African ShowBoyz from Binaba, Ghana in West Africa. Enjoy the ENERGY!
(I didn't record this video, but I was at this recorded performance.)
Due to my own choices -- some brave, some dumb --
I got separated from nearly all of my material possessions in life.
At this writing, all that I own fits in a couple suitcases, and backpack.
It's an incredibly light way to be in the world.
That lightness of being adds ironic weight to my memories, though.
Sometimes that weight is valuable and instructive.
Other times, it's haunting and burdensome.
Most of these ephemeral treasures
are stored in my head and heart.
Many are on my phone.
I'm a bit of a digital hoarder, now.
Old texts. Old voice messages. Old pictures.
They've probably become too precious to me.
So maybe by honoring them, a little at a time, here and there...
I can make peace with those memories that seem at war with me.
Fighting to be... shared? (We'll see how this one goes.)
This was the photo that started this walk down memory lane, lol.
Of course the pics are all date and time-stamped.
So it's easy to know that on the day I took this picture at Daley Plaza,
I was on my lunch break (worked at a big, fancy advertising agency).
Well, African percussion feels more like my name
than even "Erika" does. It really calls...
So whatever busy-bee errands I had lined up for myself
that afternoon, would now have to wait.
I stood as close to the stage as I could, and let the beats renew me.
I got clean of the gimmicky-gunk that made up much of my day.
Groups of 'strangers' danced together, because Chicago is a musical place.
Sure, there is more gray than green, but the concrete jungle is redeemed a bit
by its unique ability to get wildly different people, dancing together.
Those who dance together, have a chance together. πππΎ
While bouncing to sounds that made my heart so happy,
I raised my hands, and danced my thanks
for the powerful speech of the drums,
that momentarily silenced goofy chatter,
and played instead, a pulse of life.
Dat-dat. Dat-dat. Rada-tadata-taDAT!
Dark chocolate brown goodness sounded out
reverberation from Africa, all into the the Plaza,
and into us, the attracted people.
Your pupils, are portals. ποΈποΈ
ππΎ Please do check out that linked and UNDER-VALUED post,
friends, which is largely unpaid because SteemVoter seems to have been on the fritz?
Has anyone else experienced sudden vanishings of your regular (auto) voters?
Or noticed your own auto-set votes missing from the posts
of those you automatically support? I did.
Those make up more than half our Steemit income,
for some of us, so when it goes down, yikes!
Your manual upvote ON THIS ONE
is especially appreciated. Thank you. ππ½π
Come to Anarchapulco and/or Anarchaforko!!
Get 10% off registration of Anarchapulco's main event
(workshops don't apply) by using the coupon code: defiance
πSending Big Love to My Windy City β€οΈ
I remember wearing this dress, and thinking to myself:
"I sure would like a life where I could just wear something
like this ALL THE TIME. And my hair could just be
WHAT IT NATURALLY IS, and not just when I'm on vacation!"
(Which I wasn't, hence the straightening... because, yes,
I had actually once been told my natural hair was unprofessional...
and that hateful comment stuck around longer than it ever should have.)
I wanted to be a blended person.
I felt the cracks of fragmented living, and it hurt.
Now, while not perfect, I DO have a sunny,
tropical, creative, self-directed, healthy, and
mostly-happy life where I can wear whatever I want,
and regularly practice the execution of my dreams.
And I wouldn't dare scorch or torch my hair
with heat or chemicals now. For anyone. For any reason.
I am thankful for the simple sweetness of my life. ππ―
Thank YOU for being part of it!!
π§‘βοΈπ
Special Shout-Out To My Radiant Sister In Re-Creation, Fenesha Hubbard, With Whom I've Shared Many SuperMoments!! β€οΈπ₯
FREE HUGS! On State Street, sharin' the love.
Hi Erika, as you know I am a fan , and your share made my day. Thank you.
I donβt know how to auto vote but surely when I see you in my feed I am glad to send some love your way.
Thank you so much, @lorilikes :-) Fan-girl flames, back 'atcha!
am glad to see there is so much african culture represented on steemit
@monjan, am glad to see there's an appreciation for it! :-)
I love this! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks, @laurataylor! So happy you're here! xo
Well continue spreading the love its amazing, it's been quite a long time Erika?
Thanks, @josediccus! Yes, it has been quite awhile. Where ya been? :-)
I've been sick, nearly a month,band since I came back like two weeks ago, it's been hard climbing the ladder again on steemit, real hard πππππ
And you?
I definitely live in the wrong country. Wish I could have been there..
Argh, now Iβm homesick for Chicago, I need to get back and visit old friends. I have never used voting bots but it would be disappointing if they werenβt doing what you wanted them to. Iβm that old school guy who votes manually, I find it helps me to stay in touch with those I follow.
The music is so fun! I would have been dancing too! And by the way...your hair looks wonderful natural. I have a sister/friend/neighbor who is from Anguilla and when she wears her hair natural with those little ringlets it is so beautiful! I like it much more than when she straightens it.