YES WE CAN...!


(...be on time! )

Went to hear a little spoken word last night. Great experience although I had been suffering from a splitting headache since about 5 a.m.; and aspirin is not an option unless I feel the urge to have someone shoot me. Thought about slapping a cop a few times, but I digress...

Arriving at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe around 9:25, the doors had not yet opened. But by 9:35, the very long line began to inch forward. Now the NPC website states emphatically, verbatim-punctuate-em, that the Slam starts "around 10." Things got to pop-a-locking around 10:15. Not bad at all, especially in comparison to another spot down south that shall remain nameless 'cause I really do like the place, and I sincerely hope that one day, sooner than later, they "get right." The unnamed bohemian iconic, historical joint started their weekly spoken word set almost 2 hours late when I was there last month.

See, punctuality is a serious issue for me. At 30-something damn near 40, I severely dislike, being late. It has always been a personal challenge that I have for the most part, overcome. Yet er' once in a while, I still have issues with being on time. Furthermore this last time around in the military I actually got written up for it (three weeks before I got out, no less; can u dig that?). To me, tardiness is a sign of disrespect, regardless as to if it is simply a matter of something you were supposed to do for yourself or making someone else wait.

I remember growing up and my Mom yelling, screaming, putting us on punishment and all that jazz to get us to understand that in order to "be somebody," we have to be on time. We learned the lesson and did well. Ironically, now Mommy's always the one who is late...(wait, is she reading this thing?)

The thing that had me igging (old school word; do not attempt to use if you are under the age of 35) about the late start at the spoken word event in Atlanta, is that I wasted 1 hour and 40 minutes--100 minutes, 6,000 seconds, that I can never get back. I did my best to make good use of the time, by calling people who I had not yet spoken with in over a year and confabbing with the bartender. I also contemplated asking for a refund and going home. By that time, though, the show was already 45 min. late. More importantly, the lack of live spoken word for 12 months, 8 days, had me so thirsty for "the word" that I couldn't possibly leave.

Overall, the decision was mine as to what to do, or not to do with my time. Nevertheless, I still felt those in charge offended me by opting to start the show late because a few of the poets were running late and the crowd was a little thin. Perhaps they would have given me back my money if I had asked for it. It is tangible and real. But the time, that is also very real, is much more precious than money and something they could never, ever replace.

It is 2008. Operating on "cp" time is not acceptable, should not be tolerated and should be discouraged at every turn.

Currently Reading: I Wish I Had A Red Dress by Pearl Cleage Currently Listening To: Respect Yourself by The Staple Singers, Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now by McFadden and Whitehead