Raven Jake Dawes

Happy Kwanzaa Y'all

Well folks, we're right in the middle of the holiday season and it seems like that season gets a little longer every year. At this point, I'm pretty sure "happy holidays" means "happy everything from Halloween to Valentine's. And you know what? That's something I can get behind. Celebrating, I mean - I think most holiday stuff is too commercial and not meaningful enough or even fun enough. Nothin' FUN about being in a shopping mall the week before Christmas. Raven Jake don't cotton to that.

And that's why I like Kwanzaa. Nothin' wrong with another reason to celebrate. Now many people think that Kwanzaa is only for African-Americans. Not so. 1) it's a secular holiday, and that means that you won't be offending a god you don't subscribe to by participating and 2) it's a good idea and no one race can own a good idea. Good ideas belong to everybody. However, the terminology is a bit tricky.

So - Kwanzaa starts on December 26 and is devoted to the concept of Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, or if you like, a little something to meditate on each day as you warm up for the New Year.

The first day, today, December 26, is Umoja, (oo–MO–jah) unity. Unity with family, friends and community.

Dec. 27 (Tues.) is Kujichagulia, (koo–gee–cha–goo–LEE–yah) self-determination. Goes without sayin.' Take responsibility and fix what's wrong with your life. 

Dec. 28 (Wed.) is Ujima, (oo–GEE–mah) collective work and responsibility. Some things are too much for one person to fix. You've got to play nice with others.

Dec. 29 (Thurs.) is Ujamaa, (oo–JAH–mah) cooperative economics. This is about sharing the harvest - sharing the work, sharing the bounty. Giving back to your community and being charitable, in both material and spiritual ways.

Dec. 30 (Fri.) is Nia, (nee–YAH) purpose, finding meaning, moving forward.

Dec. 31 (Sat) is Kuumba, (koo–OOM–bah) creativity, a little somethin' to get you going on New Year's Eve

and Jan. 1 (Sun.) is Imani, (ee–MAH–nee) faith, 'cause you've gotta belive that things are going to get better.

Happy Kwanzaa Y'all

 

Fela! at the Ahmanson Theatre

Remember my New Year's Resolution for 2011? It was that I'd start tellin' y'all about stuff I was going to do BEFORE it happened, instead of just tellin' you that you missed a great party. Now obviously a lot of stuff happens in my life that's just spontaneous - I can't rightly say "meet me over at the Revivals in Cat City and we'll see if any of my old furniture has come back to haunt me. Maybe pick out a nice string tie for you..." but if I know I'm goin' to some official sort of event, then I'm making a better effort to get the word out.  

Case in point: I'm going to see Fela! on Jan. 6. at the Ahmanson Theatre. It's a musical about Fela Kuti, his life, political activism and music. Get yourself a ticket, come on down. You can bet I'll have plenty to say afterward (and I actually am a huge fan of Nigerian drumming) but since the show only runs through Jan. 22, you might want to make your move now.

http://www.centertheatregroup.org/tickets/productiondetail.aspx?id=15491

Garth and God's Way Love

Here's a video created by Mary Lee Weir about Garth Bowles, the founder of God's Way Love in  Pioneertown/Rimrock. We were out there visiting him in his beautiful boulder garden a couple of weeks back with Barb & Rob Harris, Greg Bishop and a representative sample of the Kook Out gang - just Majik.

The ponds have some ice on them now, but everyone got around the fire for some good old-fashioned hospitality. And when the full moon rose - well, it was just one of those moments that made you glad to be out in the desert under a starry night sky, far away from "civilization."

 

 

Driftwood Coffee Table & Revivals

Y'all, it's my birthday and also the birthday of my blog. We got this started in 2007 with some poetry and some travelin,' went through a traumatic transition with hosts, and four years on I think that me and the blog are doin' fine. Havin' adventures. Writing more songs and less poetry (though I guess that comes from the same place) doin' more research and community activism than travelin,' though I guess that comes from the same place too.

Now it just so happens that we were out in the desert at the beginning of the week and naturally, finding ourselves in Cathedral City, decided to see what was on offer at Revivals. Turns out it was my old coffee table from high school.

Now you're probably thinkin' "Jake, you're a pretty observant guy, but if you think that's your old coffee table, you're higher than Mir." Not so, amigo. Every piece of driftwood is different, and I spent hours starin' at that thing. I know my table. We parted company many years ago, back in Torrance - maybe North Hollywood; sometime near the end of my beach period.

Anyway, the table - originally $350, marked down to $175 -  has been sold, and I guess it was just my fate to see it one last time before it left the shop. I sure wish it were my fate to meet a new winning lottery ticket instead of a piece of driftwood that's been stalking me for near to 40 years now, but that's the thing about fate - you don't get to pick. That's left to three blind hags with some string and a pair of scissors (much obliged, ladies). So new owner - you'd be wise to trick out that table with some Japanese fishing floats, some sparkly lights and candles. Girls love that stuff. At least they did in high school. Thanks for contributing $175 to help fight AIDS, and I hope you have as much fun starin' at that table as I did.

Revivals Thrift Store

68 California 111
Cathedral City
(760) 969-5747