My Fall Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care-“It’s On Tonight”

Sam Salter’s “It’s On Tonight” reminds me of my first stage in adolescence. It sounds like a Vaughn Harper introduced throughout his quiet storm radio show, while I sat in the passenger’s side of my parents’ cars, as we voyaged from Manhattan to our apartment in Queens on a summer night. I loved these drives […]

My Fall Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 27-“Antidote”

A few minutes before we arrived at any contest of sport, Courtney and Cydney knew what to expect. With my Jeep’s stereo on full blast, they were conditioned to charge up as soon as the guitar riff looped, and mumble “Don’t you open up the window,” well-aware all four were about to be rolled down. […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 20-“Real Life”

As a man in his mid-thirties, playlists are the modern version of the mixtape. To sit by a radio, with a cassette deck held on both record and play, with a quick finger to let go of the pause button was a way of life. When the tape was crammed to capacity, it was time […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 18-“Ringleader Man”

If I were asked to use a song to describe my personality, “Ringleader Man” by T-Pain would be it. Arpeggio chords bounce around in a ¾ time signature gives the feel of a dark circus, a side show in the key of e flat minor. Pain hums in a soft tone, as if he greets […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 17-“Twist My Fingaz”

For a change of scenery, once a week, I used to write at my local Starbucks. When I pulled into the parking lot, the patrons-stay-at-home moms, au pairs, and retirees in a white, upper-class neighborhood-were greeted to the loud, gangsta rap from my jeep. I got a kick out of their reaction when I made […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 16-“F[Love]k Me For Free”

I am certain my daughter, nephew, and I would all cringe if we heard one another listened to a song entitled “Fuck Me for Free.” However, I am well aware there will come a day when they will like music I consider vulgar. When it comes to my nephew, I play dumb. He’s 14 years […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 15-“On the Radio”

When it comes to in-car music, my daughter and nephew have no idea how great they have it. They have let it be known-as individuals and in concert-they are not particularly fond of my music choices when I am their source of transportation. I’ve heard many-a-gripes about my “annoying 90’s music.” Do I care? Not […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 14-“Ricky”

“No matter how tall you get, you’ll always be looking up to me,” I replied in a tone mixed with love and sarcasm. I can admit I am not ready for my nephew to be taller than me; but the emotions are more or less tied to the acceptance of time and not his change […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 13-“What You Tryna Do”

I attended Dad 2.0, a conference for writers, bloggers, influencers, and media personalities who are fathers, in Washington DC in February. It was a surreal experience to introduce myself to people I’d known for years but never met in person. I felt validated as several dads told me they enjoyed my work and introduce myself […]

My Summer Rewind: An Ode to Self-Care 12-“Only U”

I went on my first “date” six weeks after Timile passed away. There was no love connection nor was it the purpose. I moved back to New York in late November 2012 and had little time or bandwidth to grieve. Most of my time and energy was focused on what would become seven court appearances […]