"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." --Henry David Thoreau


"Service is the rent we pay for being, It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time."

--Marion Wright Edelman


"The fruit of love is SERVICE. The fruit of service is PEACE" --Mother Teresa

Friday, November 11, 2011

My Dear Friend...

Janet,

It's been three years since I have seen that shit-eating grin of yours and I miss it everyday. It was Halloween night, in Deana's moms yard where we had our last times together. Drinking, camping and enduring the rain. Remember my duck suit? You made jokes about it all night. I know you were jealous you didn't have your own.




Your spirit still lives on through your friends to this day. You told us to live our lives to the fullest, and remembering what you taught us is something I work for everyday. Ali and I can't ever get together and not talk about our crazy nights in Pittsburg. Riding the little child's car around Kareem's house. You walking into the house wearing a mini skirt, we wont ever let you live that down by the way. And how could I forget intramural basketball, where our team was determined to win. And we almost did, until you got mad at some big post player and punched her cold out. You proved your point, and we never returned to intramural basketball.




Pal, what I miss most about our friendship is the unspoken lessons you taught me. When you were deployed, you always made it a point to send me smart ass emails and honest updates on what was happening. I enjoyed and appreciated those emails, so now in my service I make sure to email my good friends and keep them updated. Your house on campus in Pitt, whose doors were always open to anyone and everyone showed me that diversity breeds understanding. Many of nights I can remember having parties at your house, taking shots on the counter and then getting into deep conversations about the world.




I know you are in a better place, one you much preferred than this world. I just want you to know we haven't forgotten about you and will always carry on that Janet "honesty" you shared with us all. I miss you every day pal and am so happy you now have the "Freedom to Roam".

Your Friend,

Mack

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Death Of An Icon

As I wander through town going about my regular business, I can't help but stop and observe the black flags hung up on nearly every business. They show a country in mourning for a local celebrity, a cultural icon and a country leader who lead through the power of communication. He has truly left a legacy in Grenada through that deep, passionate, caring voice he projected on WeeFM each morning.

Anthony "Jericho" Greenidge, radio personality, passed away last week and left the country of Grenada in sadness and despair. I remember hearing Jericho's voice for the first time when I came to Grenada. He has a distinct voice, one made just for the radio. My first days in Grenada brought about feelings of culture shock, homesickness and excitement, but I can remember the first time I heard his voice on the radio. I was riding the bus system for the first time on my own, on my way to the first day of pre-service training. I was nervous, ecstatic and just wanted to get off on the right stop.

But then I heard Jericho, whose morning show always featured open air ways. On this particular morning the topic of conversation was dress code for tourists coming to visit the island. Unlike U.S. radio regulations, radio shows here let just about anyone call in and say just about anything. It's something I love and hate about the radio here. But this morning, Jericho was telling jokes about some of his observations of tourists, how they wear these weird looking hats, wander around town in bathing suits and always wear patterns. I felt uncomfortable on the bus as people were laughing hysterically at his jokes, realizing I was the only white person on the bus and they were talking about "my people". But in that moment of laughter, he reminded the public of something that will always stick with me:

"We are all the same people, regardless of race, gender or terrible choice in clothing."

I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to Jericho's family and friends, to his work colleagues and the general public, who all looked forward to waking up to his radio show. He was a leader of culture and will be forever missed. RIP "De Duke"