THIS IS MY COUNTRY

 

As a Black man should I celebrate the 4^thof July? I do every year and here is why.

I live here and have raised my family here like my father before me and his before him and so on.

Black men have fought in every war this country has ever had. I have an uncle, a Marine who fought in three of our wars -WWII, Korea and in Vietnam so that I wouldn't have to.

I've seen much of the country from coast to coast and it is beautiful.

Some things we did get right as a nation. I am proud that we have remained a democracy for over 243 years and that we still have both freedom of speech and freedom of religion. 

Also we are a diverse people of all races and cultures living here in America and I like that too.

These are just some of my reasons why I celebrate the 4^th of July every year but you decide for yourself. I know that there are also problems some of them running long and deep. Nevertheless my ancestors paid a heavy price just being here and I'm not going anywhere. This is where I belong, this is my country.

I've shared two links below to two Black artists who sang songs about America. As you listen to them ask yourself if these two men truly believed the words that they were singing? They sold me on it, I believe they too believe, THIS IS MY COUNTRY! 

This is My Country, Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions - 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlF2GzfU7DE

America The Beautiful, Ray Charles - 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FXN1Z6Q004

Photo - That's me on the far left with a group of family members.

The Intensity of Love

One Less Bell To Answer and Hey There Lonely Girl are two of my favorite love songs. The story they tell is not my own story, but the romantic intensity in these two tunes is something that I am very familiar with. First, in Marilyn McCoo's heartbreak song, 'One Less Bell to Answer,' the tears and the sadness of a breakup are right out in front for you to feel. As a young man when I first heard this song, my heart jumped in my chest. I felt such strong compassion for the young woman in distress that I yearned to comfort her. Then someone else did exactly what I couldn't do. It was singer, Eddie Holman who answered that bell. He came out with his song, 'Hey There Lonely Girl,' which passionately delivered all the love and compassion a brokenhearted young woman would need. His song was heavy-hearted and  achieved just the right 'yearning for love,' touch. Then he sang the very words that I imagined that I would've said. He promised to, "Kiss  her tears away." 

Well said Eddie, you took the words right out of my mouth.

The saga was complete. First came the brokenhearted cry, then a tender response and amazingly both of these songs seem to fit so seamlessly together. It's as if they were part of the same symphony. Don't miss these songs. Below are partial lyrics and links to listen to both of these beautiful songs. May your heart feel these emotions -if you dare. Enjoy the symphony.

                                                   One Less Bell to Answer

The 5th Dimension

One less bell to answer
One less egg to fry
One less man to pick up after
I should be happy
But all I do is cry
(Cry, cry, no more laughter) I should be happy
(Oh, why did he go)

Since he left my life's so empty
Though I try to forget it just can't be done
Each time the doorbell rings I still run
I don't know how in the world

To stop thinking of him
'Cause I still love him so
I spend each day the way I start out
Crying my heart out

One less man to pick up after
No more laughter, no more love
Since he went away (he went away)
(One less bell to answer) Why did he leave me
(Why, why, why did he leave)
(One less bell to answer)
Now I've got one less egg to fry…

(click the link to hear One Less Bell To Answer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjW_z02EjaA 

Hey There Lonely Girl

Eddie Holman

Hey there lonely girl, lonely girl
Let me make your broken heart like new
Hey there lonely girl, lonely girl
Don't you know this lonely boy loves you

Ever since he broke your heart you seem so lost
Each time you pass my way
Oh, how I long to take your hand
And say don't cry, I'll kiss your tears away

Hey there lonely girl, my lonely girl
Let me make your broken heart like new
Hey there lonely girl, lonely girl
Don't you know this lonely boy loves you

You think that only his two lips can kiss your lips
And make your heart stand still
But once you're in my arms you'll see
No one can kiss your lips the way I will
The way I…

(click the link to hear Hey There Lonely Girl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzgU5yEdUgI

 mo

I Just Wanna Stop

The whole family circa 1961 

 Most of the family circa 1968

I'm remembering the song, I Just Wanna Stop by Gino Vannelli  because it happens to be one of my favorite songs from the year 1978. The song's lyrics begin with; “When I Think about those nights in Montreal, I get the sweetest thoughts of you and me." When I listen to it now, it's not Montreal, Canada that I think about. Instead I think about my nights and days in  Orange, New Jersey where I once lived.  Isn't it  strange and wonderful how music can bring back our special memories? That year, 1978 was the last year my father was alive and my whole family unit of twelve was intact. After his death, life went on for my mother and her seven girls and three boys. Over the years there have been graduations, marriages, births and  a few of us moving far away. Then in 2001 we lost our mother too. 

Fast forward to the year 2020, now there are only five of us left out of  my original family of twelve. But it is not out of sadness that I write this. I am happy and grateful for the many wonderful experiences and memories I have had with my family. I've also added quite a few new family memories with my own wife and our two children and now with our three grand-children. Also I have nephews, nieces and even some great nieces and nephews. When I hear that song today, I personalize the lyrics a little to say, "I just wanna stop and tell you how I feel -about my family baby," and I feel at peace. The two old photographs in this post also take me back to the days when we were all together.

Some  of the song lyrics appear below, you can click on the title to hear this beautiful song.

I Just Wanna Stop

(For your love, for your love)
When I think about those nights in Montreal
I get the sweetest thoughts of you and me
Memories of love above the city lights
Ooh, I've tried so hard to take it
But oh Lord my heart won't make it

I just want to stop
And tell you what I feel about you babe
I just want to stop
I never want to live without you babe
I just gotta stop
For your love...

A Tribute

A tribute to my sisters Lydia & Lea whom I will miss and who's art and laughter the world will.

When the moon is in the Seventh House

And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets...
When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius
Aquarius
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding...

Both art majors and graduates of Montclair State University in the late 60s  free spirits who accomplished many groovy things in life. Lydia, went to live in Paris, France to pursue photography and later lived in London, England as well as Los Angeles, California -very groovy. Lydia has two groovy children. Lea became a Pan Am flight attendant and worked on a Pan Am Boing 747 "Clipper" jet and literally flew all over the world in a groovy heavy. Lea has two groovy children.

Lydia (left side of photo) sunset May 20, 2018

Lea sunset May 5, 2017

JAZZ . 1977 (The Lost Album)

The song It Happens Everyday from the album Free as the Wind by The Crusaders (formerly The Jazz Crusaders); is an exceedingly beautiful jazz composition. It kept finding its way into my Spotify App's "Liked" songs library over the past two years. For this reason, I finally checked it out to see where this Crusaders tune has been hiding for all of my life. Those of you who've read my previous blog post, Jazz Album Found after long search; know that I am a huge Crusaders fan. Upon downloading Free as the Wind, I remembered that I had briefly sampled it back in 77. However, I rejected it because I was disappointed that Wayne Henderson the trombone player had left the group. He was my favorite Crusader; it was he who inspired me to play the trombone myself. On account of this, I never gave the album's tracks a fair listen. I didn't purchase or record the album, I just forgot all about it -until now. 

Two night ago I finally listened to Free as the Wind and I was shocked to hear how good this album was. The album's material is very strong, driving, tense, funky, steamy, infectious, lovely, deep, wistful, melodic and insistently probing. So I've come full circle on this album and now I believe that it's one of the Crusaders finest! And to think I nearly missed out on it out of young and disdainful rashness. For all jazz lovers who want to check it out; click on the link:  Free as the Wind album-The Crusaders. I know you won't be disappointed.

Creativity

Oxford Dictionaries - Creative: Relating to or involving the use of the imagination or original ideas to create something. Would you describe God as being creative? 

Each light is an entire galaxy

The Guardian

I’m okay now and feel a sense of peace but three days ago on Tuesday night, I was in a pity pot and feeling depressed. But later at ten that  night our hot water heater started leaking. I had to spring into action to cut off the gas and drain that sucker with a water hose before it emptied  water all over the laundry room and kitchen floor.  It was a around twelve a.m. before I could get to  bed but the pity pot was gone for good. The following morning on a Wednesday, I went out early to Home Depot to look into buying a new gas hot water heater to replace our old one.  I wasn't able to get the problem fixed that day but nevertheless my day went fine. That same evening, I went for a walk on a walking trail near my home at around six o’clock p.m. to get some exercise. I hardly ever walk in the evening, I much prefer to walk in the morning but the water heater problem took up my morning. As I walked down my usual trail and reached my turn around point, I started back down the other way. It was then that I noticed  a woman and her child riding their bikes towards me on the trail. Nothing much seemed to be amiss  except that the little girl who looked to be about seven years old, was riding a bit wobbly on her bike. Just when we closed the distance between us, the young girl fell over on her bike right in front of me.  Then her mother who was following close behind her ran over her little girl’s back with her front wheel and then also fell over. The mother ended up with her bike resting in a tangled mess right on top of her child who was face down on the ground.  I immediately ran over to them and grabbed both wheels on the mother’s bike and lifted it off the child.   After she was freed from being pinned under her mother's bike the little girl got to her feet. Her mother also got up,  hugged her daughter  and said in disbelief, “I ran over you!”  Then she looked right at me and said, “You were right on time!” I couldn't help but smile and said, “I know, right? Which was all that I could think of to say at that moment because in wonder, I realized that no one else would have been in just the right place and at just the right time to help them!" Had I not changed my walking routine to go in the evening instead of that morning, I would not have been there. A few  long moments later a jogger ran past us but he would have been too late to be of much help. It’s not that I think that this mother and child couldn't have gotten up without my help; but I am certain that it would have been much more difficult. Without help, I believe that it would have been a much more traumatizing experience to them both, I just know it.

Now it's Thursday September 26, 2019 and although progress has been made on our hot water heater project it’s still not fixed. No big deal, although we had to shut off all the water in the house.  Fortunately, we have some bottled water to drink and a couple of buckets of water that I filed up for flushing toilets.  Tonight, though we’re going over to my brother’s house to take showers and we will let tomorrow take care of itself. Now going back to Tuesday, when I started this narrative what was my pity pot all about? Nothing really, I can't even remember why I was feeling down. I am prone to occasional bouts of self-pity. I've known about this tendency for self pity for years and I also know how to combat against it. I simply must do a quick prayer and harness spiritual power to change how I feel. However, sometimes I forget to use this power, you know what I mean?

This brings me now to the title to this piece, The Guardian.  You see, for the past ten years or so, I’ve been inwardly referring to myself as a "Guardian." I'm not a part of the Guardian Angels organization that I admire; who wear those sport, jaunty, red berets on their heads. It's just me. I started calling myself a Guardian in jest because I've had to intervene to help people facing physical danger on several occasions. For example, I once helped a man who fell over backwards in his chair at a restaurant and needed help getting up. Another time, I pulled a teenaged girl out of an overturned car that had crashed right in front of me while I was walking on a trail.  On another occasion, I pulled two women out of their car that was stuck on a train track just moments before a train smashed into it. The train plowed into their car and completely obliterated it but the two women were safe. Also, I once got a little girl down off of a cruise ship railing while at sea.  I don't know what I would've done had she fallen overboard into the sea -but I think I know. Then there's this current incident on the trail when the young girl and her mom fell off their bikes.  

It is my conviction that I have a duty to intervene when something bad happens right in my path. I believe that when I am out and about  I am on my watch! On my watch, I am going to do something to help anyone that needs help. I'll will of course also call the police or the fire department depending upon the circumstances. Hey!? Maybe I should wear a jaunty red beret, right? I do like hats and maybe I should have a t-shirt too with a big G on it for Guardian. Helping others also has it's rewards. It makes me feel good about others and about myself too.  Also feel gratitude to God who has allowed me to help some others. You know, this Guardian thing I do is partly the reason why I work out as much as I do. I work out for four or five times a week split between walking and going to the gym. It's to be in good shape in case I have to spring into action should I be called upon.

There is another aspect to all of this. On occasion I'll encounter someone in public that seems wary of me because I'm a black man. I've prayed not to mind their caution and suspicion and yes their fear. When I sense someone's unease, I'll try to telegraph a positive vibe towards them. One that communicates  something like the vibe in the Doobie Brothers Takin' It To The Streets song, (click on the link). It has lyrics that say, “You don't know me, but I'm your Brother."   

As for the leaking hot water heater at home, a friend who is a plumber replaced it for me on Friday with a brand new one. All is well again with our hot water heater.