activism + music + night-blooming jasmine
i had a remarkable evening last night. it all started at 2:45 when i left work. (i could really just stop there, couldn't i?)

i didn't eat anything all night except for a boulder bar. i pretty much had a constant rush of blood to my head.

i listened to coldplay's soundcheck, practically alone in the arena with a few techies and a few oxfam volunteers.

chris martin's cell phone rang during the soundcheck, and he has that annoying nokia ringtone that everyone has. he lost some street cred with me there.

when high-fiving the weird 91x employee, he made me lift my arm up even higher than the usual high-five level.
"no, HIIIIIGH five."
"alright, weird 91x guy! whatever you say. up waaaaay high."

i ran into more people i know than i probably would at my high school reunion. granted, i stuck out a little with my oxfam-issue giant green equal sign t-shirt, but come on! did everyone in san diego come to this concert?

only one person turned their nose up at me, saying "i work in international trade."

our main table was right between the aforementioned 91x tent and the beer line. loud pseudopunkemo music. drunk people getting more to drink. say no more.

i pretty much lost my voice, and i'm so happy about it.

i had a mostly-drunk guy tell me i had a beautiful heart.

and then, as i walked the brief distance from my car to my door through the still after-midnight air, the warm infusion of jasmine made me remember what it means to be alive, to feel, to care, to do something that matters... to have a beautiful heart.