Day 1
Brooklyn Bound...

To the Asian man on the plane,
Passing gas in a small space more than once is not proper or funny.
To the West Indian lady at JFK who couldn't help me with more than an "I don't know" response to my airport shuttle service,
you should not be working in customer service.
To the first Dominican taxi driver I had driving me to the hotel, I think you over charged me.
New York, you are concrete on top of concrete. No wonder you're so hard. And yet, beauty comes in all textures. You are dirty in truth and first glimpse, but proud to be New York.
The Best Western on 4th Ave and 25th is nice.
To the Asian lady cleaning the rooms that gave me my first real smile, thank you.
I am wanting convo with familiarity so I meet up with K. Sandbloom. 25 blocks later and hoods I've never met, I am at "Friendlys" on Church Ave. I have not seen a church on this street. "Friendlys" is grammatically incorrect and the food is not good.
To the young men talking loud, thank you for color in laughter.
To Sandbloom, you owe me good Chinese food!
To the taxis that will not stop for me but will for K. Sandbloom, F-YOU!
To the taxi driver who stopped almost an hour later and tried to take me the long way... DON"T PLAY ME! I just walked 25 blocks down 20th 2 hours ago, I know my way my man!
To myself, I am proud of you for being fearless. But your still shaking. took you 10 years to get here. Your mother knows why.
Tonight, 3 seconds instead of 1, you will forget your lines. Luckily, you've been in the mirror transitioning. Your brother will call and be family, your words will proclaim their love, and time will say you deserve this moment, damn what anyone has to say.
Mahogany will turn the meaning of your name white when she says, "Take the R train to Atlantic (about 4 or 5 stops) get off and I'll be waiting for you." You will remember that you have never used public transportation outside of the school bus and the Grey Hound from when you were dating that one loser. She will say you have 10 to 15minutes to leave when you know you need 30. You will say okay, look at yourself a few more times. Short ways and long ways. Oddly even, you will put on the sneakers that Mahogany said will be cute. There your favorite and they know it. When they heard they were going they pretended not to be excited. There red and white and say a lot about you. And yet, they know your swag is regardless.
Your red jacket capes. It heard you ask the shoes to make the jeans complete. And yet, nothing prepared me.
To the hotel clerk that didn't tell me I had to cross the street to go in the right direction on the train, I was almost in Long Island SON!
For the ticket attendant in the gated glass box, I thought my pass was good for 2hours? Why I gotta buy another one? So you just not gone answer me...K.
$2.50, new direction, and 8 stops later, I am waiting to laugh at myself. "You had your first tourist moment."
To Mahogany L. Browne who lets me call her Mo, ride in her van, and reminds you of your favorite family member, thank you for the meat platter, white wine, and lobster mac. She sits across me in small space and exudes good conversation, advice, and confidence. And I've decided to make her forever whether she likes it or not. Laughter will sit close to our plates and she will remind me of what she saw in me since day one. I will smile with my eyes and translate a thank you for believing me. We are women, and I am like little sister.
And we're walking...
To the 150+ people waiting outside of Nuyorican for poetry, I am amazed. P.S. you intimidate me...
I am moments that feel like an adrenaline rush. I am heart beating fast, emotions running into each other, Where is that freeze in time I've been saving to use?
To the text messages, facebook posts, and tweets, thank you for traveling in the back of pockets.
To the phone calls I made while standing on the stairs behind the DJ booth, can you hear my heart?
To the microphone proudly placed on a modest stage of ready carpet, can you hear my heart?
To the host, the audience, Pepe, the concrete, can you hear my heart through my transitions?
Time goes...
20minutes feel like 5 and I am shrinking back tears. Whose first time in New York is also on Nuyoricans stage? I am apart of history. Can't remember breathing. But I hid inside of hair follicles of acceptance.
I am a good thing.
To the lady who shook my hand afterward and said, "Welcome to New York baby, we love you." You are beautiful. Can I now get in your pocket and see what you see? Even better, can you hear my heart?
To the young lady who bought a book, you're welcome 1st, thank you more.
To the women who got on stage, I need you.
To Jive and Mo dancing to Beyonce, Oh! Oh! Ohhhh!
To DJ Whatever on the radio, you play for my hometown. How'd you know I needed something Southern flavored?
To the city that never sleeps, I will...
as soon as my heart stops beating like young Brooklyn being born to its culture.