Due to my own choices -- some brave, some dumb --

I got separated from nearly all of my material possessions in life.

At this writing, all that I own fits in a couple suitcases, and backpack.

It's an incredibly light way to be in the world.

That lightness of being adds ironic weight to my memories, though.

Sometimes that weight is valuable and instructive.

Other times, it's haunting and burdensome.

Most of these ephemeral treasures
are stored in my head and heart.

Many are on my phone.

I'm a bit of a digital hoarder, now.

Old texts. Old voice messages. Old pictures.

They've probably become too precious to me.

So maybe by honoring them, a little at a time, here and there...

I can make peace with those memories that seem at war with me.

Fighting to be... shared? (We'll see how this one goes.)

This was the photo that started this walk down memory lane, lol.

Of course the pics are all date and time-stamped.

So it's easy to know that on the day I took this picture at Daley Plaza,
I was on my lunch break (worked at a big, fancy advertising agency).

Well, African percussion feels more like my name
than even "Erika" does. It really calls...

So whatever busy-bee errands I had lined up for myself
that afternoon, would now have to wait.

I stood as close to the stage as I could, and let the beats renew me.

I got clean of the gimmicky-gunk that made up much of my day.

Groups of 'strangers' danced together, because Chicago is a musical place.

Sure, there is more gray than green, but the concrete jungle is redeemed a bit

by its unique ability to get wildly different people, dancing together.

Those who dance together, have a chance together. 😘💃🏾

While bouncing to sounds that made my heart so happy,
I raised my hands, and danced my thanks
for the powerful speech of the drums,
that momentarily silenced goofy chatter,
and played instead, a pulse of life.

Dat-dat. Dat-dat. Rada-tadata-taDAT!

Dark chocolate brown goodness sounded out
reverberation from Africa, all into the the Plaza,
and into us, the attracted people.