After a wonderful writing session with the reggae powerhouse Hold in Fyah, I went to QFC for the only sensible thing I can eat on my new diet – 4 pieces of Baked Chicken I can spread over the next few days as if each piece were itself a giant bucket.
On the way I went out of my way to hold the door for an old lady on Oxygen, as I was decked out in Green Adidas warm ups from head to toe, like a Russian Mobster. The woman was So pleased, she explained,
“You’re a nice man.”
Thinking back on it, I should have helped her to her car, but you never know if you seen overly attentive wearing in this Adidas. Might as,well quite while you are ahead.
Well in line as am I held my half eaten 4 piece box of chicken another nice, but we will call her mature lady insisted I move ahead of her citing the size of her grocery list and Karma.
I mentioned while giving thanks that whether or not Karma is real, that it’s the only way I want to live. The sweet maybe developmentally delayed girl bagging groceries thought I was the funniest most man on earth and I told her she made day because she made me feel like Jerry Seinfeld. She almost burst explaining it was her favorite show and her affinity for Kramer.
Then I walked into McMenamins Anderson School for a wee cup of coffee (no cream & sugar on my diet) and like a movie as I open the door Toots and the Maytals explodes on the speakers cranked to mid volume.
I had two warm thoughts:
About folks like Anthony Red Rose that know this patron saint of Soul Reggae Fire, and how if I am truly good he might take me to see him next time.
And I thought about how automation is robbing of us interactions like I just had with these three women that are still perfect strangers.
People will order food to their house which arrive as the delivery service dissapears as soon as possible, and that sweet young lady bagging groceries will be replaced by the lady who speaks of karma, at a self check out line everywhere.
And the light of the world diminishes, like that partial eclipse. The hidden cost of convenience is an emptiness which serves an amnesia which tells us that we can’t remember why we once had more joy and more actual friends.
But I remember. We are pack animals. We used to sleep in a pile. We used to do things and not state at our phones, as I do each day in the only manner that is convenient enough for me to pen these short stories.
“Give me convince, and give me death.” Shouts Patrick Henry from the top of an automated Uber cage.
Party.
Davin’s new song has been released and is fast becoming a dancehall hit. Listen here on Reggaeville: DAVIN MICHAEL STEDMAN & ANTHONY RED ROSE – FREE YOUR MIND FEAT. SLY & ROBBIE WITH LENKY MARSDEN
– Musician and writer Davin Michael Stedman has many musical ventures and is one of the driving forces behind the Staxx Brothers. He has just returned from three weeks of networking and reporting from Kingston, Jamaica. Next stop, Lagos, Nigeria.
