Becoming the drum.

Today I got paid 25 dollars to take an African drumming lesson with three of my coworkers at Jefferson Middle School. What I learned in it was priceless.

The drummer was an older, African-American gentleman, who had a lot of wisdom and magic to share. You can imagine what it was like for me at an African drumming lesson. After outright calling me a "sissy" (jokingly of course), he explained to me and my two male coworkers the history of West African drumming. He said that, the big conga drums were recently invented in the late 1800s. Before that, the women were the drummers. In this matrilineal society, women were very strong indeed.

Then we started drumming. The drummer explained to us about rhythms he avoids (Haitian Voodoo and others) and then taught us some basics. It was so amazing to participate. He told us to just improvise (where I was called a sissy, yet again) and not to think. Become the drum he said. It is so awesome to be in sync with other people. Your in a tight circle, knee to knee, four people in constant eye contact.

After we finished drumming, the drummer explained to us that three white people drumming could change the world. He said that when people of his generation talk, you can automatically tell the gender,sex and race of the person they are talking about, but not so for our generation. He said that this generation will not let this country continue on its current path of destruction (He specifically mentioned Afghanistan). He ended by posing what he said is the question of our generation. He said:

"Are you the one? Yes, you are the one."

Looking.

I find myself looking for you lately.

Maybe its because my life right now is completely unstressed, for the moment at least. Maybe its because I want to share it with you.

Narnia is not the same without you. Can I find you?

The Call

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word

And then that word grew louder and louder
'Til it was a battle cry

I'll come back
When you call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never
Been this way before

All you can do is try to know
Who your friends are
As you head off to the war

Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light

You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye

Now we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget

Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
'Til they're before your eyes

You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say good bye

-Regina Spektor

The Sacred Forces of the Universe

My anthropology professor ended the final class period saying "May the sacred forces of the universe keep you safe,well, and grant you happiness." This made me wonder...what exactly are the "sacred forces of the universe."

In chemistry and physics we learn that there are forces that bring things together (attractive) and forces that push things apart (repulsive).

In biology we learn about the forces of nature. Genetics, ecology, climatology.

In philosophy we learn that there are human forces. Emotional bonds between people. Political forces. Economic forces.

Are these the sacred forces of the universe?

Well, if the universe is the keeper of these sacred forces, I send the following message in response to those repulsive forces keeping us geographically isolated: I miss you.

Logan and I were driving to our softball game last night, and we happened to get lost in a place I had been before. We drove right past Rachel's church, and that little river that's there, where we walked around that one time, when we got to her recital early. Reminded me of you.