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Thursday, January 1, 2009

As I Am

Greetings from Atlanta!!

Ok...I wasn't in Atlanta when this was typed, but that's where I am as you're reading this. Blogger's scheduled posts option does come in handy from time to time.

So yes. I'm currently in Georgia visiting friends and maybe overcoming too much New Year's Eve celebrating. Thanks Attallah and Josiah for having us!

Not much to show as far as sewing. I've been doing more alterations for locals lately than anything, but I wanted to share another song that I really like by one of my favorite artists Amel Larrieux. The song resonates with me in general, but there were a couple of situations that were recently in my realm that are really relevant to the lyrics, in my opinion, and caused me to have this particular tune in heavy rotation these past few days. One was a post I read over at Tea and Honey Bread concerning her daughter's recent run-in with some inconsiderate playground meanies. *suddenly has the urge to stick out tongue*

The other situation involves a photo presentation I saw last Friday (watch it. it's good, though that's not it in its entirety. http://dirckhalstead.org/issue0603/ficara-video.html) concerning black farmers in America and the difficult times they have just trying to sustain themselves as such. Some of the farmers are 70 + years of age and still work so hard in those fields using what they have and know to keep the farm going.

And then, as I was in the process of typing this post, I went back to Tea and Honey Bread and read another of T's posts which includes commentary about the Great Brown Round aka her "hard earned" and "well maintained" be-Hind. ha ha ha!

So in my mind all of these just sort of culminate into a grand idea about self-acceptance and being and self-love and others accepting you and letting you be you and loving you for who you are and what you do have.(Of course some of these can be qualified, but hopefully you understand where I'm coming from.)


Amel Larrieux "All I Got"






Got these feet
In these shoes
They walked a mile or two,
Got these legs
They've done work
That's left them black and blue,
Got these hips
They are wide
But they know how to move,
Got these hands
To lift the weak
Or slap down a racist fool

[Chorus:]
This is all I
This is all I got

Got this place
I call my home
But it's no Taj Mahal,
Got these pockets
They ain't full grown
But I won't steal from no one,
Got this heart
Well it's been broke
But it's still beating strong,
Got this song
It ain't much
But it helps me carry on

[Chorus:]
This is all I
This is all I got

Got a will
That lifts me up
When my body can't
Got a way
Of getting' through
With no helping hands
Got a mind
That lends me strength
So I ain't afraid to stand
Got a love
So deep in me
Can't be stopped by any man


Happy '09!!!

(green's for growth. continue!!)

peace

9 comments:

High Desert Diva said...

The Great Brown Round...instant Tameka classic.

Love the lyrics in Larrieux's song.

A very happy new year to you!

T.Allen said...

I'm honored to have been a part of the thought process behind this post. I don't know how Amel Larrieux's music has remained under the radar, well my radar for so long.

I hope 2009 finds you in a most perfectly imperfect peace!

Jewelry Rockstar said...

Man I haven't heard this one in a long time. Thanks. Atlanta welcomes you. We should of coordinated, I could have met you live and in person.

Julie said...

That's one of my favorite Amel Larrieux songs. I find it almost impossible to make a mix CD without at least one of her tunes. :) Happy New Year, to you, too! I have a good feeling about 2009...

please sir said...

I hope you are having loads of fun on your trip - Happy New year!

Barbara said...

I'm definitely digging this song AND your inspiration for having it on heavy rotation. As many of us are on an endless journey to improve and remake ourselves I think its very true that we forget to acknowledge who we are at the moment and we have a hard time accepting ourselves for who we are in that moment. Guilty as charged.

I will have to check out the thing about the farmers. My grandfather still travels back and forth to Mississippi to tend to his crops there. Trying to talk the Mrs into moving down to the land, lol.

Hope ya had a good time in the ATL. I am both dying to visit and considering packing up and moving that way. We'll see what the future holds.

Soul Pretty said...

...the lyrics ring so true...Happy New Year.

Kim Caro said...

Happy '09 too! At least you are still keeping your hands busy altering is just as good :)

A Cuban In London said...

I love that Amel's track. Thanks a lot.

Greetings from London.