September 23, 2011~

Howdy, y'all! 

Shakespeare Jackson here.  Hope this finds y'all doing good.  As for me, college keeps me grounded.  Am a junior; this is my third year already.  I can't believe how fast time has flown by since I last wrote nearly three years ago!

I am no longer a punk-assed kid.  I am turning into a thoughtful, responsible adult.  Maybe the good Lord gave me the needed kick in the pants, I don't know; but I'm not nearly as wild as I used to be.

 I am starting to take hold of my life and I'm not looking back!

I am still majoring in music.  I still haven't decided between rapping or producing:  I want to do both because I enjoy it.  I did make a CD of some of my rap songs and I hope some big-name producers get wind of my talent: I feel I have a lot to offer the world, and my music is different than a lot of mainstream rap anyway.

I rap about life back in Louisiana and how Katrina changed my life.  I also rap about the here and now, about how God has brought me out of the miry pit and set my feet upon solid ground (yeah, I accepted Christ about a year ago; decided I couldn't live without Him, so there you go).

 It's amazing what God has done for me!

I have gotten over the worst of the grief, in terms of losing my family and my Louisiana home, but I will never forget them.  My family lives on in my heart and so does Louisiana.  Maybe one day I will go back to Louisiana for a visit, but right now I am too busy with school, church, and life in general.

I work as well.  I work four days a week: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday.  I work at Olive Garden, where I am a dishwasher.  It's hard work, but hey .. someone's got to do the dirty work.  I make pretty good money; I've been fortunate to have gotten a few raises, which looks great on the ol' paycheck!  I love my job.  I love my bosses and my co-workers.  I love the fact that I am using my hands and am making my way up in this world.

I work the evening shift: usually from six to close (11 on weekends, 10 on weekdays).

Once in a while I still have nightmares about Katrina, but thank the Lord, they are becoming less and less.  It also helps that I write in my journal and/or put my heart and sul into my music.  I also have the Lord to guide me through life.  I don't know how I made it without Him, but now that Jesus Christ is in the picture, my future looks very bright indeed! :)

Well, I have class later (at ten) so I better scoot, maybe snatch another hour of sleep.  Then I should be good to go.  I also have choir practice at church (I go to a nondenominational church on Wednesdays and Sundays and have choir practice on Thursdays).  I will write in here again soon; please forgive me for the long lapse since my last entry!  Until later, this is Shakespeare Jackson saying peace out! God bless!

~Shakespeare.  :)