Comeback Kids

I love you like chicken noodle soup on a rainy day. Like Collards and Kale when you eat too much during the week. Like birthday cake with cheap icing, not that over-rated fruit filling gourmet crap. But I gotta tell yall something. Only Kids. The dutiful kind. Those who end up on some level parenting their parents, rooting them on through life’s ongoing foibles. You know those kids get an automatic pass to heaven. Not saying that everybody else doesn’t, but it amazes me how some people take on so much and still keep kicking. I suppose there really is no alternative. I mean you can lament all the damn day about wanting to be a superhero for your parent, not doing enough etc. etc, wanting to fix their lives and make it full and happy. But lamenting all day in this life, in this world, gets your lights/water/gas shut off.

I was all ready to write about Black Man Plan day 12. It seems to be a popular search on here now. I was gonna tell you about “O” and my “get together” (I am not using the word date anymore-it sounds like a reflex when O messes up) with 44 year old “JC” -who I assume now is a closet homosexual because while calling me and asking me to go to dinner-he’s at the grocery store buying toiletries. I never in all my 32 years heard of a man going to the grocery store to buy “toiletries”. Men buy toilet paper, soap, shaving cream–THEY DO NOT BUY “TOILETRIES”. And they most certainly do not get baby wipes for the bathroom.

Anyway…(A.D.D. deactivate) I got a call as soon as I signed in to wordpress this morning to tell yall about the toiletry theory. It was from my friend Mo whose mother at this point is dying. She’s an only kid too. Her mother also had cancer (which I guess made us bond on some level). But the second time after remission she isn’t doing so well. And I’m bumbed, Comeback Girl must admit.

For your Friday enjoyment

 Hi Comeback Boys and Girls

I realize my posting has been a little…well..erratic.  But on every comeback there in lies some retrospection and shopping. Yes, I did skip out on yall a few times to browse the latest cashmere accessories (did you know that Zella-my favorite work out gear) has a cashmere hoodie. Did yall know that? And did yall also know that your favorite comeback girl ALSO can jog a mile in under 14 minutes. This is a victory since Comeback Girl couldn’t stay on the elliptical machine long enough to get through Beyonce’s “Get Me Bodied”.

Anywhoo I have sooo much to say. Of course Kanye’s mother has been on my mind for awhile now. And life is never promised: but you know she’s looking out for him.

He performed in Brussels a few days ago and spoke about her. He had angels posted on the larger than life projection screen.

Comeback Girl wants to know do you ever talk to your angels? I mean do you ever acknowledge that they are even there? That there is somebody or something that has your back in addition to infinite source-wisdom/God/Allah/et. al. 

The tribute rolls out with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin”.

Kanye performs with his mama, Dr. West on Ellen.

“You worked late nights just to keep on the lights. Mommy got me training wheels so I could keep on my bike. You would get me anything in this world, Michael Jackson leather and the glove but didn’t get me no curl…a livin legend too. Look at what heaven do. Sent us an angel and I thank you Mama. I wanna scream so loud for you cause I’m so proud of you.”

Nothing in this world like the love for a mother.

Chicago Sun Times is reporting that Dr. Donda West, mother of Kanye West and former English Professor at Chicago State University (for more than 30 years and retired to manage Kanye), died this morning. Earlier this year she released a book titled “Raising Kanye”. There are no reports yet on specific cause of death;  however MTV reports: “According to multiple sources, West was in Los Angeles and her death may have been the result of complications from a cosmetic surgical procedure”.

Comeback Girl is deeply sadened to hear this. You know that she was a very special woman to have raised a great artist and son who is known not only for his lyrical talent but deep introspection. Life indeed is never promised.

So at some point I believe Kanye West and 50 cents decided that rap needed something provocative to raise the steaks in album sales.

West and 50 chose a nice friendly beef: re-imaging how to diss politely. And hey when everyone gets paid, beef is win/win (see Kanye and 50 album sales).

But hindsight is 20/20 and Biggy and Pac never got the memo.

Enter Nas Escobar, who tore a page out Kanye’s PR book, the more provocative version. His album “N—a” (eliminating i-g-g) will drop Dec 11th. He’s now enraged many of the “traditional black leaders” and probably others looking for a cheery Christmas/Kwanzaa Holiday Season.

But the Associated Press quoted Nas saying:

“We’re taking power from the word. No disrespect to none of them who were part of the civil rights movement, but some … in the streets don’t know who (civil rights activist) Medgar Evers was … they know who Nas is,” the rapper said, referring to the civil rights leader slain in the 1960s.”

The word “Nigga” certainly has lost much of its venom. Time has a way of doing it, as well as other black people. Remember the Wayans clan trying to take ownership for the term in a trademark application. But in order for this to half way fly he better be quoting the Dali Lama and channeling every other religious and spiritual figure in new and interesting ways.

Shock value has its limits, or does it?