CALI CRUISING!

June 5th – 12th – Santa Monica/Barbara/L.A./Bay
WOW. What a week! It sometimes feels like these moments are impossible to capture on film or in a poem or in a book, but I will try my best. But note; That life is ultimately meant to be EXPERIENCED and not read about or watched on television.
So after I left Santa Barbara, I went to L.A. I had intentions of staying with my friend Danny, but wanted to visit Jazz’s parents first. Once I arrived, they somehow convinced me to spend the night. I looked at it as a good opportunity to hang out with Jazz’s younger brother, who has a very curious mind about life and is going through what I remember going through at his age. I took him out to Da Poetry Lounge with me. For those of you who don’t know, Da Poetry Lounge, is one of the biggest weekly open mics in the entire country. We actually showed up 90 minutes early and there already was a line. Everybody was really nice outside and telling us about the local poetry scene.
So the doors opened up, and the poets rushed to sign up on the list. I was told that not everybody gets to read each week, so I was fortunate to be able to do so. The night was packed with talent, beauty, and many stories, including a schizophrenic homeless crack addict who just recovered over his addiction. The hosts were also very entertaining and that’s what really kept the night going. It was a beautiful mix of poetry and comedy to balance out the emotional highs and lows that words can sometimes do to us. I went up there and performed my Alphabet Poem. It went pretty good. The host said that he had no clue what I said the last 2 lines because I was talking so fast and then the DJ played a Sean Paul record poking fun  The Alphabet Poem is really just an ode to the lyrical hiphop side of my poetry. And even though there are messages in the poem, I know that most people won’t fully grasp the lyrics unless they got the album and listened to it a few times. But it’s a crowd pleaser so I like to perform it here and there. Jazz’s brother was surprisingly having a good time. He thought that poetry wasn’t his scene, but he truly enjoyed himself and that was awesome to see. We then got home at 2 a.m., and his parents were up making tea for me. I felt so bad! But I guess it’s a cultural thing when they have guests over. The next day, me and Armen played guitar hero, watched some videos, and I worked on fixing his computer. His mom came home and it was time to say Goodbye. They flooded me with fruits and vegetables! I was slightly embarrassed from receiving this abundance of gifts. Ironically, that ended up being a point of discussion later on in the week.
Why is it that people sometimes can’t receive? Especially people who give. When you block somebody from giving, you’re taking away somebody’s right to receive. Because you receive IN giving. So when somebody offers you something. Be humble. Kind. And don’t take advantage. But also learn to accept openly as a universal gift. It’s all circular!
So then I was heading to an open mic, but Danny said that he couldn’t make it because there was this church event going on. So I digged for more information like an archaeologist. I found out that it was a spiritual open church and I felt called to join him. So I made the drive and reunited with a poet that I met in Phoenix. It’s crazy, because when we met 4 years ago in Phoenix, it was just at one show. We somehow stayed in touch here and there over the years. At the time, I wasn’t even close to being on a spiritual path. I would’ve never guessed that 4 years later, I’d be staying at his place in Cali going to a spiritual church and completely connecting. It’s amazing how life works. You have no clue when you’ll run into people again and what stages in their lives they’ll be. People are never who they were when you left them. And thank God for that. Even if it goes from beautiful to ugly, instead of ugly to beautiful, it is the CHANGE that is the beauty. The continuous cycle of evolution is what creates this experience of expanding and collapsing, which is necessary for the heart to beat life into our spirits.
So when I got there, I saw there were 100’s of cars.
Danny suggested that I bring my ‘You Are Beautiful’ cards, so I decided to go up to each car and put one of those cards in the windshield. They probably are expecting it to be a business card, and then they read YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. (and hopefully smile!) So I did that for about half hour and then joined Danny in the church right when it started. I found out that it was Michael Beckwith’s Agape Ministry! NO WAY!
It’s so ironic, because he was JUST on Oprah that day and Jazz was just telling me about him.
I was blown away by all the different races, genders, and kinds of people that were there. It was like a melting kaleidoscope of beautiful light beings. They asked ‘Is anybody here for the first time? ‘ If so, Please stand up!’. So Danny makes sure I stand up, and the entire building of perhaps 400 people just FLOOD you with love. It was so intense and so beautiful. Michael Beckwith and his choir are truly channelers of the divine spirit. Within 5 minutes of witnessing the universal love, I leaned over to Danny, and said “Uh oh. Religion is in trouble.”
I’m starting to believe that Religion was important because it was part of our evolutionary process. It was created out of mental survival and that everlasting quest to expand. It was then manipulated into having a base of fear. And now, as humanity expands its consciousness, we must honor all that it has done (good and bad) and continue to expand our consciousness. I got slightly emotional thinking about how beautiful it would be if places like Agape were staple holds in each city, instead of the fear-driven religious-based churches that have billions of dollars. Ahhh. ..
So afterwards, we went home and slept. The next day, Danny took me to Venice Beach. I can’t believe I didn’t go. It was so awesome!! So many different kinds of people. Right when I showed up, I witnessed street performers dancing for a crowd and manifesting money by being social and entertaining. I then saw a group of rainbow kids sitting down, looking like they were having a rough financial day, so I decided I’d donate to them. I looked at some of their stones and then found this beautiful Peace symbol. I gave them $ 7 for it. It was one of the first donations they received all day. I decided to actually engage with them. Something we rarely do. We ended up hanging out on the grass with them for half hour, just talking. They told us about the rainbow gathering. They allowed us to interview them. Some covered their faces. But each one of their stories was amazing. This one girl came from a materialistic family in Phoenix and decided to do this while she’s young and just survive off the minimum. She’s actually planning on going to college in just a few months. Who would’ve figured walking by her, right? Well, Danny mentioned that later on in the evening, how he would respect kids like that, but never sat down and heard their stories, and after we did, we saw how ‘normal’ and kind they all were. We spit some poetry. Gave each other a hug. And went our own ways. We then walked down the boardwalk and had lunch. While we were sitting down this partly-hidden alley, there was a beautiful woman playing beautiful music. A small-shop owner with her pet dog who seemed content with life. I went up to her and gave her a You are Beautiful card just for being.
We then kept walking and these 2 females lost their hackey-sack. So I picked it up and gave it back to them. And of COURSE, took that as an opportunity to sneak in ANOTHER ‘You are Beautiful’ card. She smiled and then told me ‘Wow. I thought this was a ‘Jesus loves you’ card (because there are clouds in the background.). She then thanked me and told me she was having a terrible day and that random act of kindness changed that. I thought to myself “OMG. IT’S WORKING!’. Such a simple idea. And it’s no means ‘my’ idea. But I know we can all do this. We all SHOULD do this!
We continued on. Saw a bunch of people rapping. So we jumped in. I had a fun time remembering my past life in this life.
And that sums it up. Venice Beach was amazing. Eclectic. Artistic. And beautiful. Danny said he’s been there many times but has never experienced it like that. I felt that we truly became part of the culture instead of just tourists of it, and I felt like a true traveler , just adapting to each situation.
We then went home and headed to A Mic and Dim Lights (the second largest open mic in L.A.).
I went up there and performed Heart and completely blacked out. The crowd gave a lot of love. I connected with many people. Gave out CD’s. And build some friendships. Danny went up and performed as well (which he hasn’t’ done in years) and I was SOO happy to see him on the stage again. A poet belongs behind a mic. Period.
We then ended up freestyling the entire car ride back. And I felt a sense of true happiness beaming off the both of us. We’re both hiphop artists, poets, lyricists, and we belong in a space to create. It seemed almost nostalgic since we both have been gone from our core element for a while.
I then woke up the next morning and headed out. It was tough saying bye to Danny. He ended up giving me a book as a going away gift along with some clothes. I truly feel like I found a long-lost brother in him and the connection ran deep. I hope to reconnect with him after this trip. A beautiful soul brother indeed.
I then was ready for my first ‘ride-share’ experience!
I’ve never done ride-share, but wanted help with gas. So it was a 37 year old male and a 24 year old female. We were set to meet at 11 a.m. on June 12th at Whole Foods. While I was outside waiting for them, I saw a homeless man who asked for money. I pulled out a bill and it was a $5. I pulled out another one and it was another $5. So I thought I was meant to give him $5, so I did. He jolted with excitement and had to do a double-take. I guess they don’t normally get that much. I saw genuine gratitude in his eyes. Gratitude that most people can never show because of the abundance of things we have but don’t appreciate. I sat with him and we exchanged stories. He got emotional once he found out what I was doing and how old I was. He stood up and I stood up. He then looked me in the eyes and said “The older you get, the more you realize the less you know.” We hugged. Both smiled. And we both continued on our journey. Perhaps he’s an older version of me reminding the young version of him to be careful on the path. Or perhaps, he was just another leaf blowing in the wind on the outskirts of society. Either or, his reminder was deeply appreciated.
So the 2 people I picked up ended up being AWESOME. Me and the guy had some good conversations about philosophy and spirituality at the beginning while the female slept, and then when he fell asleep, she woke up, and me and her had the best musical connection. That’s all that was needed! We have every song in common and we were just jamming out to some Beatle renditions from Across the Universe the entire car ride. It was a great first ride-share and I’m now more comfortable doing things like that. Then I arrived in San Fran……….To Be Continued…