The Manrilla Blog | Life. Art. Religion. Culture.

Today, I finally got some stuff up for the United Muslim Movement’s Web site: ummonline.org. I’m in the process of a complete site redesign for them but at least there’s something there. Mostly just waiting on content. The site will feature goings-on at the mosque as well as a Blog. Stay tuned for more.

…some things don’t change. I had a weird, connect-the-dots experience today. I was listening to a great album by Carmen McRae, Alone, Live At the Dug (1973). The lead of track on this disc is the Herman Hupfeld song, As Time Goes By, made famous in the movie, Casablanca. A great tune, sung wonderfully by one of the all-time greats. But it was the title that spurred me to thought - as time goes by… What? What happens as time goes by? I’ve commented several times lately on the phenomenon of Time. Seems to be weighing heavily on my thoughts. Read more this entry »

I was chatting with my friend, Charles, this evening. I was talking to him about trying to walk this spiritual path and how that path can be laden with obstacles. We shared a laugh saying that we (meaning Black folk) need to work harder at beating down obstacles and doors versus each other. I don’t know why, but it just sounded funny. Good advice, though, none the less. Thanks, Charles. Peace.

Well, here it is, as promised. A feature legnth (17 minutes and 37 seconds) production of my 3-day trip to Madison. Written, edited and directed by yours truly. It is a whopping 37mb in size so please take that in mind while it loads. Here’s the direct link. You can down load it as well, if you wish. I will burn a hi-rez DVD for those intrested. Just contact me. So turn on your speakers, turn up the volume, pop some pop corn, sit back and enjoy the show!

For those who want to get involved, here’s a needs list that has been put together by the Mayor’s office:

• Storage Containers (Rubbermaid bins or ‘dressers’ for each evacuee)
• Safe (One needed for office for evacuee’s cash)
• Portable Cribs (5)
• Baby Car Seats (5)
• Small Room Lamps (30)
• Laundry Baskets (50)
• Clock Radios (50)

Here’s who you can contact about sending it to:
Tanya Haynesworth
Mayor’s Office of Faith Based Initiative
1401 JFK Boulevard, Suite 680
Tel:215-686-3905
Fax:215-686-1458
Project Brotherly Love

I was in Wisconsin this past weekend. A quick three-day trip back to Mad Town, as they call it. It really was my pleasure to photograph Tru’s wedding. She looked stunning, as expected. Going back to Madison this time offered me a chance to reflect on some things I have had in the back of my head. And of course the chance to reconnect with friends as well.

Many thanks to Julia and her roommate for putting me up. I’m so proud of her. She’s working and everything. It’s amazing. “…sniff…” Daddy’s little girl is all grown up now. Ha!! We had a chance to eat at Cleveland’s Diner (I did twice. Second time with Nick). That is one of my favorite places in the world.

Great greasy spoon diner food. It’s the kinda place I wish my dad and I could go and have breakfast. And the owners, Niko and Telly, are fantastic. It’s like getting a hero’s welcome every time I’m back.

I must also offer my condolences to Aaron. Sorry about your sorry-a@# Packers!! Ha!, boy! Detroit was all up in yo’ house! Naw, you know I’m just teasin’. Word of advice - watch what you say around this boy. He may look timid but he’s kah-rayzee undaneef! That probably will be the last thing the Lions ever will until Jimmy Hoffa’s becomes president.

One thing that was slightly amiss was my boy Pete not being here. Nick and I lamented on him not being around. But, I’m sure the three of us will find a way to all be in the same room at the same time again.

Nick was around though and we had a good time reconnecting. It’s funny using the word reconnect because in truth I’ve only been gone two months but it seems longer. Much longer. It’s interesting to note how we as humans do not live linear lives. Time floats on a pendulum, swinging fast and slow. Nick; be strong and know you’re worth it. “Death is lighter than a feather - duty heavier than a mountain”. It was cool eating with you at Cleveland’s. We’ll have to do it again.

Another big highlight of my trip was seeing Charles again. Charles is like my little brother (and to most white folks we do look like brothers!). Charles had been doing a study abroad term in Sweden, where upon completing that he embarked on a summer-long trip throughout Europe. Before his trip he and I bonded. We really have so many qualities and interests in common. I look forward to Charles doing a little writing on his trip and all of the experiences that lied therein (nudge, nudge); and not just the stories of how the Polish girls were “off the chain” and “had a thang for light-skinned bruthas”. Ha!, I’m just playin’ with you, Charles. But I do look forward to your words and your pictures. Charles has a blog that’s hosted on my server. Check back from time to time and see what he’s writing at manrilla.net/charles.

I also got to drop in on my boy, Adem. He was chillin’ in the backyard, playing and practicing. I met Adem shortly before going off to Philly so it was nice to sit and rap with him. I hope to be able to work with him in the near future.

I regret not being able to make it to Käri’s show. I would have bumped up the numbers of attendance about 100% from what I heard! Sorry to hear that. I know you guys will have a great show on the 22nd. Check out her group she’s in with Shane: Makeshift Ego. She’s the most talented and amazing person you could know that was born on the 28th of February (except for me? Hee hee). Good to see you again, Käri. Until next time.

JW Davis had the dubious honor of meeting me at Edgewood College. We hit it off immediately, being two big jazz heads. JW’s a great man - a man of concious. It was essential that I make time to see him, his wife, Terri, and Coleman. I wished I could have added a whole other day to the trip just to hang with him and chat. I’ll be back for more. And keep the biscuits ready!

I also ran into some old colleagues of mine from Edgewood. Larry Laffrey as well as Sita Chabra and Zang Vang. It’s funny seeing Larry. I’ve managed to run into him practically every time I’ve been back in town some how. He’s originally from the Detroit area as well so I can mess with his head by saying things like The Fleetwood Diner or Lafayette Coney Island. It makes his head whip around and his eyes go distant as if some arcane spell has been cast and he drifts off to some long forgotten memory.

Zang is someone I really missed working with. He’s a rare person. Gentle and thoughtful with a wry sense of humor. He’s had a fascinating life, if one could term it as that. He will always have my utmost respect.

Married? You didn’t say anything about being married the last time we spoke! Well, congratulations. I hope that your move to Hawaii is fun and you and Corey have a blast. Stay in touch.

It’s almost impossible on little trips like these to get around to seeing everyone I want to. Lea’s another person I really had looked forward to seeing and I only saw her for maybe 10 minutes total. I’m sorry, Princess, but time was short. I promise to come and visit again or better yet, you come to Philthy and visit! Well, I hope to hear from you soon. Oh, say hi to Muhammad Ali (yes, Princess Lea’s dating Muhammad Ali!)

Well, that’s about it, I think. There may have been more and if there is I’ll post more. I had a good time and miss everyone. Madison’s no longer my home - I don’t really have one at this point but I’m making my way. Take care everyone and keep in touch. Wa Allahu ya’lamu ahsan.

Life is short. Life is long. Life is not just the linear passing of time. Years to months. Days to hours. Minutes to seconds. Life is so much more than this. As I continue to grow older and hopefully grow as an individual as well, I see life in a constantly changing way. Matters of importance shift and are in a state of flux. Or more perhaps, it’s akin to silt settleing to the bottom - things finding their own weight and place. I am in Wisconsin this weekend shooting a wedding and came to learn that a former co-worker of mine passed away. I was not shocked per se, because I knew she had been ill. But none the less, it still impacted me. It is impacting me. When I left Wisconsin for California, she and I weren’t on the best of terms, though I didn’t dispise her. In fact, it was something small and childish that we both let get in the way of our friendship together. I feel the fool now, because no matter how I’d like to go and say, “I’m sorry for what I said or did”, it’s too late now. What we do with our time is so very, very important in this life. It has full weight and baring on what will happen in the next.

I wish I had taken the time to let her know I still thought well of her. She and I had many things in common and for the majority of our time together as co-workers, we got along very well. We shared a common interest in design and art - I would often help her with the Web site (she was the webmaster), helping her resolve issues and bugs. We would go to lunch from time to time and I never minded the sibling like teasing that ensued when we went out for group lunches at work. But that time has come and gone. I can only offer my sincerest sympathies to her husband, Pat, and to the rest of the staff at work, some of whom were good friends of hers.

I guess all that I mean by any of this is take the time while you have it to live with those as you really and truly want to live with them. Don’t put it off tomorrow if it can be done today. We are promised no time and believe me, writing about it in a blog is small recompense for what would have been the right thing to have done.

The City of Brotherly Love has extended her helping hand to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I was honored to a part of the interfaith team, Project Brotherly Love, that has been set up by the mayor of Philadelphia, John Street. We are to be a sort of task force that will work in coordination with ourselves and other groups to help approximately 1,000 families that are being brought to the greater Philadelphia area. My role will be small, helping to see to the religious needs of any of the victims that are coming here. I will keep you posted on updates as we proceed. If you wish, you may donate to a fund that has been set up to aid those coming here. For further details please visit philla.gov/katrina as well as phila.gov.