Hijo...

My cousin Vicente I called him and the first thing he said was The Unapologetic Mexican...ja. He liked what you did to his father's story, Roberto and what you have to say. Then, I had an idea (had it for while but this was little different). I have planned to turn that story into a pic book for kids -- "Uncle Beto's Radio Show." Hwr, your work in those vintage fotos is fabulous...you did some great sepia close-ups...makes me see my family a little closer and more personal. Then I thought that the pic book could have such fotos...anyway here's the idea for the weekend -- [...]

—Juan Felipe Herrera, email to his son ME yo

My popz went on to say that he wanted to bind it up in a sample snack and bring it to his publisher to see what they thought. How wild is all this? And I'm not even talking about the book part, which is MUY chido! I'm talking about Vicente's reaction, you dig? After my own doubt. It was really something to hear.

And that's what I love about this time around blogging for me. I do my best to guide it with a simple goal, a personal satisfaction, a means of growing on mah journey. I try to kick it from the heart, and I'm not here to rouse or stoke inert worry about page count (although it's always nice to be validated by the approval of others of course or, like, TEN nominations!!!) or compensation. On that tip, I mean I've done things for others (graphics or code help) online because I felt like it, or because it would be worth it just to do it, and because I felt it. De-emfasizin' the fantasizin about copyright conquest and sech. Because I'm shifting priorities for the arrival of the Sixth Sun. I'm sorry to make people wait a while, but that's not because I want to. It's because I've been taking that idea of "never saying no" maybe too far, when it comes to opportunities to throw in some skillz. I only have so much time and energy. But I'll find those limits. Right now, I don't mind swinging too far the other way for a bit. If it means a conflict with a schedule- and production- oriented society...maybe that's good, too? My goal is to deprioritize commercial value and pay and "gettin' minez," two approaches I usually frame in the (admittedly hasty) containers of "neoliberal" thought vs "indigenous" thought. I don't have all the words on hand for this realignment of perception or priority yet...I may not soon solve that. I may. We'll see. Bit by bit. Lento y lento.

It's a simple mindset shift, but it goes against so much of our culture's whispers and nags that it could never be mainstream. That's okay. I'm not really here to try and convert you...just talking about where I'm wanderin'. Taking notes. I see the Mad Scramble for Multiple Minez as one that buries far too many human@s.

You DO for the motion of your lungs, for the movement. For the chance. Because life is asking you to dance. You do it for yourself. For others if you can. Maybe scary, and you worry about who is going to do for YOU.

And then when you are not expecting it, it swings around. And I guess that's the trust part, that part about sensing or being open to the idea that in your life, in my life, in every life, there is a harmony already—not something to reshape or make bent to your will, as the Western Primer presupposes. More like training...your spiritual oreja. Attuning yourself. Coming to grow with and understand your surroundings. To discover how you fit in, what is your role, your job in helping the harmony to happen? Not thrashing endlessly as we look for the bulldozer keys....

That's something I am now looking for, looking to underline, looking to help bring about—these sorts of realizations in myself, these magical currents in a stream. It's part of a new way. The trust. The not-hoarding, controlling. I dare to hope...or feel that it really does work, you know? Don't say no...don't fear, don't base all decisions on personal profit or gain. And when it comes to helping others, do it because you'd want someone to do the same. Because why not? Because if you can make a stone in someone's life shine for a moment, you have no idea what amount of light that may throw in their path. And because, the secret is, you are actually doing something for yourself, too. The gaps between us work, maybe, not at all like we imagine. Perhaps if we all throw enough fo-tonz at the outer shell, the good atoms can jump their orbits, and new formulas will be made....

I got an article of mine in the Chican@ Art Mag (which has its own publicity agent on it) because I was writing for myself here, and a smart editor found it. I made some of my family happy and possibly helped shape a book or style of a book just by putting heart into what I was doing right here on this path. I've ended up lucky enough to provide solidarity with others who have told me it was important to where they were at. It's like driving with eyes on the horizon, not glued to the toothy spin of an 18-wheeler as you pass. What IT's about. Moving closer to your own purposes, you come more into harmony with others. You speak and act from your heart, and on those times that the weave responds with good karma, it's almost like magic. It is magic.

That's all, amig@s. Just some thoughts as I sit here in the sun. Next installment on the way soon...