Feels like a month has gone by in just 2 days; the time has been rich with happiness, challenges and tainted by one occurrence of shocking sorrow.
A few best friends, Paul and I went a party at a warehouse that was dressed with warm coloured patchwork of artistic expression. The four story warehouse that served as a home for 5 people were vibrant with paintings, costumes, plants, rugs, cushions, guitars, easy going talking and happy music.
Just past midnight a girl read a poem, while 2 others enacted the poem in a dance to the beat of a bongo. Californian Beatnic flower children are staying true to their hippie ancestry. The culture’s still kickin’ and alive in 2009!

In the wee hours of near-morn, three of us, Paul, Hana and I, walked to Fruitvale BART station where it serviced to run until 3 am. We noticed police cars with sirens going toward the station. When we got there, the station was closed off with yellow tape.
4 police officers escorted a man in hand cuffs through the ticket gate. The man eerily stopped, looked our way, and spoke for a good minute while the police fumbled with his cuffs.
“I need to see a specialist, I’m traumatized bra’, I killed my cousin, shot him in the back bra’, I love you cousin, I need to see a specialist”. His eyes were dilated and his face looked blank, like a shell of a man, staring without blinking into an unconscious void. He looked and felt evil. Hana pulled on my sleeve to get away.
Another man came through on a stretcher, as fast as the officers could move him through the gate. “Hang on boy, you can do it, just hang on” an officer repeated. He was taken into an ambulance.
We got on a taxi, shocked at the scene. We could hear girls screaming “the police shot him!” We spoke very little on the taxi ride to the next BART station. On the platform, some were wondering why the trains were delayed. Drunken ladies with high heeled shoes in their hands were escorted by men who watched for glass on the ground.
The next morning the man was reported dead. He was 22. It said that a police officer shot him in the back while he was handcuffed and laying on the ground. It didn’t mention his cousin. It said the case is being investigated.
I suddenly remembered to remember my first dream of the year. Were there any Japanese luck symbols? Blur was all I recalled. But that’s okay.
So I have a vision, to live in a self sustainable peaceful community. I watched the whole Crash Course (highly recommended) that helped explain the state of the world in clear terms. We’re lucky enough to be informed, and to be prepared. 2009 may be a rough year, but I am hopeful to protect the kindness of humanity, and strive to make a better place, one realistic step at a time.