Facebook. Some people jumped in early, some only after even their grandmothers finally got a page. In many ways it's the glue that holds families and communities together even if people don't like to admit it, it's an important part of our lives. We cheer each other through births, new jobs and opportunities; support each other through deaths, losses and the blues. We find roomates, jobs and sometimes even spouses there! Our Facebook fam is pretty tight. In a lot of ways, we're closer to our Facebook friends than we are to our actual relatives. Who do you see more? Us or your second cousins? Exactly. When Lisa "La Boricua Goddess" posted that her annual Labor Day picnic was on the horizon many people became excited, me included. I haven't been out and about for some time and there was no way I was going to miss it.
Plena and I went to an early afternoon rehearsal for his part of our birthday tribute for Algarin that was as fun as could be! I'm so proud of how amazingly talented my love is. Plena really tore it up with something fun and as is his usual way, very unique. Ya'll not ready! ;)
Then we hustled off to Orchard Beach in a gypsy cab trying to charge us pretty much what it would cost to get to the airport! We both started in and he relented to charging a decent amount of money. The NERVE! Literally highway robbery. Hmmmph!
Upon arrival we were struck by how truly beautiful the day was. Here we were all awaiting Hurricane Earl's wrath and the day was mild and beautiful. It was sunny, but not beaming, and there was a delicious breeze. Con besitos y abrazos Bomba y Plena joined the fray finding ourselves amidst our poetry family and friends. I was so excited to see my girls! I immediately saw our hostess, la bella, Lisa "La Boricua Goddess" busy as a honey bee & mis adoraciones, author and host of the fabulous "La Loba" poetry series, Vanessa Martir and activist poet "Simply Rob" Vassilarakis . I was so glad we'd been able to make it out to the last outdoor "Wepa!" of the summer. Here we could chill with the homies from Brooklyn, a powerful boricua couple making moves with us, the ubiquitous MC Papo Swiggity, host of our afore mentioned 9/11 tribute & the brilliant Olalana Sasu (we just call her Sue), his better half como se dice. They're the bomb and she had on a Jack Skellington t-shirt to prove it. Georgie Acevedo made sure that we were all comfy and that no one was thirsty - Peach Schnapps & ginger ale? Yes please! The talented sisters & I had a refreshing convo about business, poetry, the state of our community. We welcomed Nia Siacara Andino back home from the motherland after a nice vacay in Spain. A wonderful surprise! Miguel Algarín, next weekend's special guest of honor was "in the house" relaxing and sharing words with the people who have come to see him as a mentor and friend. All the while Sandra Guzman, our highly esteemed and much loved archivist snapped away, even lying down in the grass and sand to get the perfect shot.
Georgie & Goddess! Vaya, Boricua!
Papo Swiggity and the Master, Algarín
"La Loba" Vanessa Martir, Sue "Skellington" & Sandra Guzman of 2DreamArtists.com
Us! Bomba y Plena relaxing in the sun, listening to our talented friends. Must've been a deep poem!
La Boricua Goddess, Lisa. You did good, babes!
The much anticipated entertainment began with poetry and the rhythms of Machete Movement and Certified Master Drummer Juan Cartagena of Segunda Quimbamba.
NeNe Ali spits like no other 12 year old I've ever seen
Members of Grito - True Poetess, Tito Luna and Simply Rob tearing our ears and hearts open
Vanessa "La Loba" Martir acknowledging love for her mother Yemaya
El Chulito Carlito - Carlos Manuel Rivera sharing a poem "del pelo alisado"
Roberto Plena Irizarry schooling people with the piece "Rockin' to the Greatest"
Lyrical poet Blaze A Page reps The Babble[O]nianz
Once Blaze A Page of the The Babble[O]nianz graced the grass we were ready to run to hustle "Simply" to his next event when "SURPRISE!!!" Once everyone had their say, Goddess and Simply got down to the tambores while we sang a flavorful version of "Happy Birthday" for him accompanied by the Machete Movement! It was awesome!
VAYA! Happy Birthday, Simply!
There were over a 100 of us at the picnic! The music, poetry and the sense of community was thick. She was excited and knew it would be fun but once people started getting amped Goddess was overwhelmed by the love and response. She wanted so much to please us all, to make it wonderful for us and she did. We are thankful to our beloved chula for bringing us together and look forward to the next one and the next one and the next one. Y seguimos pa'lante!
Well done! WE LOVE YOU, LISA!!!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 2:59PM 
