Good Night, Mudbone

[FLASHBACK 1987]... We had an agenda. We had been antsy all day ever since her discovery at the bottom of the hall closet. Being that it was Wednesday, we wouldn't have to wait for long. School let out early every Wednesday. The usual stroll down 125th. Street to meet the boys coming out of Rice H.S. had to be postponed. THIS was too important. Everyone thought we were crazy as we made a b-line towards the bus stop. We didn't even stop to gossip, as we customarily did to catch up on what went on in other classes. The bus was pulling into the stop and we ran full speed. As the bus raced through Central Park, we made a list of what we needed from the corner store. We heard the train pulling into the station and again beat Colgate track records as we raced down the steps and onto the train taking us uptown. The train ride was quick (not many people on at that time of day) and we exited the station two steps at a time. We headed over to the Bodega and ordered 2 ham & cheese heroes, with lettuce, tomato, salt and pepper and mayo, ran to the back and picked up two pepsis, a huge bag of plain Lays potato chips and 2 packs of butter crunch cookies. We jetted to 152nd. Street and again took two steps at a time to get to her house. As she checked the sound system, I laid out the sandwiches and ran to the kitchen for the hot sauce, spread out the Lays and practiced a heavy hand with the hot sauce, opened the pepsis' and took a seat. It began with a quiet voice explaining the intimacies of adult relations and lead into everyday life occurrences. We laughed so hard until Pepsi came through our noses and the Lays made intricate patterns on the floor. And there he was, Mr. Mudbone, explaining how he dealt with life and how you should too. 3 albums later and bellies aching from so much laughter, we cleaned up. We handled the albums so delicately, like precious artifacts,and placed them back in their sleeves. We made sure we placed them as we found them. It was taboo to touch them. But teenage curiosity got the best of us and we had to find out what the praise was all about. Our parents always talked about him and watching which Way is Up on channel 11 became a Saturday afternoon event.

[FASTFORWARD 2005] ... Jamie Foxx called into the Steve Harvey morning show expressing his heavy heart over Richard Pryor's passing. It is sad that he is gone but it's a relief that his suffering has ended because he was ill. He led a very full life. The only way to honor him is to do it right, expressed Steve Harvey. Jamie Foxx chimed in that he would definitely love to be part of it. They also spoke of getting other comedians in on the tribute. Eddie Murphy, The Wayans Brothers, and Chris Tucker to name a few. I really hope it happens. I really do. Good Night, Mudbone . . . and Thank-you.