The moment was so soft and sweet that he becomes drowsy with love.  He wishes they could be in that place that he wants for them.  They would fall asleep in a passionate embrace just after love has made its escape.

Michael Jackson: A Crook and a Memory

I’ve had a "crook" in my neck ever since I heard the news about Michael Jackson's death. No, MJ’s news alone didn’t give me this "crook." After hearing about MJ, I got a call that an extended family member died of a heart attack as well and on the same day. I don’t know what hour, but the same day; I couldn’t believe it! The first news about MJ caused tension in my right shoulder as I listened to the report on CNN and I thought back over the past couple of months and remembered having thoughts of him dying. Don’t ask me why? My wife asked the same question, but I thought of MJ dying and how terrible it would be. Anyway, the tension and stiffness begin to ease a little as I watched his famous “Rock with You” video on BET – That song and video are both classics.

So, as I mentioned, I got the news about the extended family member yesterday as well. The news caused my head drop into my chest as tension went up the back of my neck. By the way, I distinguish him as “extended” family member because he wasn’t my uncle, but I felt kin. He grew up with my father and uncle and his mother used to bake homemade biscuits in her kitchen with fresh apricot preserves. She would feed me and tell me how she used to feed my father and uncle in that very kitchen. All of these things were part of my memory growing up in North Carolina -- Michael Jackson's music, Motown, Ms. Willie Anne's homemade buscuits, etc. Those memories and experiences helped to shape who I am today and they have inspired me to love, dream, and love some more. They are the reason that I love to write because through writing I am able to keep those memories alive. Meanwhile, despite this "crook" in my neck I'll have to do as Nina Simone suggested and "get busy living." I thank God for His mercy, grace, and life. Amen.

I remember...

when Washington, DC was called "Chocolate City."

I remember when you didn't see many White, Asian, or Black Americans wearing dreads or locks.

I remember when you only saw body piercings in National Geographic magazine.

I remember when mostly people in jail, bikers, and military personnel wore tattoos.

I remember when children would go outside to play.

I remember when you had to go to a video arcade to play video games.

I remember when kids would settle their disputes without guns.

I remember when young people would have parties at their home and no one would get killed.

I remember when classroom teachers could spank you.

I remember when parents did not let their kids hear them curse.

I remember when my mother would take me and my brothers to a drive-in movie with a bucket of chicken and a 2 liter bottle of grape soda.

I remember when my mother would buy food and tennis shoes/sneakers for us at the grocery store (*singing* Jeepers...Jeepers where'd you get those sneakers).

Finally, I remember when the thought of having an African American president was a skit on Saturday Night Live.


Tell us, what do you remember?

Photos: House in Hassell

I never get tired of finding out more about my family. I soak it up, write it down, and take a picture of it. Luckily, my grandfather is also nostalgic as he gets closer to 90 years of age in December. This is just a few of the pictures during my journey home. This is the NC I see. Hassell, NC.

Arrival

Wife is connecting with the land

Side view of great-grandma's house

Inside exploring the past...carefully

Remembering

Departure

Photography: N. S. Bess and S. Bess

*See More on Flickr*

Old Window: A Look into the Past

This is a photo I took of a window in the back of my grandfather's childhood home. I was brave enough to step into that old house that felt like it was about to give in to the weight of my body. It made every sound you can imagine as it moaned with my every step. I can remember when the house still had a strong life force.

It was 1979 -- the year before my grandfather's mother died. Back then, there were still farm animals about the house, an old dog, and scattered remnants of the fall harvest when I looked across the field. great-grandma Alice was suffering from Alzheimers. From her window in the back of the house, she saw me running and playing with the various farm animals. She called me over to the window and asked me, "Who boy are you?" I told her and she smiled, "You a good looking boy." I said thank you and smiled shly as I ran off to play more.

I came across her window a second time and she called me over to ask the same question. I answered as if it was my first time hearing it. I was pre-warned to do so by my aunt. After great-grandma Alice asked me the same question for a third time. I ran off to play only in the front of the house. I was 12 years old.

*See more pictures on Flickr*

A Hard Head Makes a Soft...

It was always a similar speech before momma left to go to work.



“I want this apartment cleaned up before I come home from work tonight. If it ain’t clean, y’all can forget about going outside this weekend. Calvin, I want you to cook tonight – just throw on some hotdogs and beans and don’t eat the whole pack. You get two hotdogs a piece. Stevie, it’s your turn to do those dishes tonight. I want my kitchen cleaned! Maurice, I want you to get in there and clean up that back room. It don’t make no sense how nasty it is. You should be ashamed of yourself.


After that, I want you to vacuum in the living room, and stay out of my living room after you finish. I don’t want y’all playing around in this apartment either. I mean no running, jumping, sliding, and especially no crashing! If I come back home tonight and find anything cracked, I’m cracking some butt. If I find anything chipped, split, or cut, I’m doing the same thing to your butt. You got me! I said, you got me!


“Yes, momma,” we all said with bowed heads as we walked her towards the door.


“Go ahead and get started on what I told you to do. When you finish y’all can go outside, but I want you back on this front when the street lights come on, you hear me?”



By this time, momma was two flights down as her voice echoed in the hallway.



We echoed back, “Okay, momma. See you tonight.”



Afterwards, we all looked at each and thought about everything momma said.



“Well, we better get started if we want to go outside,” Maurice said. “Shut up momma’s boy!” Calvin and Stevie shouted as they chased Maurice around the apartment with the sofa pillow.




Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mommas and Big Mommas. We love you. Enjoy your day. Peace~

My Drug Of Choice

I think that I am getting an overdose from chocolate.
I can never get enough.
Women speak of her pleasures all the time
but I'm one of her biggest fans from back in the day.
When I was in high school I would hang out after school
indulging in a chocolate medley that I still can't shake.
I could never eat her fast.
Uhh uhh...I would suck and lick until my heart was content.
I can still taste remnants of her on my lips as I lick.
I'm hooked for life and geekin' right now!
I'll never let her go
She is forever my concubine

Early Times Spent

I was in North Carolina this past weekend visiting my grandfather. He lives in Williamston. Williamston is located in Eastern North Carolina along the Roanoke River. My family has deep roots in that part of the state and Martin County specifically that goes back 150 years. My grandfather is a great source of information and a direct link to the past. He is a joy to talk to because he has become quite the conversationalist at 86 years of age. He arbitrarily talks about his youth and usually the happiest times of his life. He doesn't talk about past loves, but of past cars. I don't care what question I asked he would always mention the car that he owned around that time. I asked him about the time that he asked for my grandmothers hand in marriage in 1945. He responded with, "I had a green 1938 Chevrolet." He did mention that there was another girl that wanted him to marry her, but he wanted my grandmother especially. He also talked about the best car that he'd ever owned. It was a 1966 Dodge. He said that he paid for it in 8 easy payments from a private owner. I think that he talks about cars so much because he wants to drive again. He hasn't been able to drive since he took a fall and broke his hip. This is very difficult for a man that has spent most of his life behind the wheel. It meant freedom to him and most importantly mobility.
Eventually, he sent me on a mission for his favorite night cap, Early Times Kentucky Whiskey. I was given specific instructions on how to smuggle it in past my aunt and into his bedroom. I know...I was contributing to the dilequency of an elder, but I couldn't say no. Anyway, the mission was succesful and my aunt was none the wiser. He thanked me with a nod of his head and we continued to talk and watch television. I ended that weekend with the usual breakfast that I prepared for him before I hit the road. I made eggs and some good ol' North Carolina sausage with a side of Piggly Wiggly's Butter-Me-Not biscuits with peach preserves. He had his additional apples sauce and glass of milk to wash it all down. He finished his breakfast and said, "Thank ya, boy....that was good." I smiled and told him that I was glad that he enjoyed it. We talked a little after breakfast and he asked me his usual question about how long it would take me to get back to DC. I told him 4 hours and then he talked about the time he made it in 3 1/2 hours back in '67 along with his cousin, H Tom. Anyway, I eventually gathered my things and said my goodbyes. The road back was peaceful and reflective. I thought of my grandfather and how important he is to me. I also thought about how much he has influenced me as a man. I feel like I owe him so much; especially since I never gave him back the change from the bottle of Early Times Whiskey that I picked up for him.

Precious moments

Good morning!

It was a little difficult getting up this morning. I got in from North Carolina around 10:00pm and once I got settled in I slept clean through the night. It was a great little getaway despite the circumstances. I went to North Carolina to show support for my long time friend, Anthony, whose mother succumbed to Cancer last week. It's amazing how those tragic moments in life can bring about such pleasant ones in return. I got a chance to see a lot of friends whom I haven't seen in years. They were all there to support our friend who needed us. We hugged and embraced as we all met at Keisha's house. We talked about our lives and marveled at how much we've changed and how much we haven't. We listened to music, ate pizza, drank and laughed. It was at that moment that I realized my life and how precious it is. I appreciated seeing my friends, but I also appreciated the fact that I've evolved since High school. I'm not the same insecure teenager begging for their acceptance and friendship. I'm no longer part of group of kids competing for senior favorite. I stood there as a proud individual. I realized my manhood. Yep, it was that serious. :)

The best of that time in North Carolina was spent with my 86 year old grandfather. I got up yesterday morning and fixed him breakfast. I usually take over that task when I visit because my aunt does it all the time. He gets up at around 5:30 am and turns on the Western channel. Hip surgery has retired him to a chair in front of the television. So, he sits in front of that TV in his green lounge chair and he watches Westerns all day. It's funny because he could be the commentary on a Western DVD. He'd make little comments about individual cowboys and he even mentioned how early settlers eradicated the Native Americans that lived on the land. In between the mascares and bar fights on the televison we would have conversations. They were mostly about his life and his accomplishments. They were not huge milestones, but they were special to him and I respected that. I have so much to thank him for as a man. Well, it's time for my 10:15 am tea. Peace~

The Sweetest Thing I've Ever Known.....

Good morning-

This mornings walk to the subway was cool and brisk. I love the feel of the cool air on my face. It wakes up my senses and it makes me feel more alive. Life is beautiful and sweet. There is beauty in the moment that you see a June bug (rare in DC), or some other beautiful rare thing. It's the little things that mean so much. They are life's sweetners. If you put a little bit of sweetness into your daily existence the day would taste so much better. Yes! Life can leave a bad taste in your mouth sometimes.

This web diary is part of my quest to develop good habits. I want to read and write more and watch less television. Televison can rob you of your ambition. I can't let that happen! What are good habits vs. bad habits? Who decides that? I think that I decide what is good vs bad in terms of my habits. My cousin, Gary says that it is a matter of personal perception and how the individual perceives things. I believe that. Well, I won't get off into any ontological theories, but I just wanted to talk about that for a moment.

I am about to go on my break in a minute. I have my tea every morning at 10:15. It's one of my good habits. I prefer ginger tea with lemon and honey. It's just the right elixir to start my day off and it leaves a sweet taste. God bless my friend, Anthony Blount in Williamston, NC. His mother passed away yesterday. We called her Miss Loraine. Peace~

Photo:  A cup of coffee with plenty of cream