Ahh, there it is. The inescapable question that corners me at the beginning of any romantic ‘something’ I enter. A slight eyebrow raise, pleasant smile, and shrug of the shoulders is my standard reply. I don’t mean to be rude or anything. I just don’t care. Yup, I don’t care what it means… to society anyways. I care about what a relationship means to me (and of course the dude whose in this thing with me)… but I really don’t care for a standardized label to dictate what my relationship represents to the world.
Lemme break it down.
Wait. These things usually go best with a disclaimer: I am not against labeled relationships.
Okay. Anyways.
Those who heavily focus on relationship labels/titles tend to trip over the trivial, consequently creating problems out of nothing. For example, I once knew a girl who expected a phone call from her man first thing in the morning, at lunch time, and before bedtime. Everyday. “That’s what BFs are supposed do,” she said. First of all, says who? Second, phone calls are nice… But to set that expectation for every single day? That’s a little rough (and seriously, who the hell has the time?). Don’t get me wrong, routines and patterns are how humans make sense of their worlds. However, placing expectations on norms accordingly to society’s standards (and not their own), is merely their own attachment to the idea of what makes a relationship, and not the relationship itself. Having a non-labeled bond allows individuals to focus on what matters the most without any hindrance: the connection, and the possibility of what both parties can learn from the connection and each other. (more…)
I’m so dumb. I interviewed Classified for WGTJ, and I didn’t even get a photo with him. Oh well. After the interview, homie Shane and I kicked it with Kidz & Kayo. Dudes are super friendly, genuine, and just fricken hilarious. Man, what a day.
Older white lady walking by: “Yo, waaAssup!”
Me: (that facial expression)
Twas a much needed getaway @ Erin’s moms’ acerage. The two days away from ‘life’ was exactly what I needed, and conveniently only 45 minutes away from home. BBQ and campfire in April? An Edmontonion would guffaw at that. Laura and Erin also built the campfire that morning with their own gloved hands! < insert some sort of women power comment here >. I love these girls. I love sunshine. I love the island. I love lamp!
The scenario. Laura, making shit happen.
Caitlyn, aka CY, watching shit happen.
Andrea, somewhere in there between the sunshine rays.
“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain. And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy; And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields. And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.”
Black on Both Sides, 1999 | Producer: Diamond D | Bass & keys: Mos Def, Scratches: DJ Etch A Sketch | Samples: “The Warning Part II” by David Axelrod, “Time’s Up” by O.C., “Paid in Full” by Eric B & Rakim, “The Bridge” by MC Shan
