It's in Arlington Heights, this is an area I love visiting because everyone is always friendly and always greets me.As I'm opening the door to the museum, a very charismatic man who is sitting in his walker on the sidewalk exclaims to me, "Are you a model? I bet people tell you all the time you look like a model. You're beautiful. You're a model aren't you?"
I'm laughing, a lot. I say back to him, "No way! Between us two, it must be you!"
"I can't be a model, I'm too old. See all my grey hairs," He lifts up his hat to show me. "And you got dimples too! Mayynnn..."
I thank him for such a warm welcome and we bless each other a good day.
PEOPLE ARE AWESOME.
I get inside, greeted by Justin who has watched this entire exchange and it's brought a smile to his face and he says "It's all love here."
I was already excited for my museum visit, now I'm even more thrilled to come across beautiful souls. All this and I haven't even gone inside yet.
This space feels like a refuge. It feels like a birthing place of many good things. I'm touched by this space. I'm moved by this space. I feel something resonate inside me in this space-filled with love, hope, compassion. These feelings are only possibly through the understanding of suffering. What black people have endured in this country, and I'm so sorry. There's a garden out back, with flowers and many seats. Someone's playing good jamz. I'm in love. I sit and write down these thoughts which I'm sharing with you now.
I'll never know what it's like to be a black person but I'm out here seeking all the awareness I can on an experience that is unknown to me. Ever since I was young, the black experience has intrigued me and I always felt connected to it in some way. The books I chose to read, the friends I had (still have), a lot of things. I didn't realize they were "black" things until I got to college and I met my friend Antanice who brought it to my attention. I don't know why it's just been this way. I think it's because justice matters to me.
Tupac says, "I'm not saying I will change the world... We might not be the ones but let's not be selfish because we're not going to change the world let's not talk about how we should change it. I don't know how to change it but I know if I keep talking about how dirty it is out here, somebody gone clean it up."
So let's keep talking and making art and finding awareness and coming together in communities because that's the way to move forward. To all my brothers and sisters, it's all love.
