I met an angel last night...

...let's call her "A." for now...

But I kid you not, she has wings for sure...I guess it's best to start at the beginning.

Yesterday I decided to make a day of it, I've been in the zone for the past few so I wanted to stay inspired. My roommate had mentioned that the Stephen Sprouse exhibit was amazing and I should check it (It is and yall should DEF check it info @ SPROUSE). So I made plans to meet up with my homey C. who was visiting from LA, and Z. the one and only other half of Where's Leslie?. Two individuals with crazy eyes for differences and beauty in the world so I knew they'd appreciate it.

The exhibit was DOPE and the evening was off to a great start. We even stumbled upon another gallery full of Dali treasures and sketches at the William Bennett Gallery that were phenomenal. Next, we went to see Sprouse in action at the Louis Vuitton store and made our wish lists lol. But the venture also included possibly the most epic PAUSE ever next to Spike Lee.

::M.,C. and Z. approach Louis Vuitton door. M. reaches for one of the double doors::

M.: Awwww no dice? :mouths to the security guy: Man you're closed?

Security guy approaches, opens other door and says: No no! Poussez!

(Poussez=french for PUSH)
Z. and C.: PAUSE....

LMAO...moving on....

Happened to run into a friend and chopped it up while we waited for C.'s friend, A., to meet us for dinner at Cafe Havana (mmmm mojitoes!). As we started to get the evening going gulp after gulp, conversation and stories ensued and strangers became fast friends. We decided bowling was next on our menu and began heading west. On the way A. shared a story, as I daringly crept a little too close to oncoming traffic, "Don't do that!" she said, " I almost got clipped when I first moved here by one of those taxis." She shared her story and we all agreed how crazy NY drivers were as we hopped in a yellow vehicle.

As we arrived on the opposite side of our destination, opposite meaning across the west side highway, we all had an unanimous, "Ah shit we gotta cross this?" moment and ventured towards our feat. Now here's where it gets major. First peep C.'s reflection from this morning (made me tear):

Now here's some fill in for the missin bubbles...

Imagine if you will the southbound side of the west side highway, the 4 of us standing on the center divider crosswalk, M., A., C., and Z. closest to oncoming traffic. After maybe two "Should we? Nah!" opportunities, a break in traffic appeared and here is where it gets blurry. I guess it was an all-in run for it. All I remember was already being off the sidewalk before anyone else, feeling A. on my right and the next thing I know I hear that dreaded *BAM* turn to my left and see the side mirror of a F150 truck hit A. and her spin to the ground. The mirror, glass and leftovers from dinner flew, I was frozen like a Beatles pose legs stuck mid-step in the street staring at her 2 ft from me.

How did that? She was just....Where'd that truck? Muthaphuck ME! ARE YOU OK?!?!?!?
And the most amazing thing happened. Not only did she get up without a scratch, an ailment, a bloody nothing, SHE GOT UP WITH A SMILE!....PAUSE....YES A SMILE.....as I write this I'm still like
We got her up and I think almost IMMEDIATELY after the driver got his 3rd ok from her he was GONE. We hopped on that sidewalk quick and took a moment, a hug, another moment and ok like 20 more. All the while A. still smiling while we're praisin the levels of her obvious higher power protection and wings hiding under her sweater. I had already thought the girl had an amazing soul from dinner but this, unparalleled in my days on earth.

Soon as we hit the bowling alley I got that girl a shot! Fuck it whole round, we all needed it after that. Bowling ended up being fun and the culmination of the nights festivities best put by C., EPIC.

I don't really know what to make of it all. I'm always one to say that people are always brought into each other's orbit for a reason and I don't know exactly how we all came together last night but I'm so thankful for the spirits around me old and particularly new. A friend said something VERY key about the events last night, "Because her spirit is so free and open and dope, she allowed that energy to pass through her. If she would've have seen the car coming and tensed up, it would've been a lot worse." And he's SO right (*Thanks B. by way of Z. lol).

So to A.: thank god you're ok but I'm even more thankful there are people in the world like you that I get to encounter. NEVER change who and what you are in this lifetime.

And to all of the fabulous foursome from last night's adventure....today's the first day of a new journey I suppose.

Live it. Breathe it. Love it. And C. capture every minute with that eye of ur's.....

Tales of a Head Case...

Hello everyone! I hope these days of merriment, joy and family time are treating you well.

I took a day or so off because I wanted to introduce a new addition to Head Cases:

Tales of a Head Case

Tales of a Head Case will be an ongoing series here are at Head Cases for your guilty pleasures. It's the fictional stories (some not so fictional but hey, you'll just have to guess) of Leslie and her friends, of the 20-somethings today trying to live with the right, make it in the day and try not to blame their parent's generation as much as their parents blamed theirs. It's the realization that at the end of day we all want love, we all want success and we ALL become Head Cases going for it...

Ladies and Gentlemen, Tales of a Head Case By M.

"We haven't even hugged yet"

ding, ding, ding. Leslie struggled to reach for her buzzing blackberry without dropping her iPod. Bundled in 5-7 layers (she had lost count after 4), her fingers were still borderline numb beneath her glove-mitten combination hand gear and this made expediting this task rather difficult. Earlier that year Leslie had chosen to take her 24 year old self and pack up for New York city. What she didn't intend on was the full adjustment to seasons.

Finally willing to sacrifice her fingers for "human" contact, she peeled off her glove and checked her messenger. It was her best friend Danielle, who at times could be more like an actual lesbian girlfriend minus the sex but with all the dependency at times but was also one of the most genuine people Leslie had ever encountered. Leslie could already predict Danielle was either bored or having an anxiety fit.

Danielle: Soooo
Leslie: Soooo what's up?
Danielle: Well you know how I told you I had started talking to Mark recently?

Well, clearly the latter, now this is the part where Leslie would have to shift through all the people Danielle mentions once and the ones she was supposed to automatically KNOW to commit to memory. Mark, however, was easy to remember. An often sought-after, notorious Hollywood pretty face who's buildup of admirers was only match by the number of stories Leslie had heard of how "He looked at me!"

Danielle: I'm sooo used to talking to Mark everyday...and today is the first day I haven't talked to him nor has he hit me all day
Leslie: Don't do this. Let's see if u can predict what I'm gonna say
Danielle: I know...I'm dwelling way too much
Leslie: Dwelling? Bitch its the day before his birthday. Maybe he has people in town, maybe he's handling last minute details. What is wrong wit you?
Danielle: I'm much too available. I'm having too much anxiety and I need to breathe.

Leslie thanked her stars that this conversation was not face to face because she was completely unable to keep a straight face with the Dr. Phil jargon coming from her 25 year old friend. But Danielle was like a Park Place Head Case, like Charlotte from Sex and the City. You know the type: cutely naiive, always over-analyzing and at times (more often than not) sweeping emotions under the rug. But they are such hopeless good hearts you can't help but love the sweet, specialness of it all.

Danielle: It prolly isn't even about me. Nope...he's away had said pissed-all that glitters ain't gold
Leslie: What? It said what?

Could away messages truly be entered in as evidence now? Do they hold up in court? Leslie wondered.

Danielle: Pissed-all that glitters aint gold. But imma stop
Leslie: And you think its about you?
Danielle: I mean I have no reason to think that....but you know me and how I dwell. Last nite we had a good convo.
Leslie: I can't take you. Lol Danielle, has it been 24 hrs even?
Danielle: Nope whatever you love me. Your like my therapist I swear so I have to tell u these things.
Leslie: Glad to oblige. ;P
Danielle: Just always be my therapist
Leslie: Always...:*

As she completed her walk from the train to her stoop, Leslie contemplated on how much she could charge for her advice. A Dear John, no Julie, column perhaps in the Times. But just as she reached her door she felt the vibrations of her ring tone. "I kissed a girl! And I lik-ted it.."

"Hey woman!" she said having seen her girl Brittany's face on the caller ID.

"Girl. I have dramz for you! Guess who your ex's new girlfriend is?!" Brittany exclaimed before pleasantries. 3000 miles and a number change apparently could not remove her from him. Now who would be her therapist?