Echoes of My Generation: Journal 014 09/20/06

I'm feeling today as if I've been letting myself and others down
My company was asked to do a community event last night
One of the artist that I had committed for the event couldnt make it
And so the organizers looked for me to take their place
I had music prepared in case but hadnt really prepared myself for it
I havent performed in so long and dont remember my new material that well
At least the material that I have instrumentals for
And so my business partner Rodney met me and we left for the Dallas, GA community center
We all know the area as "The Projects"
I was immediately asked to "sing" when it was revealed that Lonnie J couldnt make it
Actually I was repeatedly asked and I repeatedly declined
So as the event is starting, the organizer grabs the microphone
And she begins to tell the kids that I was supposed to rap but chickened out
And how maybe they could rap for me because i was so scared
I laughed harder than I had in a long while
But deep inside I felt as if I should have performed something
Before the event started there was a fight between two of the neighborhood girls
And it took some time to get it settled
The organizer later told me that my "singing" (she called rapping singing) may have stopped it
Throughout the remainder of the evening I reflected on her words and she had a point
Music has the ability to calm, to excite, to relax, to motivate and to inspire
And so I have made a pledge to myself
to step in at anytime that I'm unable to secure a performance by one of the artist I work with.
Or at least to have a plan B in place
She was embarrassed because of the fight and I was embarrassed because I had no performance to give her
I watched the kids throughout the evening
Rodney with www.livingunity.org did a great job of interacting with the kids
He knew to get in and get out as soon as their attention started to fade
And then the H.B.O. Crew came back out to dance
I stood around and talked before leaving
I talked to a young lady that I had known from highschool
She was the daughter of the organizer and was just as beautiful as she was in high school
I remember all the guys would talk of wanting to date her
She showed me her 3 boys and her husband (who did an excellent job of difusing the fight situation)
And we talked for longer than we ever had.
I'm not even sure if we had conversations in high school
I liked this feeling of white's and black's coming together to help
A feeling that wasnt really around during my highschool years
So to be able to interact and be apart of someone else's movement filled my heart with joy
And I promise that I will practice my music and keep instrumental CD's ready
I promise that...

One Love,
Mario D'Andre Robinson
COO _ Zealot D'Andre's DREAM, LLC
www.zealotdandresdream.com
www.echoesoflostgenerations.blogspot.com