Family

A simple word for a not so simple topic. As if to have a one word answer to the question of "why the world was created". With the main holiday season in full swing now, people are travling short and far to see their loved ones. My family, crazy, but damn if it doesn't feel good starting a conversation with them and having 6-7 different opinions about it. My cousins, on my dads side, are probably the blood that flows through me; they are older than me, but don't treat me as such. I come to them for advice, and they come to be with advice. I love it, my opinion being taken into consideration. For the past couple of years, my extended family has come down to my fathers house so celebrate Thanksgiving. Sometimes its hard getting certain people there due to the distance (Detriot to Maryland); but we make it work. When we are there, you can see how our presence makes each other happy. We talk about anything, from TV to marriage to "That Damn Alvin".

Just a couple days from seeing everyone this year, I am waiting another 363 days until I can see them again.

If you have a strong family, you should enjoy it and take everything you can from it. My family is VERY strong, as each of my cousins and aunts have goals and dreams. Even if you family is close, you should take time out to see them, listen to them and talk to them. Trust me, its one of the best things in this world to do.

Old School Music

I'm sorry, but if you don't agree with me then I feel that you don't know music, but old school R&B is the centerpoint of the universe musically. I know I will catch hate for it, but you can't deny that your parents were listening to either A) Luther B) Teddy C) Lenny Williams D) Isleys E)Temptations; etc. when you were concieved; which means that you do have a bit of soul in you ;)
As I set my winamp to shuffle my oldies mix, I almost forget that you can get emotions through songs. Honest truth, I bet if you sit and listen to Stevie Wonders "I Just called to say" I bet your next move is to your cell phone! Thats powerful, even "These Three Words" can bring a tear to your life. Music has lost its touch, even my favorite R&B singers are NO WHERE near this level of songdom (is that a word?). Damn, I need to put this lyric out there just to show you how powerful this song is...."The One, for whom you give your very life, could be taken, in a twinkling of an eye; through your tears you ask "why did you go?" knowing you didn't always show, much you love them so"

If you just imagine that scenerio, I bet it will bring a tear to your eye, for we have are going through it. *needs to get more tissue*

Not to mention the emotion, but daydreaming to old songs....makes you realize how good the artist where. Every old school jam I have a day dream about it. I can't even begin to describe the visions or thoughts in my head. Not that they are ranchy or anything (depends on the song, I mean, Minnie Ripperton - Inside my Love......: ) ) but the songs and instruments flow together in a way that takes you to another place.

Sorry, I know this entry is kind of all over the place; but hey...Smokey is playin'....

Church

I normally don't write my blog at work, but I am bored and I wanted to get this off my chest.

This past weekend, a couple of the fellas and I were conversing about Church. My best friend hates the idea, Koop was borderline on the ideas and Frank was as well. As I got up on sunday morning, got dressed and went to the House of the Lord, I kept asking myself "why do I do it?" Sure I could be sleeping or making breakfast, but there is a part in me which sees why I need to come to church in the first place.

I sat back, listened to the children sing and how people reacted to them. Some where clapping there hands with the beat, others sing along with them. You can tell whos child is in the front singing, just look for the parents with the biggest smiles....and then it hit me. The reason I go to church!

Church, by the book, has been a place for people to come and worship the Lord; and I still believe that everyone should. Then though that idea hasnt changed, the world has, and it has for the worse. I sat back and zoned out a bit, looked around at all the people in the church *it was packed sunday, hott too* I saw babies, teens, elders, young adults; black, white, asains (that was a shocker). "These people are here cause they have a purpose" my mind said to me, as I scanned the room. Everyone in the Church is dealing with pain, sorrow, misery, trails and tribulations, but for two hours out of their week, they can sit back and give Thanks for what they have. I go to church to see teens who are not in the street, parents who are still together, singles who are proud to be who they are.

People, and some of them close to me, have the notion that church is a business and every week they listen to someone who is telling them they are going to hell. I couldn't agree more...but not in a bad way. As a business, they help to educate our children, a day care for members who need to drop their children off before work. A place to network and sociallize with people who have a common goal. Giving the elderly help in their time of need. Sounds like a good business to me; I can bet its better than the one you get a pay check every two weeks...

"So what about the whole going to hell part" - You take the word how it is spoken. If you feel that the Pastor said something as if he knew you did something wrong, then maybe you should Pray. If you can think of a person who can relate to the topic, maybe you should Pray for them. If you can relate to something that is said, then think about it more and elaborate on it. As I see it, going to church for two hours on a sunday morning never hurt anyone. You would probably be sleep anyway, so why not give it a chance?

As the service came to a close, I always get choked up when they ask if someone needs to be saved. I always think about my friends, and imaging them going up there without thinking "is this right?" I personally would walk with any of my friends to the front and get saved again and again and again with them. We aren't perfect, and no one expects us to, but there is nothing wrong with having a belief, there is nothing wrong with change. Cause I BELIEVE that CHANGE is for the good!

Fulfilling a request from a friend....

One of my friends from Mason; also a Blogger requested that I do this test. Basically, 7 answers to 7 questions.

7 things I plan to do before I die:

1) Get Married
2) Have a son
3) Educate my children
4) Drive across country
5) Play the piano
6) Own a pug
7) Make a difference

7 things I can do:

1) Love
2) Give insight
3) Cry
4) Think
5) Network
6) Write from the heart
7) Disect music

7 things I cannot do:

1) not love
2) not feel
3) snap my fingers
4) *NEW* Fly......
5) give into temptation
6) cheat
7) be without music

7 things that attract me to someone:

1) Intelligence
2) Engaging Thoughts
3) Open Mind
4) Open Heart
5) Real (Mind, Body and Soul)
6) Indepenant
7) Nice Ass (yea, yea, sue me)

7 things that I say most often:

1) No
2) You Serious
3) Your Kiddin' Right?
4) Good Morning / Mornin'
5) Wuz Up
6) Why did he/she do that?
7) Screw It

7 celebrity crushes:

1) Gabrelle Union
2) Sanaa Lathan
3) Tiara (Model)
4) Mylissa Ford
5) Alicia Keys
6) Jill Scott
7) Nona Gaye (Marvin's Daughter)

*added* 7 things people didn't know about me

1) I want to walk across the United States
2) I love rainy mornings
3) I make myself sad to humble myself
4) I hate being late or off schedule
5) I don't consider myself cute
6) I have a 6th sense for technology
7) I worry about everyone I know every night

City Lights Volume 1.5

I'm a city boy looking to leave it and come back every once in a blue moon. I've always lived in the suburbs, lived in nice neighborhoods most of my life (outside Korea); but now as I grow to the man who will continue in this young man's body I see that my "Massie" roots are coming out. From what I was told, my name sake is from a little town in southern VA called Amhurst. I've been there once, and saw by grandfathers grave and where basically the name Massie came from. It was small, it was pleasent and it was quiet. Fast forward to now, I live in the wealthest county in American, came from the wealthest African American county in the United States; live outside one of the highest profiled cities in the country. For my ride into work in DC I passed the Monument, White House, and many other landmarks. Going to the city isn't a big thing to me cause its only "down the street".

So, that leads me to this....I want to get away from the city and go "home". I picture my "home" as a house with land, could be in a suburb, but some place where I can have a normal, slow life. Life here, in VA is too quick. Even with the horrible traffic the lifestyle is "get it here, and get it here NOW". I am a "it will get here, don't worry" type person. I don't care for all the glamour and glits of the city lights. I rather have a bloodhound on the front porch and a rocking chair.

Call me old fashion, but it is simple. No worrying about if Cox is going to screw you on the bill or if your car is going to be stolen in the morning. (Thats what the shotgun in the closet is for). A big oak tree, that you watch grow from a seedling to a childrens toy to a mightly cover for the sun. Being the orginial and only owners of a house and knowing everything about it. The memories, the heartaches, the good times and the bad. I can't have this life here, not now and probably not in my lifetime.

I can be happy with a steady income and no BMW in the garage; most people around here want to prove they have something, when really its all for another person to see. I rather not be seen in the city lights, but in the lights by the stars at night.....

I want to go home