So, I never really was a poet.....until today.

This last week has probably been one of the most incredible weeks of my life. I never thought I'd say that! From being surrounded by 700 people that have received the same gift that I did, which I'll write about later, to coming back to sickness and sheer exhaustion, to being able to see some of the most loved and respected disability activists and scholars all in one week, and then, to become a poet.

 I had  always dabbled, you know, for English class or whatnot, but I never really saw myself as a performer, it was always awkward, never really that easy. But then last week,When I put pencil to paper (literally) the words just came with an ease  that I have never experienced nor understood. So, even though I'm terrified, I'd like to share both poems that I wrote with you, citizens  of the inter-webs. Here goes!

 This first poem was modeled after Laura Hershey's "Translating the Crip." I have been asked to perform it in American Sign Language at an event next week. Wish me luck!

When I say

When I say disabled, I mean mostly by the comments people say to me.
When I say choice, I mean you don't have to ask "are you sure?"
When I say accessible, I am learning it doesn't just mean "is there a flight of stairs?"
When I say responsibility, I mean you're here to help me, not protect or judge me.
When I say education, I mean I don't know if it will matter because of what people like me are supposed to do. I also can't help but  think of the enormous privilege I've been given.
When I say work, I hope that means one day not just for personal fulfillment. But it also means recognizing all the ways others can contribute.
When I say solidarity, it means no matter what.
When I say collaboration, it means virtual, in person, or in spirit whatever form that may take.
When I say inspiration, I mean all the badass people who must continue to exist even when we are told we are unfit to care for ourselves or another person. 

And another, shorter one.....

This was in the style of Stacey Millbern's "No one ever sat me down and said."

No one ever told me

No one ever told me I can't do anything I want. 
No one ever told me that I wouldn't have to "get used to it."
No one ever told me that I would want to be the way I am.
No one ever told me what it feels like to hear someone say "People like you have children?"
No one ever tod me about the amazing community I would find from claiming crip.


Many thanks to the  D Center for hosting this event and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha for being a revolutionary badass. It was an honor to share space with you and a pleasure to see you again. Thank you!

Conversations with the Guitar Man

Hi all!

I wanted to share with you today some other work I've done that I have not yet found a place for, but I believe it is too good not to share! This first one is a piece that I wrote over a year ago, while trying to find my voice. Enjoy.
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Conversations with the Guitar Man

It is near 6 o'clock on a Tuesday evening, and I am clutching my phone and my purse for dear life. After being sent on a wild goose chase around the U District for interesting characters, I headed downtown unsure what I would find. I had been there many times, but on that day, I could not bring myself to talk to the many eyes that I constantly felt upon me. There are many places I'm comfortable going alone, but, today, this wasn't one of them.

            Despondent, I decided to try again 24 hours later. I headed into Pike Place Market just before closing to find the usually packed walkways practically empty. It was kind of an eerie feeling, but it was nice. Maybe I should come here at night more often.

            “What do you listen to?” asks a guy who is “just messing around” on his guitar.

            “A bit of everything, really. Right now, I'm really into Allen Stone and Jack Johnson, the whole folk thing.”

            With that, he busts into a medley including Johnson’s “Bubble Toes,” to which I lip-sync and drum on my table unashamedly.

            What strikes me about Josh is his willingness to be candid. I can tell he is adventurous.

            Originally from Guam, Joshua Catahay started touring the music circuit early, having been in a band for the better part of 20 years, both on guitar and vocals. He said he fell in love with Seattle early on, and just recently sold everything and moved back in October 2012. He has been “busking” at the market since April 2013. He plays everything from his own original work to many cover songs, including those of his idol, Seattle-based Clinton Fearon. He has also previously been featured with well-known reggae band Kore Ionz.  Although music sustains him between jobs, he says his favorite part of this experience is interacting with people.

            “People start up conversations that would never normally happen if you didn't have a guitar,” Catahay said. “It has really enriched me.”

But he said some of his favorite experiences come from the camaraderie of the street music community itself, as well as the greater Seattle community. For example, as we were talking, somebody from the donut shop across the path offered us two huge bags of mini donut holes out of the blue, which I, of course, politely declined. And then I listened to him tell this story:

“Just last week, I came up from Fifth, I stopped by, and you know, his name is Bob, he plays the steel drums, reggae music.” So he goes on about how he became friends with him and others: “And then, the next block, on Fourth Avenue, I stopped and I met this guy, his name is George. He's a veteran, and he suffered a stroke, but he's an awesome guitarist. I played a few songs with him, and later on that day, then he gifted me an amp,” said Catahay. “That's so awesome, you know, I'll treasure that because it comes from a musician here.”

            And so, I'm sitting here wondering to myself the whole time: Why the hell are you at Pike Place Market on Wednesday night when there are only 10 people around?

“I sometimes am the first one here, and sometimes I'm the last one here,” he said. “I like to sing in the new day, and I like to sing out the night, say goodbye to the sun.”

            But whatever time of day it is, Josh always has time to talk, no matter who his audience may be. He shared with me four things that a man named Mike, an elderly musician who plays the djembe, a type of African drum, once told him about playing music.

·      Relax

·      Use your body as part of the rhythm

·      Play with your heart and soul. Own what you play.

·      Never let anybody stop you from playing music, no matter what.

Whether it is the true embodiment of soul through that guitar, or the ease with which he talks to anyone on a street corner, you can tell it's experience that changes people.

“People you least expect are the ones with the most heart, the most giving, sometimes… I'll stop for anybody and have conversation with them if they want to, no matter who you are.”

And perhaps that is worth all that, and a bag of donuts.

The 10 worst (or best!) pick up lines to say to disabled people

This is a piece that I just wrote for class, and I'm actually so excited to share it with y'all! Enjoy!

The 10 worst (or best) pick up lines to say to disabled people

I have to admit I don't have a lot of experience in this area, and here might be some reasons why. Keep it classy, America!

1.     But… you're so pretty (for a person in a wheelchair)

Yeah, because of course our hot rods can’t be sexy.

2.     So, what exactly did you do yourself?

Oh, I don't know, just intentionally strangled myself or fell on my face. And even if I did, what's it to you?

3.     Hey, Speed Racer *wink*

Hey Batman, Power Ranger, or My Little Pony. You know, whatever floats your boat!

4.     How fast does that thing go?

Maybe about the pace of a small child. But still too fast for you to keep up with me.

5.     Do you do all your own stunts?

No, I'm faking it and, they paid Angelina Jolie to be my stunt double. (Hey, they don't call me Evel Knievel for nothing)

6.     Need a place to sit?

Somebody said they got this from a fellow wheelchair user. Really??!!!

7.     Wanna ride on something other than your chair?

If so, you just lost any chance of finding out. Or, sure, let's ride a mechanical bull and see what happens.

8.     I don't know how you do it!

I wake up, I breathe, I ingest copious amounts of caffeine, I procrastinate, and repeat. But OH MY GOD. You went to the grocery store. You are such an inspiration!!

9.     But you don’t look disabled …..

And you don't look regular, Mr. handlebar mustache with comb-over, and yet here we are!

And the most overused line EVER

10. So….. I probably shouldn't ask this, but, everything works……..right?

If I had a dollar for every time… then by golly I wouldn't have to sit around eating bonbons all day, and maybe I could actually pursue a career. Imagine that!

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  I know these are somewhat specific to my experiences. Feel free to comment with your own best lines below!