Bob Marley and waiting...

My roommate in college at SIU was a Jamaican by the name of Carl McPherson. Since that time, long ago, he has become an MD, (and is so to this day). Carl instilled in me a love of his Nation, his race and his intellect. (You get to exchange much in a dorm room over a year's time). Dr. McPherson was, and remains a pivotal force in my life, even now! This song is a poorly made tribute to the man, his race and his kindness.. 'Carl, thank the forces of Nature that you got stuck with me as a roomie)!

Hey! Please watch the (2) scenes and contemplate places you haven't been.

Now, let's let the story go on...

When I arrived at Carbondale on my inaugural trip there, I was shaky, fearful and missing a girl I'd left behind. My paper, mailed to me from the college, told me I was assigned to Allen III, a three story dorm in a complex adjacent to Trueblood Hall. After driving for hours, I was tired and was trying to figure out a way out of the whole mess I'd found myself in.

I remember that the day I arrived on campus, it was God awful hot and so, with tears still in my eyes, I decided to at least get up to my dorm room. Lugging my suitcase to the front door, I was informed that my doom was on the third floor! Fuck! OK. So, up some steps, dragging a case, that was all that remained of my previous life was about all that was left in me. I arrived at my room praying and hoping that my roommate would at least be someone I could relate to. After no little effort, I finally made it to my room.  Looking around, I saw a really small space with two beds, a window between them and a very small chest of drawers on either side...

Exhausted from driving. Heartsick and incredulous at such primitive digs, I broke down and sat on the bed on the left. Now, my plans to escape this prison were foremost in my mind. The ONLY thing that prevented me from bolting that day was the shame of going home. So, I unpacked a few items and prayed for a white man to be my roommate... Of course, I got the blackest young man I'd ever seen... He appeared in the doorway and, guess what? My life got one hell of a lot better... It just so turned out that Carl, was not only black, but also an exchange student and an emerging track star! A very wonderful man that also happened to be a chick magnet - go figure... my life got much much better after that day... [Please forgive any errors here, just too tired to fix them].

Long after my youth's eager transgressions!
Views of times, now long forgotten.
Aged eyes, still with a spark of how,
Looking back, and not knowing how... the fuck I ever survived, to be writing this shit!!

Sitting on the dock of some bay somewhere.

Otis Redding passed from this earth on December 10, 1967 - Among the many wonderful facets he brought to us was a simple song - On this day in early 2018, I'd love for everyone to picture in their minds, a dock, a bay and who each of us really are in the scheme of God's theme....

I threw out this deal as a sort of meditation and contemplation sort of song that I think Mr. Redding would have appreciated. The conundrum and strange paradox for each of us is living in a crazy and mixed up world are the mixed emotions we have, of both the hoped for reality of our spiritual existence when coldly faced with the absolute frailty our genome. Damn those constantly shredding Telomeres and the physical timeline end of each of us they do foretell. My best hope is that the Creator will catch me when I ultimately fall....Likely a shattered and broken man, still smiling through those tears of earthly existence...

Jamaica - Not a great place to visit.

Do gun bans really stop criminals from getting guns? Americans need to look no further than the massive gun battle with armed gangs fighting police and soldiers that took place in Kingston, Jamaica recently. At least 30 people were killed in the fighting. It is a huge number for a small island nation of fewer than 3 million people, but unfortunately murder is so common in Jamaica that these murders won't even be noticed in the annual crime numbers.

Jamaica experienced large increases in murder rates since enacting a handgun bans in 1974. Since the gun ban, Jamaica’s murder rate has soared to become one of the highest in the world, currently at least double that of other Caribbean countries. Jamaica’s murder rate hasn’t sunk below 10 murders per 100,000 people since the gun ban went into effect. Yes, a fun place to visit. Since guns are outlawed, tourists like yourselves are easy pickings.

If you must visit a city like Montego Bay, then plan on avoiding high-threat areas including, but not limited to, Flankers, Canterbury, Norwood, Rose Heights, Clavers Street and Hart Street in Montego Bay.  Sudden demonstrations can occur, during which demonstrators often construct roadblocks or otherwise block streets. The primary criminal concern for tourists is becoming a victim of theft. In several cases, however armed robberies of Americans have turned violent when the victims resisted handing over valuables. Beatings and rapes also happen on a regular basis. Crime there is exacerbated by the fact that police are totally understaffed and ineffective. Additionally, there have been frequent allegations of police corruption and visitors should take all necessary precautions. Pay extra attention to you surroundings when traveling, and keep windows up and doors locked while in a vehicle. Avoid walking alone, exercise special care after dark, and always avoid areas known for high crime rates.

In 2009 the Embassy received several reports of sexual assaults against American citizens, including two cases of alleged sexual assaults at tourist resorts.  Americans, especially should maintain careful watchfulness, avoid secluded places or situations, go out in groups and watch out for each other.  Do not count on the local police to protect you. They can carry guns, but that is for their protection not yours. Under Jamaican law, they do not even have to respond to a call for help if they feel they will be in danger. Seriously!

I can only think of one other place more dangerous than Montego Bay in Jamaica and that would be Chicago.