The Good Times

My alarm went off at 4:45 AM this morning, as it always does, and I sat on the edge of the bed preparing myself mentally to hit the gym for my workout before work. As I sat there rubbing my tired knees and thinking of how I miss the invincibility of youth, it occurred to me that I’ve got a birthday coming up next week. My initial thought was “Damn another birthday” but I quickly took it back. I remembered all those who have gone on before me and those who didn’t make it nearly as far as me. Tyra, Daryl, Dennis, Lloyd so many and so young, way too many to list. So I took a moment to thank God for allowing me to progress this far.

When I made it to the gym turned on my iPod and began my morning run, my playlist took me back. The good old days. Back to when albums included liner notes to read hell in fact we called them albums and not CD’s. Back to when we had bands to listen to. Earth Wind & Fire, Parliament, Tower of Power, Kool & the Gang…“Jungle Boogie”. Back to when Lady Sang the Blues and was suffering from a Love Hangover. When you could say, “What’s up blood” and not start a gang fight. I remembered when dances had names to them and described what you were doing, the four corners, the breakdown, and the penguin. I thought of the trends music took us through from bell-bottom high school days with big Afros to disco with Angel Flight pants and Roland shirts, the funk of the 70’s and 80’s it all came rushing back.

Remember the first time you heard Luther? Velvety smooth and soothing “A chair is still a chair” and how we thought Teena Marie was the shit? Remember when she fell in love with Casanova Brown? I remembered the great artists no longer with us, Marvin, Phyllis Hyman and most recently Michael. Did anybody else do the “Thriller” dance when the video came out? And I can’t be the only one who attempted to dance the entire 18 minutes or so of Marvin’s “Got To Give It Up”. Fat Burgers (the real ones you needed a knife and fork to eat), Golden Bird, “change back from your dollar”. What’s Happenin’, The Good Times, Sanford & Son and The Jeffersons. It all came back to me.

I thought of how far I’ve come from that frightened 17 year old arriving at the USC dorms alone and terrified to think of what my future might hold. Pretending to be confident but shaking in my boots. I remembered how quickly I made friends and how most of them have lasted a lifetime. I remembered bringing Michael home and thinking “what the hell am I doing, I don’t know anything about raising a child”. Thank you Tanya, Greg, Brandol, Monique, Lloyd, Natalie, Linda, Ferne… thank you Grandma Sallie…it really does take a village.

I remembered the first time I met Wick and thinking “what an arrogant asshole”…who knew? I remembered being handed the keys to 3106 W. 78th Street and how he and I celebrated with a six-pack of Millers sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace. I thought of all the Gumbo Christmases spent there with Michael and all of his kids. I remembered the joy of my 50th birthday celebration in the backyard with my family and friends and how excited everyone was to hear and dance to all of the old music again.

I thought of my mother and father and all of my sisters and how thankful I am to still have them with me. I thought of what it would be like to celebrate another birthday and how grateful I am for all that I have. I thought and I remembered it all and I felt sweat running down my face…or it may have been tears, who knows…it was a long run.