Last night’s conference call was amazing. There was laughter, there are tears, there was healing, there were dropped jaws and a sense of awe. Unless anyone objects, we’ll release the recording in the next few days, but the agreement must be unanimous! If anyone doesn’t want the recording to be released to the CE family, please email me at emedhus@gmail.com. We will all completely understand and your name will not be made public.
Now, enjoy part one of our interview of Mr. Bob Marley, mon.
Me: I know it might be a little bit too early, but I’d love to interview Steve Jobs! Whaddya think? (Mr. Jobs passed away the day before this interview.)
(Pause)
Jamie: Oh, sorry. Erik’s doing something, not to me, not talking to me. (to Erik): Who are you talking to? (pause) So, not today?
Erik: No. But I’ll do my best to set it up for our next conversation, but Steve is not available now.
Me: I can imagine not. I figured. Well, let’s hunt down Bob Marley then. Remember we already interviewed him, but I accidently erased the recording. I’m so bad! Ugh!
Erik disappears and reappears with Mr. Marley who is laughing and laughing as he comes in.
Bob (chuckling loudly): Hello, again!
Me: So, sorry, Bob! Dang it. And I remember it was a stellar interview. It was amazing.
Bob: Well thank you! That just gives us a chance to talk again!
Me: Oh good. Thanks for understanding. I know you know the drill, so I guess we’ll just start! I think I remember a lot of what you said, but I need it word for word. I guess your answers could even change over time.
Bob: Oh, you remember me?
Me: Of course! I adore you, Bob! I do. You were all about love, and that’s what I’m all about—at least that’s what I aim for! Love is all there is!
Jamie (giggling): I wish I could talk the way he does in that island accent.
(She tries, but fails miserably. I try and am even worse.)
Bob: Sing it! Sing it, Mama!
Jamie giggles.
Me: You don’t want to hear me sing, trust me!
Jamie laughs hard.
Me: So what beliefs did you have about death and the afterlife before you crossed over?
(Pause)
Jamie: He’s talking about him teaching about God, and the r-re-in—oh, his accent! Yay! –Reincarnation of Jesus.
Me: Is he saying he is the reincarnation of Jesus?
Jamie: No, he’s talking about teaching it to the people.
Me: Through song?
Bob: Through song—it shows up in every part of my body, in all my words. I had my own place where I would minister or preach.
Me: What were you raised to believe?
Jamie: He’s only talking about the Rasta—
Me: Oh, Rastafarian?
Bob: Rastafarian, yes.
Me: Did those beliefs change after you crossed over?
Bob: No.
Me: Well, what is the Rastafarian belief?
Bob: It is de belief and de love of all; Dee acceptance dat God is in everything—de use of de plant, de life of de plant to help expand de love of One.
Jamie: He’s saying it has a basis in Christianity almost.
Me: Hmm, okay. But not in the sense of organized religion where man often oppresses and controls man.
Bob: No, none of dat.
Jamie (giggling): I just still keep wanting to imitate him better.
Me: I know! I know! It’s coming through fine, though!
Bob: It is not about—too many men are living life with der eyes, seeing man and woman seeing race against race. It is—
Jamie; Back up; back up. I’m so sorry.
Jamie giggles like a little girl.
Jamie; It’s like his tone of voice and the way he talks is almost like a Jamaican rap session. You know, bud dum, bud dum, bud dum.
Nice try Jamie!
Me: It’s got a rhythm to it, doesn’t it?
Jamie: Yeah.
Bob: I believe mon should not live with der eyes; they should live with de heart. My father was a white mon; my mother was a black woman.
Jamie (to Bob): Really? You’re a mix? Is that a metaphor?
Me: I was going to say, yeah! Oh my gosh.
Bob: No it’s not metaphorical.
Me: Well, maybe it wasn’t planned that way, but being the product of a racially mixed couple makes you a symbol of acceptance and love. Pretty cool!
Jamie: Yeah!
Me: You’re a spiritual metaphor, Bob!
Bob (laughing): I am jest a child of God.
Me: As are we all!
Bob: That’s what I wanted everybody to know. It is my belief dat God loves you for who you are; it doesn’t matter if you’re de good child or de bad child. All dat matters is dat you are dat child. People spend too much time living life with der eyes and judging one another when day should be living life through der hearts.
Me: Yes! Now, do you still feel the same way about using plants like weed?—and I don’t know if you did psychedelics like peyote, mushrooms, you know?
Bob (laughing): I have tried dos.
Me: Of course you have! But do you still feel they’re safe from the broader perspective you now have over things?
Bob: Yes!
