Fall 2019 Playlist: Free Write
So I decided this summer, to create a playlist for the season. Put some songs together that reminded me of specific people, places or things. It all started at The Read Live in DC. They were playing so MANY good songs before the show started, I had to find them and at them to my Spotify Rotation.
That Playlist is the perfect way for me to get all up IN my feelings, cuz this past summer was life changingly awesome and horrible, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. It’s always good to repeat an excellent Idea, so I made a Fall 2019 one as well. I present, some thoughts about life thanx to Spotify.
Issa Photoshoot
Aye, I’m CUTE.
I don’t know if you knew. You should know . . . I’m getting cuter by the day. Shouts to My Personal Trainer. I’ve lost about 30 more pounds this summer . . . I’m wearing clothes I never thought I would. I set goals that would have been outrageous 6 months ago, and now, completing them by the end of the year seems very possible.
Unfortunately, with the Glow Up comes the stragglers. Folks that wouldn’t give me the time of day 50 or 100 pounds ago. Now it’s, “Heeeeeeeeeey MJ, you are doing so good. I’m proud of you. You should call me.”
Why? I’m the same MJ . . . just smaller. If you wasn’t tryna drink out the 2 Liter, you can’t get the 20oz, ya dig?!?! Also, I can’t call you. . . . My Personal Trainer doesn’t allow me to train with other people 😉
Can’t Be Broken
So many times in the last year, I’ve felt like . . .It can’t get any worse. Nothing else could come into my life what is harder to understand than this thing I’m trying to heal from right now.
Then . . . Here comes Harder. Some kind of way, I keep fighting my way out. I keep clawing my way out of the low places I’ve found myself in. That’s the lesson – You can Always Get Out.
Even though it feels like there is no hope. You will get out of it. I know it seems impossible. I know the weight feels like it’s trying to break your chest ON PURPOSE. But you getting out of it, will let you know just how Strong you are.
You Don’t Know
Jill Scott made this album before I grew up. When it first came out, I wasn’t really feeling it. I listened, then went back to the albums I already loved. The vibe of the album didn’t appeal to where I was in my life.
A year ago, I listened to it again, and realized why Jill Scott had changed in the last few year. She grew the fuck up. She realized the type of love she was looking for required Preparation . . . Sacrifice . . . . SelfLessNess. Things I’m STILL trying to learn about.
I can’t believe how hard it is to try to build a LIFE with someone. To have to get out of your own head . . .let go of your own shit . . . make them let go of theirs . . . and try not to fuck it up by assuming the worst about EVERYTHING.
It Ain’t Yours to Throw Away
Look, Nashville had some GOOD ass Music.
I’ve had some days y’all. I’ve had some days where it seemed like being around wasn’t helpful to anyone else. One of those days, I put my phone on shuffle, and this song came on 1st.
What if you’re just a vessel,
And God gave you something special,It ain’t yours to throw away
It ain’t yours to throw awayEvery time you open up your mouth,
Diamonds come rolling out
It ain’t yours to throw away
How can you hear those words . . . and not feel like God was sending you a gentle reminder? It ain’t over yet. Its the life I gave you . . . so only I can take it from you. Check on your Strong Friends.
Wonder
Being a teacher is HARD. It’s not hard cuz you have to teach kids how to read. It’s hard because you have to Heal Children, AND teach them how to read. Every day, some child is looking at me, hoping I can help them with whatever ails them.
Then, we all have a moment. A Silly Moment in Class. The 1st time one of my students had Pop Rocks . . . Extreme Wonder on his face. The Wonder in small kids, learning new things. Finally making sense of a word, or a math problem. The Pride on their face.
That’s why I’m still a teacher. Giving something like that to a child. Being blessed enough to be able to do that. When things get bad . . . I can always remember, that I can bring wonder into a child’s eye.
That Blessing . . . Is not Mine to Throw Away.
The Love We Had Stays On My Mind
I’ve been trying to figure out how to write this blog. The 1st blog after I lost my WHOLE Heart. My whole world is different, because my Mother died.
I had a plan for this summer. It didn’t include this. I made the dopest playlist ever {See Below} . . and made my plans to travel all over. Then . . .
Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer.
The foundation I’ve rested on . . . started to crumble. I reached out to my people . . . because we had decided we were going to just . . . Live the Best Summer Ever.
Together. Me and My Mommy.
- Life got in the way.
- Other peoples issues got in the way.
- 600ML of Fluid on her Lungs got in the way.
She started saying her goodbyes. She left messages for me with her friends. Directions on how to function without her.
She was tired.
I gave her permission . . .to stop fighting. To Stop being a Warrior for me. I told her everything. My plans, the back-up plans, and the people who were going to help me meet those goals.
Now She’s Gone.
- Moving on feels like the Worst Thing Ever.
- Being Happy feels like the Worst Thing Ever.
- Because she’s Gone . . . and That’s the Worst Thing Ever.
To My Brothers: Thank You. Thank you the calls, for coming, for sitting right next to me as I said Goodbye to My Mother. Thank you for the Hangouts conversations, the cards, the everything you’ve done.
To Stacey: I’m so Grateful for the way you Loved My Mother. Thank you for being ME, when I couldn’t be there. I’ll never be able to repay you for the last 2 years.
To Emmanuel: Thank you for picking me up off the ground. Thank you for helping me pick up the pieces. Thank you for being You.
To Kaitlyn, Raji, Diamond, Aaliyah, Chavi, Jo, Nisha, Dom, and Michelle: Thank you for being my Sister Circle. For answering every text and call . . .for letting me cry, and vent, and breathe . . .for the Spanish Inquisitions, Disney Adventures, and Gourmet Meals.
To The Cousins: Thank you for surrounding me with Love. Thank you for the arguments, and chicken wings, and bottles of liquor, and stop overs, and UFC Fight Nights. For loving my goofy ass dog, and checking on me daily. I promise to be around more, because If i don’t, Joyce will haunt me.
Thank you to anyone who sent a prayer, positive thought, text, message, smoke signal, edible, hug, emmisary on their behalf. I don’t have enough words to say it. So Just . . .
Thank You.
Protected: You Make Me Wanna…..
RIP Nipsey
I can’t believe that Nipsey’s death is effecting me like this. I’m not a “fan.” I listened to Victory Lap maybe twice . . . while driving to Maryland. Not my bag . . but I’d seen him and Lauren London on Instagram and Twitter. And they looked HAPPY. Not the bullshit Hollywood faux Happy. But they loved every flaw and crevice of each other. This makes no SENSE. Just a life, wasted. Somebody with such drive to empower his people, doing things everyday in the community he grew up in. A whole generation of children without his . FOR WHAT?!?!?
This probably has more to do with some news I got earlier this week. I feel like a friend just died. His light just went out. His son will never have a relationship with him, at least not during the formative years. I just can’t believe he did this. And I can’t talk to him and find out. I’m just out here, wondering how the fuck he got here. Life is CRAZY right now.
I feel like Black Folks are just at war with ourselves at this point. Has the burden finally become too much? Has we finally folded under the generation pressure? This Nipsey shit scared me. In Front of His Daughter?!?! The Streets don’t have a code AT ALL no more?
This summer is going to be A LOT. For everyone. I’mma stay prayed up. Ya’ll should too.
03/06/2019: Free Write
*Today’s soundtrack is my saved song library on Spotify*
Wonder – Emili Sande
I’ve been afraid to write this year. Not because I don’t have anything to say, it’s just that what I feel like writing is hella personal. Remember when everything I posted was relevant to everyone, had a kind of global feel? When it was social commentary and satire blogs? The past 3 years have just been . . . me.
I told myself I’m going to publish whatever comes out tonight. So here we go . . .
Might Not Be Ok – Kenneth Wallum
Depression is a thing. The latest wave . . . took me ALL the way under. Crawling inside myself and still trying to function on 0%. The good news, I’m coming out of it. I called a therapist yesterday, set up an appointment for ASAP. I’ve been faking the funk for quite some time, and last week just slapped me dead in my face. Thank God for music, and friends you can be 100% honest with.
My circle sho’nuff saved me this week.
I Gotta Find Peace of Mind – Lauryn Hill
First of all, FUCK YOU SPOTIFY. Here we go. So I met a guy. He was amazing. It was amazing . . . then it was over. {*SeePreviousSection} This song reminds me of him. I miss hanging out with him. Conversing with him filled a hole I forgot even existed. I got used to it too soon. Losing it was NOT awesome. There are more Words . . . Thoughts . . . and Feelings. . . but those will go in the blog I don’t post.
Big Green Tractor – Jason Alden
Hilarious!!! I love this song. It reminds me of a student I had at the Tucson JCC. I asked what he wanted to sing in circle time, and he said, “Big Green Tractor!” I was like, that’s a kid song I don’t know, which is rare. Then he sang it . . . I was like DAMN he’s white as HELL!
I know all the words to this song. Because I like it. Because I listen to country music. Because some of my friends do. Because some of my friends are white as HELL. I grew up with them. So I have learned to not feel uncomfortable in white as HELL situations. . . . [however If I see bikers or too many trucks, I’m Out!]
Spar (feat 6Lack & Kodak Black)
This is definitely in the Summer 2018 playlist. Whew, I miss Malachi! I do better when I have a running buddy. Someone who is always ready to go out, and get into something new. I had Bono for that in AZ, and Malachi here. I gotta figure out who that’s gotta be, ‘cuz I want to explore Detroit: The Gentrified Version. I’ll look at all the white people with derision, but I want to go throw a Got Damn Ax!
This summer, I’mma be running around in booty shorts and crop tops. If I can CONSISTENTLY take my ass back to the gym, it’s gonna go DOWN. At least 10,000 steps a day and water workouts, ya’ll not READY. I’m going Fowling, and indoor skydiving, and ropes courses.
I’m looking forward to it.
*editor’s note*
Creep – sung by VINCINT
As I was packing up, this song came on. VINCINT’s version of this song, is the 1st time I ever actually listened to the damn lyrics . . . because sad white boys do this song at Karaoke all the damn time. I tune them out, it’s usually the bathroom break.
VINCINT’S interpretation of this song . . . is me walking through the world.
Every. Single. Day.
2018: The Love Letter Edition
You Bring Me Joy, when I’m down . . .
Thank you, for being my friend. Thank you for accepting all my flaws, and making me feel beautiful, on even my ugliest days. Your smile lights up my day, even if I don’t see it until the end of the night.
I Like Your Face, Loser.
You’re the Finest Thing I’ve seen in all my Life. . .
Thank you. I couldn’t have planned for you in a million lifetimes, and yet I know this happened on purpose for a reason. Your honesty has gotten me through some hard shit . . . and I’m forever grateful.
You Know I Got You, Right . . .
Thank you for trusting me. It meant the world to me. Thank you for making me understand the true meaning of friendship. If ever you need me, all you have to do is call.
You’re All I Need To Get By . . .
Thank You, for always reminding me who I was raised to be. Thank you, for listening to my angst and helping me work through it. Thank you for sacrificing for me when you shouldn’t have, and for loving me enough to do so.
You My NIGGA . . .
Nigga, I’m so glad our friendship survived this move! Summer 2019 is the travel goals. Passports and er’thing. Damn the Man! Also, who would have thought OKC would create a genuine friendship?!?!
You Are My Best Friend . . .
I missed you, when you were gone. I’m so glad we came back to each other. I don’t understand life when you aren’t there. I can’t picture life, without you right by my side. I Love You.
I don’t know what I’d ever do without you,
From the beginning to the end.
You’ve always been here right beside me,
So, I’ll call you my Best Friend
Hopefully, you figured out which one was directed at you. Thanks for making 2018 great for me!
