phoenix's Year-End Recap

As this year folds, I embrace all of the wonderful and challenging things that happened this year. Overall, it's been probably one of my best years. Here are my highlights:

• Excitement for James B. returning to Detroit.
• Breaking up with James.
• Playing at the beach with Khalil & Breauna
• So many happy hours with Ty at our favorite joint.
• Laughing at Aricka and Ty dancing at Northern Lights - freaks (we must go dancing soon)
• Annual Camping Trip - Twon was actually not a douche bag this year!
• Backyard parties at Cassie's
• Indoor parties at Chrissy's
• Movie nights
• Dinner at Ty's
• Beans & Bytes has no room for poets to sit
• Beans & Bytes closes
• Cassie, Chrissy, phoenix form one of the strongest friendships ever
• Mafia, Mafia, Mafia (Mary, you dead).
• Detroit X-Mas' sambo antics
• Buddy's bubbly personality
• Funny Bunny gets engaged
• Carmelita gets engaged
• Kesha gets engaged
• Leah and Will get engaged
• Dana gets engaged
• Will and Que - engaged
• Rashida O. got married
• Rashida Williams got pregnant
• Eric and Colleen got pregnant
• Mike Williams joins my circle of close friends
• Ty is my exhale
• Denise shows me strength and brilliance
• Lizzie and Sunday brunches
• My nephew Jacob makes his grand appearance
• I quit my job at the ad agency and took my dream job at U of M
• Space Between the Rain is almost finished (my vocal project)
• Melanie Rutherford and the Soul Notes smash Campus Martius
• L'Renee, Kesha & phoenix take the Detroit music scene with force
• Urban Soul
• John's bittersweet kiss
• Jerry's hugs
• Matthew's consideration
• Eddie's love
• Women of the World Poetry Slam, 2009
• 14th Annual Exhibition of Art by Michigan Prisoners
• Laughing hard
• Crying hard
• New car
• San Francisco
• Dent in new car
• Critical Resistance
• Chace as "Chace Money"
• Mike Will as "Mike Millions"
• Sari
• Inohs Sivad
• Tracie Currie's project
• Tracie's listening session with Omari - WOW.
• Omari and his stupid a$$ text messages in the middle of meetings
• Damon Warmack on bass/on movies/on great cheap wine/at shows/on nappy hair. Yeah, Damon.
• Bubby and "ol' taking-advantage-ass-niggas" or Bubby and tattoos that say, "Freak Biatch"
• Walt on keys - ridiculous (My band is sick!)
• Liteshineth (Bro. Ajib Rashadeen) EVERYDAY!
• Marvin's various nicknames, (Barefoot Billy, Chocolate face, The babies, Pepper Ann)
• Ben Jones drunk on his birthday eating flowers
• Blake Eerie as Velvet Krush
• Candy and Billy get engaged
• Wolanda's amazing reading and meeting Connell
• Wo and Ken move in
• Saadiq finds love
• HardCore moves to Texas
• DJ InCreDuble and his dope spins
• Picnap Poety ends at Max Fisher
• Echoverse ends at Java Exchange
• Echoverse takes over 1515 Broadway
• ByteThis Poetry Series takes over Cliff Bells
• Eitan's bonfires
• Eitan moves
• David Blair - "Sha-clack-clack, Boo!"
• Diedre and me at the Will Downing, Lalah Hathaway, Gerald Albright concert laughing
• John Legend concert
• Jill Scott concert
• The Roots concert/experience/worship service/sickest sh*t I've ever experienced in my life!
• Performing at the Ribs n Soul Food Festival with L'Renee
• Moving to Ann Arbor
• Vocal Rehearsals with Frankie
• Dally with Gordie
• Gordie's Obama parties
• Becks returns home and I missed her!!!
• Laura's wedding
• Dinner at Funny Bunny's and Buddy's
• Wine and conversation with Lottie
• Walle
• Reconnecting with Stephane (Stefon)
• Performing with Ty and Lazy Genius and Kesha - CRAZY/INSANE Show!
• "Bring the Boys Back" - (please don't)
• Reconnecting with my best friend - MYSELF
• Movie night at my place and the aftermath
• Sleepovers w/ACE
• The dew of love awaiting me in the New Year
• Randy home for Christmas!
• Lizzie's upcoming party
• Cenda's tonight
• New Year's Eve with Chrissy
• Bev & Matt
• POPs
• Reconnecting with my incarcerated cousin, Greg Scott
• Activism

• La Shaun phoenix Moore - Singer/Songwriter/Poet/Host/Woman

Consider your year, you're still here!!! I've probably left out a billion more things! Blessed New Year, may the new year be better than any year that preceded it.

Holy Creator, Neteru, Guardians, Ancestors - thank you for the greatness you've imbued me with. May my life honor you in each and every new day you honor me to witness.

~Jean Grae