Have you ever had a moment where life was happening, but it slow motion and you could feel the pieces of destiny coming together? That is how I would describe what it feels like when you are aware that the Universe is actively conspiring for you.
My brother was in town just last week, now he had been planning to come to Los Angeles since August, but the date kept being pushed back because of project he was working on. Initially we were going to celebrate his birthday which is rare, so I was excited and then the delays so I stopped asking. Then randomly about a month after I get a text from my Uncle that my brother is performing at the Mayan Theatre Downtown Los Angeles. When you have a family member that is an entertainer, you do not have to be at every show so this show was not really on my radar. Then my mother texts me and asks if I wanted to go and take my kids. Then I thought – why not, this for them is rare, so I text my brother and we arrange back stage access.
Now two months ago I had a cousin move to LA from Washington DC. She has been talking about Chef Roy Choi aka @RidingShotgunLA since she arrived. She loves his personal story and how he turned his life into a lifestyle and a medley of delicious foods that we all get to enjoy. Well she also got a text and was going this show too at the Mayan.
The headline for the show was Souls of Mischief, Adrian Younge, The Pharcyde, Blue Exile and Special Guests Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Phife Dawg. My daughter brought her boyfriend to the show, he is an up and coming rapper with an old school soul and is in a group called Villain Park. This kid was so humble and taking pictures and observing everything around him. To my surprise Jarobi was in the house, the always present fourth member of A Tribe Called Quest. Jarobi invited me and my family to Line Hotel where he was going to be cooking from 6pm – 11pm. I was thinking cool something to do on a Friday Night. I was so proud of Jarobi when he became a Chef and now I would have an opportunity to have him cook for me. Good times.
Line Hotel is in Korea Town at the corner of Wilshire and Irolo. There is a beautiful mural of a lotus flower on the side of the hotel – it felt like good times waiting to happen. I walked in my cousin was seated and we were at Chef Roy’s hotel. Jarobi came over with a wonderful crab dish that he prepared, and then Chef Roy came over and when I say he rolled out the red carpet – he and his staff absolutely catered to every desire and prepared a meal for royalty. Thanks Jarobi and Chef Roy. My cousin got her wish and she has a picture to prove it!
The Souls of Mischief performed a new song that I felt was so telling “There is Only Now.” The lyrics to the hook are “the past is an illusion, there is only now, the future is fiction, there is only now.” Adrian Younge had joined us for dinner. When the desert tray came around my brother introduced Adrian to a woman that he felt Adrian should know. As I sat eating a delicious piece of Chef Roy’s Tiramisu Cake, I noticed the woman had good energy. When Adrian sat down I asked what did she do, he said he did not know and I should find out and as he took a piece of cake my cousin was eyeing he said to both of us, that was to teach you a lesson if you want something go get it. I remembered the hook to the song and there is only now. So I got up and introduced myself to the woman, it turns out she was like the international marketing executive for Toms Shoes – she suggested that I look up jobs online at Toms.com and she told me they believe in work life balance and in their employees going on their giving missions. I was intrigued.
So the next morning I went to Toms website and I was blown away by their story. I mean everyone knows the gist of One for One concept, but what Blake Mycoskie has done is really phenomenal. It reminds me of a 3M Post It competition that I entered for an opportunity to win $25,000 to start a business, and you had to do it on a post it. My idea was for a lingerie company that would provide school uniforms in underdeveloped countries for girls to attend school with manufacturing in the communities helped. Unfortunately my entry was disqualified and I did not win, but it is a dream of mine and Blake Mycoskie got it right. I knew I wanted to work for Toms. The accounting jobs listed were not anything I was interested in and they were entry positions which means low pay. I completed an application for Executive Assistant to the Senior VP of International Marketing. Now I do not know if I will be hired, but the Universe definitely ignited a spark and I am listening.
Unapologetically,
Friday
Twitter @IAMFridayJones
Facebook The Real Friday Jones