It’s 11:00 p.m., Brooklyn, NYC. “The ghetto,” somebody’s cigarette smoke always coming through the window or through my wall. This is a balanced ghetto (some strivers, some bright lights among the decaying walking dead who are hanging on to life by a string), not a 100% bleak ghetto… that one is about six or seven blocks east and beyond. Scary! So, I had so many thoughts reading back over these past six weeks. Would have liked to have heard the Lou Rawls, enjoyed reading about his deeptitude (as you would say, Baba). Was nice to hear references to Lauren Hill when she was a shining success. Last month was the annual Stevie Wonder party. Didn’t go. Was too “tired,” just couldn’t drag myself out of bed. The next day, the email was burning. The people sent out video from the party. Guess who was there: Stevie Wonder! Singing “That Girl” along with the crowd.

I’m rambling, I have lots of random responses to all the posts, but at this point, what I’m really writing to say is, Mtume, you are cracking me up! Laughing out loud, tears coming out of my eyes. I *died* laughing at your response to the “Living in the City” covers. And now, this–the air conditioner at 9:00 p.m. bit. HILARIOUS!!! You best believe Ua is reliving some of that suffering in the heat-ness b/c here on Bergen Street that AC does not go on until bed time.

Laughing (and thinking and anticipating hearing the music) in Brooklyn.