Ah get box left, right and centre this past week. Between the dozens of people who 'box-mi-back' via hotmail and the others who book mi on facebook, it started to sound like is dead mi dead.

I appreciate all the kind sentiments and treasure the tributes, although I'm sorry for all the folks who say I have disappointed them.

Everybody and their children want to know why I'm retiring. Look here nuh, I'm not retiring from all active, productive work. I am just not going to appear as a comedian or perform on any stand-up comedy show after this year. I don't know how else to say it to make it quite clear. And contrary to what many might believe, it wasn't an April fools' prank and it's not a PR stunt. I've been trying to get out of comedy for nearly five years now and keep staying mainly because certain people close to me keep insisting.

But I have to put mi foot down firmly and trod the path that mi heart lead mi. And like I've been telling people, not doing stand-up gigs doesn't mean the end of one's involvement in comedy. One can produce it, write for it, direct it, mentor and teach other comics, organise workshops and work with representational associations that support the interest of comedians.

Evoke laughter

I also want to make it clear that I'm not planning to stop doing stuff that may occasionally evoke laughter. That's just a part of my personality. But it can serve other areas apart from stand-up comedy.

Talking 'bout comedy, I performed on a show in Connecticut last Sunday that underscores the extent to which comedy has arrived. Billed as 'Ragashanti & Friends', the show was a success in every department. Christopher 'Johnny' Daley was a picture of sartorial elegance as he delivered a laughter-packed professional set. Ity & Fancy Cat sparkled, sizzled and created major eruptions. Pretty Boy Floyd was marvellous and masterful as MC and stamped his mark as a bonafide stand-up comic.

The crowd enjoyed each act thoroughly but the man they really came to see was the enigmatic Ragashanti. Hear mi nuh man, dem love him like cook food. It was like a gathering of the First Jamaican International Church of Mix-up and Blenda, being addressed by the founding pastor and leader, the Right Reverend Bishop Raga. Majority of the patrons who turned up carried a tambourine and they made the biggest noise when Raga appeared on the scene. He brought them what they wanted and they loved it. What Dr Kingsley 'Ragashanti' Stewart has created is simply magical. If him start a church tomorrow him coulda rich affa di collection and if him start a political party him coulda win any election. That's what that event said to me.

Hours of hilarity

Most importantly, that show in Hartford achieved a significant historical moment for Jamaican comedy. Thousands of people crammed into the auditorium of Weaver High School for the hours of hilarity. It was a totally Jamaican audience enjoying a top quality stand-up comedy show with a totally Jamaican line-up.

In nearly 25 years of stand-up comedy, that's something I've never seen before. The Jamaican promoter Junior Wellington and his team put on a well-coordinated event and was absolutely professional in his handling of the arrangements. Everything was properly sorted out, everybody left with bright eyes and smiling mouth.

Yeah man, comedy coming! And it's as good a time as any for my inevitable evolution. I was doing stuff before and during comedy, and will have space to do more stuff after. Plus, there are things I must say that may be lost in levity and diluted by laughter.

Miss me at 'B4' and you may never see me doing it after! box-mi-back@hotmail.com