It is late June and I am sitting in JFK International airport in New York City. I am usually here awaiting a lay-over to Europe or the Middle East, but this time I am heading back to California. It is one of over ten working trips that I have taken in the last 6 months…a normal year for me. My sister, Titanya and I just taught at OMEGA institute in Rhinebeck New York. The week was incredible with one of the best groups of students I have ever had. Bobby McFerrin ("Don’t Worry Be Happy") was also a teacher during the week and his students kept the campus positive and alive being "their own Walkmans."

New York City is incredible. I LOVE San Diego but I yearn for more colors, more languages, more ages, more diversity in the people who live there. I am one of the average, white, "30 somethings" who make up the group of 3 million people that can feel a bit homogenized at times. However, I deeply appreciate that San Diego promotes a laid-back, liberal, sunshiney feeling in the moods of the people. The "bull dog" nature of New Yorkers can be a bit overwhelming.

New York City is becoming a tradition for Titanya and I as a part of our annual retreat at OMEGA every year. This last weekend we dressed as mermaids and frolicked at the "Mermaid Day Parade" on Coney Island as we were swept up into a world of walking sea creatures, lobsters, mermaids, mermen and Vinnie’s. During the weekend we also took a harbor cruise, and jumped the subway to Broadway to see "The Color Purple" with Fanatasia Barrino of "American Idol fame. When Fantasia was competing on American Idol it was during the final months of our father’s life and he was rooting for her to win. He adored her, thought she was beautiful and clearly the most talented…he was excited to hear her sing every week. She won A.I. and when she did we all celebrated in Dads living room like she was our own best friend. She was OFF THE CHARTS in "The Color Purple" and tugged at the audiences heart strings more than once during the show. The entire cast was phenomenal. Next year Titanya and I will book another Broadway show in the city but I am not sure how we will find one to top "The Color Purple."

This week I will be home for three days before heading to Ashland, Oregon for the 4^th of July and then on to San Francisco for an Energy Medicine/Energy Psychology workshop and then on to Mexico. Meanwhile, I am working on choreography for the IAMED show in Los Angeles in August.

I have a few contracts in the fall but am being more selective about when I perform and whom I work with. The Belly Dance world is changing~ becoming more commercial, more fused with things that Belly Dance should not be fused with (in my opinion), and is simply changing. I am still enjoying the ride but opening myself up to other aspects of life and all that it has to offer.