Giving Thanks

It’s turkey time. Since I’ll be here in Durham for the holiday away from biological family, I’m sending out to the world all the people and things I’m glad to have in my life in various capacities.
Thanks go out to…

Mama, Daddy, Mumba, Tayari, Maxine, and Marcia – for being the foundation of everything and having my back since that fateful day in 1980.
Shady Ln. – for being down since before either of us realized just how down we were.
Seuss, Crazy, Leonore, Bobo, et. al – for saving my life in 2000.
Amaru, Suff, Nenaji, the White Homey, et. al. – for saving my life in 2001.
Fresh From 84 – for being the little brother I always wanted.
JR, Drastic, Chap, et. al – for the trip to Lenox in ’97 that let me know that real friendships would be the shield to protect me at all times.
Africana – for taking a chance on an unqualified kid four years ago and helping me find my calling. Without you, I’d be on my mama’s couch, waking up at noon, and rushing frantically at 5 to make sure the house was clean before she got home.
The Flat Rock Sensei and Family – for the plate I’ll eat on Thursday and the concern they’ve shown me, even when I was basically a stranger. Special shouts to AD for joining me in recklessness and being the amigo I didn’t have my first year here.
Prince – for every record he released between ’80 and ’87, especially Sign O The Times.
The Computer Gods – for the .mp3 and giving the world the Wonder of Wireless.
Pigs – Cuz pork is what’s really for dinner!
Gwen Morgan – for everything.
Q – for making me reconsider the dangers of misogyny in music.
My class of indentured servants at UNC – for being good people (except for Saad, of course), which is a godsend considering all the time we spend together. Special shouts to Ashy Larry, possibly the most generous person I’ve ever met.
Good credit – for helping me get on Bomaniland! If you missed the grand opening, you lost out, shawty!
R-Dub and jimi izrael – for being kind enough to counsel me and making me believe I could be a great writer. Talking with them about writing is like having a pro ballplayer help a kid at the Y with his jump shot.
George – for making this site possible out of the kindness of his heart.
All the girls I loved before – for making me the charmingly jaded asshole I am today.
Jon Boone – for showing me how beautiful humanity could be.
Seat belts – because even though I’m not gonna be with the fam tomorrow, I’ll see them at Christmas. Without the seat belt, I probably would see my daddy. The power of one strip of material, ha?
Whoever you are – thanks for logging on.