I think, from talking to some, that many people forget the details of this day. Because they are busy bustling around, trying their hardest to remember everything — trying to keep their guests happy while maintaining sanity… We had none of that. There were 7 guests. No fear, no stress, and maybe just a little nervousness. It was after all a pretty important day. We’re waiting for the pictures to be edited…but for now, enjoy this — my favorite. :)

A week ago, I became your wife. A week ago you became my husband. As the minister said, we have been connected on a “soul” level for as long as existence has been. But for this marriage to be official on this earthly plane is so wonderful!

I know it has “only” been a week. But I get it now. I get how it is amazing and beautiful and “different” from the before. I get how it changes us. How we immediately figure out what it’s all about and how we still have so much more to learn too.

I can’t wait to see where this life will lead us. I am just as excited today as I was one week ago as I will be for life… to spend my days with you.

With Love,

Your Wife

“Every girl gets her dreams
Cast into reality
Never seemed to bother me
Only just recently

‘Cause you seem to believe
That we’ll never be free
Always gonna be needing

Can’t we be
Like the season’s trees
Changeably
Just not so easily

All in all we’re the same
Jumping through hoops of flames
Sounds fun, what a dangerous game
Pretty picture trapped in frame

But you seem to behave
Like we’ll always be slaves
Never running away

Can’t we be
Like the season’s trees
Changeably
Just not too easily

‘Cause you seem to believe
That we’ll never be free
Always gonna be needing

Can’t we be
Like the season’s trees
Changeably
Just not so easily”

I spent the weekend with my beautiful 9 and 11-year-old Goddaughters. (“Tweenagers” they tell me. Really?  I’ve never heard of such. But anyway.) These girls are extremely intelligent and imaginative… as most children are when given the chance to express themselves. Aside from getting my tail whipped in Uno by the little one, (grrrrrr) much of the weekend was spent listening to music.

We sat down to listen to Janelle Monáe’s The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) from start to finish. I expected some resistance, but there was none since we’ve already studied the first Suite of the Metropolis series. They’re accustom to my quirky ways so they usually go along with the flow.

With eyes closed, we let the music speak to us… telling whatever story it needed to tell.  And we shared these stories with each other at the end of each movement or “break” in the album’s arrangement.  I sat in awe as they told stories of monarchs, dancing villagers, and short-limb gong playing troupes who wore chocolate-colored leather sandals and feather covered flowing garb. There were princes and princesses, a unicorn, processions of loyal subjects and lots and lots of color. All of this surrounding tales of love, grief, courage and excitement… it was truly inspiring. The creativity of a child’s mind will never cease to stun me with its beauty.

I found joy in sharing Janelle with these girls.

But then, this album is nothing short of a creative masterpiece that lends itself directly to allowing the listeners mind to roam free. The album IS a story. Based loosely on a 1927 German film of the same name.  A tale of love and the quest for not only personal freedom but victory in a war fought for an oppressed populace - truly beautiful. Listen to it from start to finish. Create your own story, or allow yourself to drift away in Janelle’s vision.

In a generation of non-artistic teeny bopping would be artists, Janelle shines brightly. Her work brings hope to an industry supported by people who no longer value music and lyric as the art that it once was.

For today, enjoy this piece. The perfect ending to a stunning work of art. “Babopbyeya”

Fear of unknown. Of doing “wrong”.
Fear of being different…

True fear.

Haunting thoughts of finding a next meal.
An immediate threat to life. 
A dying child.

Friends. There are things to fear. Most of us DO NOT EXPERIENCE THESE THINGS…

We have SO MUCH! We have nothing to fear. Nothing to worry over. NOTHING.

LIVE. YOUR. LIFE.

Don’t worry about things that you cannot control.
Don’t worry about what others might think if they knew… whatever it is.

What others think of you is immaterial. Fuck them. Do You.

What matters is that you EMBRACE THIS LIFE. LIVE this life.
In traditional or non-traditional, extreme or simple, but all beautiful ways.

Explore that which interests you.
Evolve.

Fall. In. Love. Every single day.

With the new. The exciting.

Detach yourselves from the trend and the norm.

Because there is no trend. There is no norm. We have created these things. And they Hold. Us. Back.

He’s twice the size of his sister (Sassy — adopted by my mother) and we’ve just started measuring his food more closely so the beast can grow into his gigantic belly.