JuicyLoveMagic

there are some things that i miss

oh...what do i miss?

afrekete meetings when everyone in the whole entire auc and everyone in atlanta between 18-26 came through and created mad ruckus and dramatic nonsense, but facilitated a space of community and "we're all in this togetherness".

i miss being around friends who i lovelovelove.

i miss dressing up for formal occasions and buying formal dresses just because i liked them, knowing that a double dose of prom, tolo, olot, winter ball, etc. would be coming just around the corner.

i miss holding hands with my friends and not thinking twice about anything other than how much i loved them.

i miss getting my hair washed and pressed every week at maude's hair design (actually i just miss the negro women's camaraderie in seattle at the beauty shopness).

i miss being vegan (sometimes).

i miss what it felt like to be a first year student at spelman in 1997 before the blingeration that is now the auc and atlanta. i miss riding the marta at night to yinyang with piper, teck, weone and company. i miss both the 'bomb clique' and the 'nappy crew'. i miss wearin' sweats and bein' hollered at with, 'wudup shawt. what yo name is?' oh i smile at the thought. i love the purple people and being obsessed with erykah badu and lesley makin' fun of me and gettin' surprise monetary gifts from adults just for being in college.

oh these things...

and as i write, the truth is, i'm truly comfortable and happy in the now. i don't really miss them. i do enjoy the memories and i know that those were some pretty awesome times in my life. i truly enjoyed it all. and while the last few years at spelman seemed to have colored my the memory of my entire experience with activism, women's studies, big mama, sisterfire!, afrekete and such, i do remember the times when i was krunk (before krunk was a word) to go to kaya (before it was visions) and sweat (still not rubbin' all up on folks). i remember when the dorm parties in lower manley really were the truth and girls basically got beat down (well, almost) at freshman week. i remember my bebe dresses (i STILL love bebe(s))--for those who like to incorrectly add 's' to the end of store names. i remember when i actually enjoyed market friday (before it became a meat market).

but what i really miss can't be described in words. it's an energy, an experience of community and music and dancing and love and life. it was something of celebration and freedom. consciousness and the desire to grow. it was building with five-percenters who really knew how to carry on a conversation. it was talking with folks who were doin' big things moving and shaking in the wild, magical, wonderful world of the atl music scene before coke, commercialism/commodification, and blingeration took over. oh my! it's funkjazzkafe, the revival, chocolate soul...it's a taste, a sense of community, a love come together...but why am i trying to describe it? if you were there, you feel me. if not, just imagine a social life with all your dreams come true...

and yes, i am one for nastalgia, but i really don't have a longing for those days. that's not what this is about. i give my school and atl rearin' a mighty grateful head nod. i know that it raised me in a way that seattle just wasn't equipped to do. and i look fondly on those times like i do my older brother or another parental unit who took me under their wing when my mother had done all she could.

so, i'm sending atl a smile. with all of its' wonderful and ridiculous beauty. thank you. thank you for helping me become the beautiful and glorious womyn i am today. i truly couldn't have gotten here without you.

love always,

l'

posted by Phoenix @ 5:27 PM