Grand Canyon Pictures! Yes, I finally put them up on Flickr for the people who haven't seen them on facebook or don't have facebook.
Enter into the Abyss
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Time Flys
Has it really almost been a month since the last time I wrote? Hot baked potato, life in Tucson has gone into overdrive. I can't even remember all the things that I've done since the amazing Grand Canyon hike but here are just a few random highlights- CHRPA retreat in the Catalina's, church campout, Halloween festivities, Tucson Broadway- The Color Purple, Tucson Celtic Festival, Jackass in 3D haha, and best of all Day of the Dead!
For people who don't live in Tucson nor have a strong grip on Mexican celebrations, Day of the Dead is a huge festive time here in Tucson, everyone in the whole city takes part of it as we remember the dead and those who have lived before us- The main event then happens on the following weekend on Sunday night where the All Souls Procession shuts the entire city down and main roads are closed for a 2-3 mile stretch that is then lined with people watching and filled with people walking and celebrating in communion with all- It's the largest procession in the country and being a part of it was overwhelming- Me and some other guys dressed up and painted our chests and with bones and were dead cowboys, a costume that was met with many finger pointing, wows, and camera flashes, we had a good number of us and it was fun to join into something so large and be a part of something larger then just you or me.
The march starts around 5 and you walk down some main roads of Tucson, people surrounding- comforted by the noise of many- covered in the lights of the night- dressed to celebrate lives past, some standing, some walking- all smiling- The joy of being encompassed by a gulf of screaming, loving people is indescribable and it all came to it's peak when entering an underpass- Smacked like sardines, lined with the sparkling lights of cameras, beat and drum bubble your blood straight to your heart and senses open their double gated doors to let the feeling flood over mind body and soul- It was an experience to truly admire and soak in as if parched ground- It was a first springs rain to a dry winter as joy, happiness, remembrance, sorrow, smoke, love, sweat, and drink all swirl in the cauldron of Tucson.
The path of streets led to an open space where concert and final processions happened, there was live music then more music as larger organized groups of costumes and celebrations got to show their get up and walk across the main stage- Under the blue lights of the stage and dark sky of the night all of Tucson to gather and celebrate this holy time- We had interpretive dancers, fire dancers and all kinds of aesthetic movement as a large jellyfish rose in the background of the black sky each tentacle being a dancing soul capturing your eye and heart- The cup, the pot, the eternal pocket of a lost coat was raised to its throne, where those who have gone, our angry thoughts, ideas of fear- were placed- to see them burn away in the smoke of freedom and liberation, cleansed by a rebirth- rethought- renewal of joy in life and others- We all share this, those who were there, those who used to be, those who never will be- can always find comfort in restarting a life already lived.
Again, time flies-flys-phlys-flees it truly flees- as summer and fall flee to the clutches of the winter finger icicles, last night I was forced to close my window before bed as the night brings with it coldness that is unwelcome in my heart and under my covers- With my hands gripped onto the rod of denial I am slowly coming to terms that it won't be 85 everyday and I may need to actually wear long sleeves to stay comforted- but it's a slow journey and I'm still working on it. Though sad and at times tear bearing, there is light at the end of the tunnel as there always is, but here in Arizona, the dark, cold tunnel is quite short haha.
Thanksgiving is coming and I can't wait for good friends, good friends and celebrations where people smile- Christmas is coming which means travels to the homeland and time cannot move any faster to that time. I am taking my feet to the land of Gtown gloom and doom aka Goshen College to see faces my eyes miss with severe withdrawals- have surgery- but most importantly take part in the commemorations of Martin Luther King Jr. a man who's only sole goal was that we can come together and learn to love each other- Things to look forward to- things to bring out of fantasy and into reality and I'm big on that.
P.S. went to a Pato Banton reggae concert last night at the coolest store in Tucson, The Twelve Tribes and it was hands down unforgettable- officially entered into the best thing I've done in Tucson competition and I gotta say, it's got a good edge- People were great, music was phenomenal and Pato, well Pato was Pato and I couldn't ask for any more then that.
Keep it real and may us all find blessings and peace in everyday life.
Cheers
For people who don't live in Tucson nor have a strong grip on Mexican celebrations, Day of the Dead is a huge festive time here in Tucson, everyone in the whole city takes part of it as we remember the dead and those who have lived before us- The main event then happens on the following weekend on Sunday night where the All Souls Procession shuts the entire city down and main roads are closed for a 2-3 mile stretch that is then lined with people watching and filled with people walking and celebrating in communion with all- It's the largest procession in the country and being a part of it was overwhelming- Me and some other guys dressed up and painted our chests and with bones and were dead cowboys, a costume that was met with many finger pointing, wows, and camera flashes, we had a good number of us and it was fun to join into something so large and be a part of something larger then just you or me.
The march starts around 5 and you walk down some main roads of Tucson, people surrounding- comforted by the noise of many- covered in the lights of the night- dressed to celebrate lives past, some standing, some walking- all smiling- The joy of being encompassed by a gulf of screaming, loving people is indescribable and it all came to it's peak when entering an underpass- Smacked like sardines, lined with the sparkling lights of cameras, beat and drum bubble your blood straight to your heart and senses open their double gated doors to let the feeling flood over mind body and soul- It was an experience to truly admire and soak in as if parched ground- It was a first springs rain to a dry winter as joy, happiness, remembrance, sorrow, smoke, love, sweat, and drink all swirl in the cauldron of Tucson.
The path of streets led to an open space where concert and final processions happened, there was live music then more music as larger organized groups of costumes and celebrations got to show their get up and walk across the main stage- Under the blue lights of the stage and dark sky of the night all of Tucson to gather and celebrate this holy time- We had interpretive dancers, fire dancers and all kinds of aesthetic movement as a large jellyfish rose in the background of the black sky each tentacle being a dancing soul capturing your eye and heart- The cup, the pot, the eternal pocket of a lost coat was raised to its throne, where those who have gone, our angry thoughts, ideas of fear- were placed- to see them burn away in the smoke of freedom and liberation, cleansed by a rebirth- rethought- renewal of joy in life and others- We all share this, those who were there, those who used to be, those who never will be- can always find comfort in restarting a life already lived.
Again, time flies-flys-phlys-flees it truly flees- as summer and fall flee to the clutches of the winter finger icicles, last night I was forced to close my window before bed as the night brings with it coldness that is unwelcome in my heart and under my covers- With my hands gripped onto the rod of denial I am slowly coming to terms that it won't be 85 everyday and I may need to actually wear long sleeves to stay comforted- but it's a slow journey and I'm still working on it. Though sad and at times tear bearing, there is light at the end of the tunnel as there always is, but here in Arizona, the dark, cold tunnel is quite short haha.
Thanksgiving is coming and I can't wait for good friends, good friends and celebrations where people smile- Christmas is coming which means travels to the homeland and time cannot move any faster to that time. I am taking my feet to the land of Gtown gloom and doom aka Goshen College to see faces my eyes miss with severe withdrawals- have surgery- but most importantly take part in the commemorations of Martin Luther King Jr. a man who's only sole goal was that we can come together and learn to love each other- Things to look forward to- things to bring out of fantasy and into reality and I'm big on that.
P.S. went to a Pato Banton reggae concert last night at the coolest store in Tucson, The Twelve Tribes and it was hands down unforgettable- officially entered into the best thing I've done in Tucson competition and I gotta say, it's got a good edge- People were great, music was phenomenal and Pato, well Pato was Pato and I couldn't ask for any more then that.
Keep it real and may us all find blessings and peace in everyday life.
Cheers
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