Emily's May Inspiration "There Goes The Hood"

It was more than a restaurant, it was a symbol. And in the past decade, the last man standing in a sea of homogeny brought on by outsiders visiting the East Village on the weekends; dabbling in the hip, artistic, and edgy. Fact is MAMA'S was the neighborhood. At ten dollars a plate with a choice of meat and three sides, MAMA's was the spot you went for down home comfort. Nestled on 3rd St btw A & B, I walked past this soul food spot daily back in the nineties, sometimes stopping in just for a side of mash potatoes when the city got rough. They had the best veggies too, and if you didn't want meat you could get an extra side with their mac and cheese rivaling no other.

I encourage my yoga students to embrace change, to accept the only constant in our lives is just that. But as my old street in Alphabet City morphs into more and more sameness - that chain store, homogenized look that plagues our country - I have to cry out, 'Why this hood!?' Why the spot where artists flocked to so they could be different and accepted? With the fortune tellers, druggies, and performance artists singing their tunes, graffiti walls and dive bars that embrace all kinds... Why must the demographic who desires sameness, who feels more comfortable in an OLIVE GARDEN than an authentic Italian dive invade the one place on the planet where we screwed the Man?

Those who infest the East Village on the weekends are in no way supporting the community and those who inhabit it. They leave and go back to their commutes and cubicles, and tell stories about how they had a 'crazy' weekend in the village. We lived there, many old-schoolers still do. It's our home, and place's like MAMA'S, or the old KING'S PHARMACY replaced by a DUANE READE were our pride, our joy and choice to remain original, authentic to ourselves. Most moved to the East Village against their society's wishes. To a far away land where parentals did not understand paying a thousand dollars a month for a shoebox apartment on Ave C, but we did and sacrificed to be there. The natives know the secret to Alphabet City is its character, its funkiness, and constant groove we so adore. With the closing of MAMA'S, I dare say...there goes the hood.

PEACE,

Archived Inspirations

on Growth

FOR TEDDY

I was so sad the day Teddy died… I grew up with his impassioned speeches to Congress. His thick, funny accent and kind hearted soul. I remember the day he whisked the Clintons off in his sailboat-- rescuing them if only for an afternoon from the intense personal attacks on their intimate, painful drama. I remember the day he presented the Obama girls with their much awaited puppy, the way he kept on fighting throughout his cancer battle, showing up at the convention to support the ideals he long believed in. I admired Ted Kennedy, loved him for sticking to his cause. I never really had an inclination to go into politics, to pursue social welfare or become a part of making laws that serve the people. But I am grateful for those that do. And as the attacks on universal healthcare-- Ted's greatest cause still linger in the town halls I wonder if the death of this fine senator will snap us out of our complacency, our defeat or lack of will toward change. I wonder if we all can't appreciate no matter your party, Kennedy's vision of taking care of each American, of working tirelessly to invoke compassion in the people of this privileged country.

We must begin to discuss not out of fear, but out of necessity the need to recognize our connection to our neighbors-- to the sick, the old, the young, all colors. We must allow ourselves to step up to the call of taking care of each other. Of treating our neighbors like brothers/sisters, not like strangers. Because this is where we are headed collectively, whether you're ready or not we are on this planet to connect-- to love and acknowledge the need to unite.

The fear must stop. Some lawmakers and leaders spend millions of dollars in ad campaigns while you rest on your couch each night to scare you. To convince you that the phrase 'public option' is terrifying, that you will lose the precious care that you now have and in turn will be forced to wait in long lines, for long hours to be ill-treated by your government. …This is a myth. We all must be present and vigilant in dispelling the rumors, in calming the irrational fears, and hold fast to what we know in our guts is possible.

This month as you return to your work, your schools and schedules-- will you play a part in the uniting of neighbors? Can you educate those who express fear? Will you contribute to the power of prayer and intention-- doing your part, lawmaker or not, to effect this change for each other…

...For Teddy.