Michael saying excitedly as a little kid "I like to do stuff!" Michael rubbing my shoulder saying "you doing ok?" Sergio's Italian rant while Estelia played piano Me saying "it already started" because that guy we were mostly ignoring had started playing the bass and no one had. It iced, and then they started and it was cool and I listened Listening Toms beautiful melody on the tongue drum ; him feeling a little like a uncle brother dad Noticing everyone was flawed, not perfect, even a little pathetic, including me and it's ok Michaels prolonged harmonica sesh, that was the most musical I've ever heard him be Cindys odd blandness That guy that sat in the other room upstairs the whole time Sergio's pale kids drumming and making noise and being on the floor in their sock feet Sergio's goofiness but seriousness, how he'll play anything How robotic and meaningless the keyboard rhythm track made things; basically getting toms permission to turn it off Listening to Tom and Michael do that awesome rhythm that fits together like ratchets and gears and a brown paper bag blowing down the sidewalk Hearing tones that are created by people playing together, that neither of the people are playing How Tom and Michael and estelia all in a row there looked so stately and professional and civilized and beautiful, and I felt so humbled Realizing how sometimes I bluster and don't listen and try to show off and pretend like I'm all humble and assume everybody thinks I'm such hot shit, but then I really listened and I realized how much these people have going on and how much they could teach me. Listening. Hugs. (2016)