I'm on the plane now, heading back from Boston to St. Louis, still trying to really digest and absorb the experiences of this weekend with the Banyamulenge in New Hampshire. In a way, it feels like the weekend was too short. In another, it feels as though the connection I feel with the people and the emotions I have upon having to leave them could only have formed through weeks and weeks of shared experiences and intimacy.

Although I have been thinking about writing this entry for a while now (and hoping my fellow memorial attendees are doing the same about their own memories - hint, hint guys (; ), I'm still not sure what I want to share. Should I talk about all the wonderful people I got to meet, like Faraja, the beautiful singer who gave me so many warm hugs, or Rose Mapendo, who named her children after the prison guards who threatened to kill them? Should I share how wonderful it felt to be received as an equal within a group so intensely bonded together through life events, culture, and shared experiences even though I did not understand half of what was being said the entire weekend? Or how good it was to be greeted warmly by a woman who used to attend my church before relocating to another state, even though back in her St. Louis days we maybe exchanged two awkward, un-understood words to each other?

Instead, I think I will reluctantly tell the story of what I felt was the worst moment of the trip for many of us, because it is probably something that will stick with me the rest of my life.

Reflections on the Gatumba Memorial (imuhira.com)

tell it like it is, bro

We're going to so many great concerts this Spring and Summer... I just have to have them all written down somewhere before I forget.

PAST
- - - - -
* Anathallo @ the Billiken Club (SLU) -- SO much fun! I only wish I could have stayed for Aloha...
* Feist @ the Pageant -- sold-out show, beautiful music, really cool live projection visuals
* New Pornographers @ the Pageant -- the most packed non-sold-out-show I've ever seen. they rocked! as did opening act Okkervil River
* The Cathedrals @ the Chapel -- benefit for IJM, one of my favorite non-profits. really good music!

UPCOMING
- - - - - - - - - -
* AgapeFest (Greenville, IL) -- May 3rd --  includes John Reuben, Relient K, The Afters and Deas Vail
* Tegan & Sara @ the Pageant -- May 4th
* Derek Webb/Sandra McCracken @ the Journey church -- May 9th
* Radiohead @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre -- May 14th
* Death Cab for Cutie @ the Blue Note (Columbia, MO) -- May 31st
   (yeah that's 5 good concerts just in May counting AgapeFest as ONE event)
* EITHER Jars of Clay in Jackson TN or Dave Matthews Band at Busch Stadium (tix for DMB *start* at $45 so.. maybe not) -- June 7th
* Paul van Dyk @ Dante's -- June 25th
* Pitchfork Music Fest (Chicago, IL) -- July 19-20th -- Vampire Weekend, the Hold Steady, manymanymore

/// iffy.. (if we can afford it/get tix before they're sold out)
- - - - - -
* The Raconteurs @ the Pageant -- June 12th
* Iron & Wine @ the Pageant -- June 13th

and we're still missing some good ones! We hoped we could go to Bonnaroo this year (before I got my new job and found out I can't take any time off for 6 months) and so we missed getting tickets to see Wilco and the Swell Season - both playing at the Pageant in May and both totally sold out very quickly (Wilco sold out THREE NIGHTS).

All this and we're trying to put a new budget together.. how do you budget for that many good shows? Thank God for freelance projects! (o=