Living in coronavirus world 266: Work in progress

6/27

worth a try...

 It’s a work I’m progress, this rendering the world…

We just passed the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Three months (officially) of summer left, but the days already getting shorter.

Make Music New York

Greenwich Village

Every year on June 21st is Make Music New York Day with live concerts going on all over the city. Last year, in the midst if the pandemic, I did a “window” concert right here on 115th. This year, my friend Steve and I perform in a pocket garden on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village around the corner from the  Bitter End. The retired volunteers running the garden are form out generation so we give then a generous dose of ’70’s covers. There’s a certain serenity to this space filled with blossoming flowers in the midst of the Village. 

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the last Lockdown

Grateful Distancing Stay at Home Tour 2020

t

Thursday is my last “Lockdown Showcase.” I’ve done 10 now, although this is the first of this year.  Called it the Grateful Distancing Stay at Home Tour of 2020. We had a get out the vote show, This darkness has got to give.., and my overall commitment, we will get by, we will survive.  A true all star gathering of friends, some live.  Numbers are down, I try not to feel unloved. More and more I believe we are just done with virtual life. Happy to have shared this night with my friends. 

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Citi Field. Phillies-Yankees. That increasingly rare “single admission” doubleheader, only virtue of  covid rules,  seven inning games. I watch as Phillies Aaron Nola quietly strikes out 10 batters in a row, tying Tom Seaver’s 50 year old record.

at the ball game

In front of me are about two dozen young adult Korean American families with their children. I’m guessing as I overhear conversations all second generation at least. Several guys are wearing hats and jerseys from a softball (?) team, the Saints. With the little kids, shared food, it’s a warm scene. I wish I were part of it. 

Here’s the thing..in these days of anti-Asian violence, here are these Americans. Born and raised in Queens.  Ball players. Queens inflection. Mets fans. Americans. For as screwed up as we are, this too is who we are, a people of peoples from all over the  world. At home. Here. On this baseball sunny afternoon, this feels good.

                                                  

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Last year Mike and Ariela married in the midst of the pandemic, A year later, they gather their friends on a roof top under the bridge in Williamsburg to celebrate. Some guests  are still anxious:  but have you had both vaccinations? .....Slowly finding our  way forward…

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on the ferry

playing with Nick

playing with Lizzie and Steve

Take the ferry across to Governors’ Island for the annual Porch Stomp Festival. Last year, they postponed the festival until October. Everyone on the island had to be masked. Every performer with a special bandana. This year, masks on the ferry but it’s all but normal on the island. Everyone’s talking about what we’ve lived through. Where we’re headed. I’m just happy to be playing with friends. In the middle of may last set, a cloudburst arrives. We play through, a mini Woodstock moment. 

Step by step we are coming out…

Living in coronavirus world 90: Fathers' Day

6/21 

Fathers’ Day

Thanks  to my friend Shannon,  I’ve got into a (now) Sunday morning series, Bagels and Bible with the Beals. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/3091486797577783/).  Namely Timothy Beal of Case-Western University and Clover Reuter Beal of the Montview Bouevard Presbyterian Church of Denver. Both are authors, Timothy of a book, The Revelation: a Biography (https://www.amazon.com/Book-Revelation-Biography-Lives-Religious/dp/0691145830)  and  Clover a book with  reformed theologian Walter Breuggeman  (https://www.amazon.com/Going-Imagination-Conversation-Scripture-Relationship/dp/0664264131). Their current project is "Revelation and Apocalypticism: A User's Guide to the End of the World."fbid=10219878050194371&set=gm.)3191812604211868&type=3&theater&ifg=1 (There is one Sunday left, but all presentations are available on Facebook. (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php? ). Both grew up  in conservative evangelical circles and are quite familiar with the popular cultural apocalytpicism of that community. Thus, their first project is to simply open our awareness of the Book of Revelation as coded cry in the midst of the virulent oppression of an occupying Roman empire. Timothy makes clear that the word apocalypse means ‘uncovering.” As opposed to the inclusive universalism of Paul, Revelation's author desires a community of Jewish Christians committed to separation and radical purity. And to get us to find connections between the “apocalyptic “ world of the late first century and our own fading imperial days. I come because of my love for the book…for several years we did  dramatic presentations at West Park, and a rare excuse to eat bagels. Just this once a week.  

Early afternoon, our international family gathers. My oldest son, in Berlin is captivated by the radicalizing reassessment of American iconography currently underway. It is unprecedented, perhaps in our history. The romantic facade of the antebellum south is being ripped away. An acknowledgment that the Civil War was first and foremost about the preservation of the institution of slavery is painfully underway. The paradigm of two  morally equal sides of Americans of integrity is crumbling. The American South has to rethink its  whole cultural ethos and ultimately the north as well, having benefitted from slavery’s economics.  The traditional “stars and bars”flag icon of the south is finally being seen as an unacceptable symbol that came into prominence as a rejection of integration in the US. Regional “cultural differences”  are no longer acceptable, Mississippi is the last state to retain the stars and bars in its flag. It has  been banned from NASCAR, for God’s sake while  NASCAR's sole black  driver, Bubba Wallace, has had a noose  hung  in his garage. Something very radicalizing is underway and how that plays out is still open to see.  The US has ti basically g through what Germany and South Africa has done. 

On another topic, NBC news reports 40000 of our 1200000 Covid deaths have occurred in  nursing homes. And that these facilities have been pushing out longer term patients to  open up space  for higher paying, faster turnover covid19  patients. And I continue to worry about my mother in her isolation in a New Jersey supportive care facility.  And still no known plan of reopening.

window concert

outside

Lara, Lynn and Malik

For the last several years I have participated in New York City’s annual solstice day Make Music New York Festival. We’ve had a full schedule of eclectic performances in our sanctuary and performances on the church steps for the bus stop. I’ve played with my band for Make Music Harlem on a street stage and with my freedom Steve in a college art gallery and on a Brooklyn Street in  front of a “paint and Pino” place and last year in an Upper Westside pocket park with my band.  Due to the Coronavirus, this year I do a window concert right on 115th Street for the passersby. Halfway through,I was tempted to

Thank you Mili

finish it up on the street, but I stayed in my window. My friend Milica (creator of Harlem’s Paracademia) outdid me with a two hour Make Music Harlem fire escape concert including an epic spoken word performance by Malik Work tracing the history of chattel slavery accompanied by violin and Mili’s freestyle vocalizations.  We do what we can. 

Bikes on Morningside

I get word of a bicycle demonstration flowing down 125th. Meanwhile a manifestation of motorcyclists on Morningside. 

father's day hats

My family gathering was also a Fathers’ day event. With two of us now fathers. I think of all we’ve been doing and still miss my father, 27 years now, thinking how he would have enjoyed this.

Robert S. Brashear, my father

The day ends with more fireworks. And barking dogs.

Solstice: Making Music New York

6/21

Early part of the day spent in getting ready for this afternoon and evening. In the midst of preparations, the mumbling man comes in. That needing look again. When I tell him I/we have no money, I wish he could actually believe it. They just assume an open  church keeps a stash of money around. He of course wants to show me the edema  around his badly swollen ankles. No money. No food. No metro cards.We end our conversation, our negotiation? by my giving him enough for one subway ride. (It was Danielle’s turn last time...) He asks for a Bible. And I give that, too. 

Andre arrives. Almost time for our Rush Hour Concert on the Steps to take our part in Make Music New York.  Jeremy arrives with his keyboard and mics. Aaron is here to sing, too. And also Teresita. I’ve learned to accept her for the authentic person she is. Her smile, her spirit, is real. 

Rush Hour Concert
Aaron, Andre, Teresita, Jeremy, Bob

So there we are on the steps. Deacon James sitting there for support.  Singing for those getting off the buses, coming home. Those walking up and down the street. Classic gospel songs. Sanctuary, the signature song we share. My answer will be yes.... Through it all.... This little light of mine..... We’re all taking turns taking the lead. Jeremy gets me to do my Rest awhile...Aaron leads on Any day now. Teresita with What if God were one of us? (...like a stranger on a bus...) I take Pharoah’s army got drownded, with the Arlo Guthrie verse:

Moses was the first to get the notion 

That the world is safer with the army in the ocean.

Pharoah’s army got drownded....

And the Jeremy brings us home with And I bid you goodnight...

I’ve enjoyed the looks on peoples’ faces. The thumbs up signs. The child who is completely taken by Jeremy’s keyboard. The people who stop and stay awhile. people taking iPhone videos. Being in touch with the street. From the steps. Feels good.

And now, just an hour. Before open mic....but, then  I see him. Edward Green.(for Edward's story seehttp://west-parkpress.blogspot.com/search?q=edward%27s+story) On the steps. Got there while we were singing. I walk over, speaking softly. Edward, you know you’re not supposed to be here. He gives me a quizzical look. There have been issues, that make it impossible for you to be here. 

Ah man, what you talkin about, I’m just here to hear the people sing...

Don’t you remember, Edward?

Ah man, I remember everything....

I don’t think so. Two summers in a row, Five days each time. Cleaning his waste from the steps.  

...Just here to hear the people sing...

You can’t stay here, OK?

And I go back inside.

I hear Andre’s voice. Edward’s voice raised. Andre comes in. He says you’re persecuting him...And I tell Andre the back story. Well, you might be having to call 911. He seems adamant....I can’t be dealin with that up in here anymore...

I go back out. Edward is gone. I wonder what I would have to ask in order to re extend welcome. Some awareness, some understanding....

The chapel is all set for open mic. Martin has removed his construction materials. RL has done some redecorating. Marc has the sound system set up. Stephen the bar. A couple comes in, sees we’re not ready. Leaves. It may be a night of mainly musicians.

Before it’s over, Pat and Larry will show. My son Dan. And Damarius brings two friends. Who answer my question with the information that they are from a men’s cell group at a super conservative megachurch that causes name brand confusion.

Cara’s old friend Andy,

Andy

from Queens, opens with some decent songs. Then Jeremy. Who after his opening, moves over to our old piano. The one with the pedals not yet reattached. That has made its way from Andrea’s childhood home in Freeport to our home on 93rd and now to the chapel. It’s well worn. But still has a warm sound. He moves into his neo-Brechtian Let’s waste this year...And then invite me up for my new I’ve reached my limit with you...we just worked out this afternoon.

Then there’s Mandola. And RL in and out. David S has his set of surprisingly good originals. And Pat O’ playing his originals. I do a set of my own with Pat joining me on my ...Well....song. Playing Marc’s electric Fender for a change.  Marc shows his accomplished skills on the guitar. And RL finishes with his Stay awhile...and we all join in....It’s been a good night.

Mandola Joe

Somewhere towards the end, Beppe comes in. Sits down, shares Stella and conversation. Good to have him there.

Time to clean up. And then it begins. Is it the solstice? Anna comes in with puppy to report on her rounds. Next comes the #OWS lost boy to complain ... that woman with the dog is harassing me.... I look at him square in the eye. She’s very protective of this place you know? You know the rules. Follow them , you’ll be OK.

Awhile later, I go outside. The suburban Samaritans of the Midnight Run have arrived. People are gathering around for the sandwiches. A smiling man approaches, Hello there, would you like a cup of coffee? A sandwich? I consider telling him I’m the Pastor. Don’t.  It used to embarrass me when the Midnight Run crew first showed up on my steps during the peek of #OWS.  Now I just accept it.

David

Then I look around and see George is back. I walk over and shake his hand. Hello George, it’s been awhile. He smiles, shakes my hand. The Samaritans approach. They seem to know each other. He is soon lecturing them on the state of the world. 

Beppe takes this all in. Amazed? Amused? Or just accepting. Must be the solstice.

6/22

No one’s around while I’m in to do my service. Or later when I come in to write. Outside, the steps are completely  empty for the first time in a long time. Walking up Amsterdam, I see los Rodriguez and the #OWS lost boy encamped in the semidarkness of Baptist doors. 

Bob

Thanks to Marc Stager for Open Mic photos