The Year in Review

In January, I entered a new era – my 30s. Celebrating with friends and family to ring in my official entry into adult hood, I learned that Casa Bonita is only funny on paper.

February found me in Nashville, Tennessee - I performed at Opryland for NACA Nationals, and my Mom joined me on the trip! We found our way into a few country bars along the way, sang a little karaoke, and a pair of cowgirl boots and a few hilarious stories found their way into my luggage and my life before we made the trek back home.

March saw me in Seattle for the first time, where Daemond and Inti were the most gracious hosts on the planet, the slam was incredibly fun, and I even got to hang out with my cousins Cemal and his wife Kou, Yildez, and Ahmedt for the first time in many years. We played at the music museum for hours and I hope to make my way back there again soon. Seattle is beautiful - and I think that Denver and Seattle are probably long lost BFFs.

In April I became the coach of Slam Nuba’s 2009 team: Panama Soweto, Bobby Lefebre, Ken Arkind, Lucifury, and The Original Woman – rock stars through and through, they did what they do best all summer long. Sweat, tears, cutting of heads, and beautiful brilliant poetry ensued. I also competed in the Barrio Slam for the first time ever, which is part of the Neruda Poetry Festival sponsored by El Centro Su Teatro – if you haven’t been, plan on it next April!

May found me learning to garden for the first time in my life. Being a part of the Eastside Growers’ Collective was a life-altering experience, turning over soil and pulling out pieces of iron and concrete and planting seeds a block away from my childhood preschool was straight up magic. And the collard greens grew in abundance :)

The first weekend in June was spent in Taos at the Verse Converse Poetry Festival, where I competed in a 5 round slam and finally landed in second place next to the talented Christian Drake – I also met some aliens – well, one who acknowledged it . . . a Reptilian, which I am guessing is some sort of alien race (?) – good times were had by all.

July brought my darling daughter’s birthday, where we celebrated heartily at a hotel suite slumber party – me versus 10 little girls (yep, count ‘em – TEN) had me wondering whether I’m smarter than a 5th grader. We all survived, but I think even now I’m a little exhausted.

August began with the National Poetry Slam – one week with hundreds of poets from all over the country (and a few from overseas) gallivanting around West Palm Beach, Florida. If you have never been to a National Poetry Slam, you should go. I can't begin to tell you all that you've been missing.

September brought me back to Florida, though this time to Gainesville where I met some awesome students and even got to hear some of their poetry. From there I spent a bit of time in Massachusetts, where I learned that taxis, hotels, and vegan food are not always easy to negotiate in small towns.

October took me to Minneapolis for a few days – the wind was sharply cold, but the city was warm and friendly. I was staying in a hotel downtown, and it seemed like the city shut down at 6 p.m.; guessing I just did not found the hot spots, so I will have to try again next time.

November was pure insanity – a lovely mixture of Denver, Kansas City, Wisconsin, New York, and Pennsylvania.

I had to go through security three times in Kansas City, finally got to Wisconsin in just enough time to get lost in farm country on the way to my show. Somehow google maps wasn’t super helpful when it came to ‘County Road JJ’, but I eventually found where I needed to go – I have since learned to get the GPS in every rental car.

New York, I love you like a sister and miss you when we are apart. I know you understand.

Albright College in Reading, PA was WONderful – I kept the haiku and sketches the students wrote/drew during the show, they are excellent! And to the sweet woman at the Cuban restaurant downtown who snuck chicken underneath my rice because you didn’t think my vegan diet could be healthy – you remind me of my Grandmother, and I laughed when I got the food back to my hotel.

December, sweet December, has been spent with my family and friends. My Grandpa passed away, and we celebrated his life. From him and my Grandma there came 7 children, 21 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren (and counting) – we all honor his memory and will miss him. Spending time at home among my loved ones has been such a precious gift, I am grateful and looking forward to doing much more of this 2010 – along with writing, bits of traveling, moving into a new neighborhood, and returning to school (yay!).

But it will begin with loads of Blackeyed Peas, Greens, and my very own vegan jambalaya – WOOHOO!!!

Wishing you a very happy new year,

Suzi Q.