Walkabout??? Already????

Wikipedia says that THIS is the definition of a walkabout:

"Walkabout refers to a rite of passage during which male Australian Aborigines would undergo a journey during adolescence and live in the wilderness for a period."

Well...as a parent of a man-child I knew that SOMEDAY one of the boys would want to go on some sort of "walkabout".

And ...as a Mother I always knew that I would NOT BE READY-whenever that day came!

And just as I'd imagined ...it happened last night.

Jay had a gig and Zeek stayed there with him to help the band load up the equipment, roll cords, break down drums, etc.

THIS is a hard transition for ME...but- he is getting older and NEEDS to gain some sort of independence. Sniff sniff. LOL.

He JUST started staying and helping in the last year.

The other kids used to complain with the TYPICAL responses of , "But, Mom!!!! I want to stay TOO!!!!!"

or, the ever lasting , "MOM!!!! Thats not FAIR!!!!!"

But, after a few discussions about how Zeek is the oldest so he will ALWAYS be the FIRST to do things...FOREVER. They usually quiet down.

When they keep arguing, I easiely shut their mouths with a quick, "I did not make THAT decision. If you have a problem with THAT ONE, you need to talk to GOD!"

Which of course...stops them in their tracks! LOL

So JUST THIS has been a slow transition for us all...the kids are growing.
we have kinda exited the baby stage...its time for some independance.

BUT...I was NOT PREPARED when they came home last night and PROPOSITIONED ME.

I promise you this was not a RANDOM WORK.

THIS was PLANNED.

They came to me in the kitchen.

Zeek under Jays arm.
UNITED.
They were there for a PURPOSE.

I'm not really sure how it started but ALL I REMEMBER are the words "Tennessee" and "reggae festival".

It was all a blur....
And the next thing I know was that they were trying to convince me that Zeek should be able to take his first "WALKABOUT".

In this situation the "walkabout" being: a reggae festival in Tennessee where they are camping by a river. Jay will be playing and Zeek will be "a roadie"....He will wave the flag on stage when Jay is playing..just like always. They will leave on Friday and return on Sunday.

As you can imagine..JUST the thought made my heart immediately start to beat faster and my mind race!

My answer: Ill have to PRAY on that one!!!

In my heart I know it is ok.
It is probably the BEST "Walkabout" a Rasta family could ask for.

So ...I guess it is time.

And everyone is doing EXACTLY what they are supposed to do.

The Father and Son are SUPPOSED to try and convince the Mother that IT IS "THE RIGHT" TIME.
And the Mother is SUPPOSED to feel that it could NEVER be "THE RIGHT TIME".

Good news folks....WERE RIGHT ON SCHEDULE!!!!!!!!!!!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Muffin Tin Monday…Rasta Stylee

Can you tell the theme??

Come on…you KNOW.

Its RASTA themed.

Red(strawberries)

Gold(goldfish)

Green(spinich salad)

Raisins(royal color)

tortilla pb&J(they like them?)

and pretzel stix(to build a star of David)

November 2, 1930.

A Rasta Holiday.

The day that Haile Selassie I was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia.

We had “Rasta” Themed school .

STINKIN’ AWESOME.

We Made a RASTA Lapbook.

That covered…

Reading

History

Math

Writing

AND

LIFE.

The kids had a GREAT time and we   listened to Nyahbinghi Drumming and watched Rasta videos.

What a day.

Whata life!

Sugar Sweet with a "Reggae" cherry on Top!!!

Zeek is a REGGAE YOUTH!!!

Anytime were in the car an it is the girls turn for music he says, "Can we PLEASE put it back on REGGAE????"

I LOVE that boy....he is SUGAR sweet!

So you can imagine OUR excitement when we got 3 tix(THANKS RAGGA) for the Stephen Marley concert in St. Augustine!!!

We were sooooooooooooooooooo extremely happy.

It was OUR NIGHT!!!

We got to the amphitheatre RIGHT as the music began playing ....RIGHT ON TIME!!!!

We starte out in the seats because the "pit" was full.

I use the word "pit" loosely...It was a reggae show!

It wasn't a MOSH pit!! LOL

Very QUICKLY I arrive at the fact that THIS was NOT the 1st concert experience my boy was going to have!!!

We wanted to be UP CLOSE an PERSONAL!!!!

SO I said , "This SUCKS!...Lets go there"..an motioned to the front of the stage.

We got there an were sort of just standing there when this guy came up to us.

"Yall want to go onto the floor?"

"YEAH!!!"

So he tol the security guard that we were OK an we went RIGHT IN!

Then in a way I cannot explain...The "pit" opened an we were let right up to the FRONT ROW!!!!!

Now THIS is the 1st concert experience I was talking about!!!!

We stood at the front of the stage an Zeek an Stephens son smile an wave at each other the whole time!!!

PRICELESS!!!!!!

Several times at the show Zeek pivoted around an looked at me just SMILING !!!!

He was sooooo happy!

Then as soon as the show was over... we looked for where the backstage was.

We walked up an stood there looking like we were suppose to be there....LOL

One of the security standing there said..."Their ok"

An we were in!!!

We walked p to the back of the bus an I said to Zeek..."If we meet him you can tell him what your fav songs are."

He was READY!!!

WE walked around the bus an we were FACE to FACE with Stephen Marley, Julian Marley an Ceella Marley!!!

Like a GLORIOUS VISION!!!!

CRAZY!!!

Zeek then acted JUST like me an was soooo starstruck that he COULDN'T say ANYTHING!!

He stood there with a ear to ear grin on his face!!!

Then in true "Jana" fashion, I TOTALLY FORGOT what brilliant thing I was going to say an said..."He LOVES your music!"

MAN...I am such a GROUPIE!!!!

I ALWAYS think about what I am GOING to say an then COMPLETELY FLAIL it!!!

(Note to self: FIX this BEFORE I meet Bobs YOUNGEST son!!! LOL)

So Stephen hugged Zeek tight saying.."Ghetto YOUTH"!!!!

That is when I snapped THIS:


This:



ALSO THIS:


What an AMAZING NIGHT!!!!

An UNBELIEVABLE night in the mix with REGGAE ROYALTY!!!

Best of all was when I asked Zeek what HIS favorite part of the night was an his answer was "Meeting Stephen Marley!"

Sugar sweet I tell ya...That boy is SUPER Sugar Sweet!!!!!