For the white person who wants to know how to be my friend, the first thing you must do is forget that I am black. Second, you must never forget that I am black. - Pat Parker

Gray, white, red, purple and pink

Today I took a different route to school, which led me to the waterfront along Elliot Bay (in the Puget Sound). It was a beautiful Seattle day, it was overcast and gray, the mountains hidden behind a shadow of mist. There was a lite, cold breeze coming off the water and the temperature must have been a cool 54 degrees (in the Fahrenheit). I love water, I love how water moves back and forth, tiny molecules of hydrogen and oxygen fighting to stay in bonds, moving in waves, licking the rocks. The water in Puget Sound is magical. Seattle is magical, but that's another post, today we're talking about the water.

I'm convinced God lives in the water. I know what some of you are thinking, isn't that a band or something? No, that's God Lives Underwater and they broke up two years ago. God lives IN the water, not under it. I don't even know what that means, but it somehow feels right.

As I walked along the waterfront, I spotted a seagull. Seagulls are beautiful, and annoying. They aren't as annoying as pigeons, but they are annoying when you're on a ferry and they surround you thinking you're going to throw them part of your hotdog, pretzel, or sandwich meat. However, in the air they look gorgeous. They also look gorgeous on the water. In the water. On the water.

I've always loved nature, especially animals. I could sit and watch a squirrel in a park forever and not get bored. I actually talked to a squirrel in a park once, but, again, that's another post. This particular seagull was floating on the water looking for food. I watched it for what seemed like an hour. In reality, it may have been five minutes, it may have been 20, I don't know. But I was enraptured with this creature. I followed it down the waterfront as it traveled in search of a meal. It saw me and watched me off and on as we traveled together. At one point, he discovered something he desired to partake of, diving his head underwater and pulling up a bright red crab about the size of my fist. Apparently, the crab did not take such a liking to the seagull as it quickly began pinching the seagull around the beak and facial area. Wisely, the seagull let the crab continue on with its day.

A few feet down, the seagull discovered another possible tasty treat. Darting its head between two rocks, the seagull pulled out a starfish bigger than my outstretched hand. The starfish was amazing. First, I hadn't considered that starfish actually lived in the Sound. Second, the starfish was a deep purple color, its underside being a light pink. Another gorgeous creature. The starfish's best defense was quickly realized as it slipped out of the seagull's beak back into the water. This made the seagull very angry as it dove two or three times to try to regain its prize meal. Unfortunately, it was unable to do so, and continued its search.

In time, he left the water to perch on the rocks, and it was my time to go. I thanked the seagull, I thanked God in the seagull, I asked God to thank the seagull for me. As I walked to school I got caught behind a train, but that was just fine with me. It gave me time to remember and think about my friend the seagull, my friends the starfish and the crab, and my God that lives in the water.

Beauty is waiting...

THE CANVAS WAITING
"OPENER"

Content on just getting by another hour then you’ll waste away another night
Disguise your scars with a smile attempt to hide away from arms that are reaching
You’re burnt out on everything so give up this charade because there’s beauty waiting

In your eyes there’s a heart that’s on fire and a girl that walks these streets alone
Well she cant go home she cant go home again

Content on just getting by another day then you’ll waste away another life
You’re burnt out on everything so give up this charade because there’s beauty waiting

In your eyes there’s a heart that’s on fire and a girl that walks these streets alone
Well she cant go home she cant go home again
It’s so hard for you to believe in anything or anyone
When your already let down its just another let down

All the promises you made and all the times I tried to make you proud
It’s so hard to jump when you can’t see the ground
And in your absence I have found that in your absence I have learned to live without

In your eyes there’s a heart that’s on fire and a girl that walks these streets alone
Well she cant go home she cant go home again
It’s so hard for you to believe in anything or anyone
When your already let down its just another let down

What's wrong with my picture?

Today I was walking to buy a Slurpee. I saw a woman who was struggling to carry a heavy box. I helped her. She was pretty. A few blocks later I saw a homeless person sleeping in a doorway. Four more blocks till Slurpee time. On my way back, I saw the homeless person still sleeping. I had forgotten that I saw them in the first place. I looked for the lady with the box, though. She was gone from the spot where I left her.

I am ma I

I'm 24 freakin' years old, yet I still look at people that are 26-29 and think, "Man, those people are so much older than I am."