From the iPhone - 27, Aout

I want to make sure I record this:

IT IS TIME TO ANSWER THE CALL!!!

...finished "fleshing" WISDOM out of my system at a lovingly, surprising pace - slow...steady...smart...strong...mesmerizing!!!!

I am standing in front of my flat, after having one of the "truer" experiences here au jour dui!!!  Moi vie aux Paris will no longer be "muffled" by those that cannot comprehend it.

Independence allows for Freedom...Freedom allows for creativity!!!

Everything I have gone through over the past year(s) has prepared me to be right where I am - present and successful.

Merci Beaucoupe, Moi Anges!!!

I guess I am ready...'cause I am doing it!!!

BeNU = BE NOW

[I felt as if I were walking with destiny and that all my past life had been preparation for this hour and for this trial...I was sure I should not fail - WINSTON CHURCHILL]

Peace

From the iPhone - 14, October

This morning while folding my "fashion bounty" at the local LAVERIE I spied a young family - from Sweden, based on what I could hear of their speech - trying desperately to decipher the French hieroglyphics that pass as instructions for use of the Washer and Dryer. I could see they needed help.  As they determined just where to drop their Euro, no detergent was to be found.  Quelle Scandal!!!  I had 2 spare tablets and that had 2 loads - Seemed Obvious - so I extended my hand to the wife, just as her husband was finding his way into the FranPrix across the street.  This delighted the mother and her stroller-strapped son.  The father returned to the LAVERIE, euros saved, but with a suspicious look fixed on his mug...offering, "MERCI!?" 

"No Problem", I responded!

The joy came from the son, who following his mother's instructions said, "Bye, Bye!!!" to me while waving and flashing the most BEAUTIFUL smile!!!  He looked me in the eye and waved - his mother and father then flashing equally Brilliant Grins!  And they were off...machines on and spinning...they were out into the sun! 

Damn that felt MAGNIFIQUE!!!

Merci

Focus Demands Discretion

(I am posting this because I wrote it...kinda'...and refuse to waste time, but...lol)

Bonjour,

Ca va!?  I am.  Although, in keeping with this whole TRIP, it has not come easy, but fast!!!

One of the things I determined upon arriving on this soil is that I would avoid crazy at all costs!  The unfortunate part about that decree is EVERYONE here is here because of their crazy.  From the old woman ambling down the boulevard with the lil' dog...caca everywhere...to the unaffected musician/poser sculking around Pigalle to the Twinky Philipino Boys dressing the corners of Le Marais aching for that Sucre-Per...to the 16eme Doyenne hoping to live out the last of her days safe and HIGH...to the Out-of-Work Fashion Diva struggling to find worth in her soul after LIVING through the City of Lights!!!  It is these sorts of people...folk that have informed and quite honestly confounded my interpersonal dealings in Paris.  They're...we are all Crazy!

I remember a period in my NYC Life where all of my true/trusted friends opted out of being around me...citing changing times/attitudes/me as the reason.  I took it hard, listening to their words, but unable/willing to really hear what they were telling me.  You see, NYC is a city full of DRAMA and TALL TALES, just as Paris.  Apparently, the weight of my TAIL had grown too great for those I know and love.  I did not get IT at the time.  As I observed my loved ones negotiate around me...I also took the time to really question what all of this was about.  Per my Brother Chad - he felt PUT-upon...that my presence was somehow too much for him to handle as he negotiated NYC and his TALE!  It is for reasons just like this that NYC is a city full of KNIGHTS engaging every step of the asphalt jungle in FULL ARMOUR!!!

It is a new day...in a new city...with NEW GROWN folks and now I am being put to the test.  Focus demands Discretion.  As I am now at a period of truly owning and honing myself/life/art I realize that I cannot allow just every beautiful face/spirit in my space.  I am open...receiving/processing all that Life is presenting me.  However, as my Brother Carlton advised, I must guard my blessings...my light.  Not everyone is ready...even if they say they are.  Also, I might not be ready for what they bring to me (making me feel put upon)..and thus distracted!

As beautiful as everything here appears, I have come to realize the facades are fine tuned!  I do not believe they are all bad people, quite the opposite.  I am encountering lovely people who find folly in this game of deciphering and determining their environments.

Lucky for me I am NOT THAT INTERESTED!

LOVE is soooooooooo powerful.  Focus is soooooooooooooo Beautiful.  My story is the only one I am interested in truly entertaining these days, preferring to employ discretion when anything outside of that pops up!

In the end EVERYONE has a Tale big or small, but life only affords the opportunity to outfit ONE... your's!  Do not ever let the weight of someone elses presence so cloud your judgement...steal your light...confound the steps along your path...we know that.  However, steering clear of CRAZY may prove a bit more difficult.

This IS life...and people have their baggage...just do not try to place it on my cart to carry!  I can help, but I have got enough on my TAIL already!!!


peace

Bon Jour moi VIE

Greetings All...I know this probably should not be, but it is my first entry into the world of Blogging from Paris.

I have settled...kinda' in to my flat in the 17arr.  I have seen and sourced all of the best Boulangerie in the area.  I found my NATURALIAs.  I have even gotten lost enough to call upon a FranPrix every 2 or 3 Rues.  I wandered through Montemarte and gotten smoked-out lovely with Pierre, while planning my artistic takeover.  I have meandered through to the Marais, where the only thing I found recognizable was the PORTAGE Le Marais - the Bio restaurant I love.   I have even spotted the Siene.

What I do not have as of yet is a connection.  As much as getting here seemed to give me the grandest of headaches, the quest now becomes how does one capitalize on the moment?  That has always been my issue.

In as much as I want to honor this opportunity, I am terribly afraid that I am wasting everyone's time...worst of all Julien - he that has been waiting and creating for me in my absence, as well as honing his artistic ear.

Guide my feet along this path I am beating, informing my foot-falls so my mistakes are never so great that I cannot learn and grow from them...and my successes are bountiful.

Ok...sandwich au poulette is calling.

A bientot.

BTW - J'adore Paris!!!

The Answer

novaplanet.com

J'ai trouvé ma voix

I recently lost/misplaced/threw-out/can't find my replacement contacts, so walking around NYC these days is LITERALLY a blur of memories. 

I love the notion of being detached from the finite details that are weighing-on Gotham, however retracing and retreading those once rouge-stained by-ways is often depressing and UNinspiring.

This sentiment was punctuated as I made my way around the Studio Museum of Harlem's current exhibit - 30 Seconds off an Inch.  Conceptual art has always caused me a bit of a quandry and with my current visual-state the exhibition was particularly confounding.  However, artist Glenn Ligon, whose simple, smart, pointed and poetic pieces have always struck a chord, once again gave me pause.

I FOUND MY VOICE...the stenciled print smeared-down the canvas...or smeared-up into the clear words.  I FOUND MY VOICE...screamed-out from this upstairs, back wall to remind me THAT I HAD!!!  [LoL]  I FOUND MY VOICE...four simple words, rendered in black against this white canvas [over and over again] brought a giggle to my lips and a relaxing of my hips.

I FOUND MY VOICE I FOUND MY VOICE I FOUND MY VOICE...

As I pulled back, unsquinted my eyes and straightened up...the giggle morphed into a FULL-ON Laugh - loud, robust and uproarious. 

The BLUR that greeted my every step on the walk home was buoyed by the realization...clarity...resolve...truth that art brings for me - I FOUND MY VOICE.

Thanks Glen...thank you Harlem...Thank you NYC Fam...Thank You Art...Thank you LIFE...THANK YOU CLARITY!

Tired of wasting time, energy, and braincells here.

Now...GIT ME ONTO Paris!!!! 

 Show romanization

J'ai trouvé ma voix ... et je suis prêt à l'utiliser!

peace

I am SICK and TIRED...

...of being SICK and TIRED!!!

I just hope that I am not TOO sick or that would be REALLY tired!!!