Friday, December 16, 2011
happy cats
I was stuck in my car through multiple changes of a stop light yesterday afternoon. The sun broke though the fog, the radio station playing a special of Chopin Polish songs. Off to my right, a man wearing several layers of dirty clothing stood next to the bus stop holding the handle to a baby carriage in one hand and in the other a sign asking spare change for food. He looked like he hadn't shaved or bathed in several days and his head bobbed slightly while he scanned the faces in the vehicles around me. As the light changed from green to red once again, I moved forward a couple more car lengths towards him. I noticed a cat with a blanket wrapped around it, sitting contentedly in the baby carriage. The cat poked it's face out towards the sun, blinking happily. The pudgy face was white, with a black arrow-shaped swath across like a deco mask. It occurred to me that not only was this not a hungry cat, but one who was quite at home and in its home snug and warm next to this scruffy man. I looked up at the man, who was then looking back at me as he tucked his sign under his arm then reached over and scratched the cat's chin. I could not hear it, but only well imagine a loud peaceful purr. I glanced back up at the light which then cued me with green and enough space opened for me to pull forward and make my turn. As I sped away thinking about this cat, the news came on. After international updates droned on about unoccupied remote controlled spy planes, the color story was about an Italian cat who inherited $13 million from a lonely widow. At least, I assumed the cat was Italian, as was the woman, and I assumed the widow was lonely, but maybe she just knew people too well to think that $13 million they didn't have yesterday would make them better people a day later. Or something. In any event, and on the other hand, I thought, what in God's name does a cat need with all that money? Will it make Tommaso the Italian cat any happier than the cat I was just watching? And on the other hand once more, it surely would be enough for him to run a campaign to be elected dog-catcher.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
creepin through the woods
Up on the big hill near my house, the city purchased a few dozen acres from a developer to turn the area into a public park, rather than the 78 unit suburban housing slots for which it was otherwise destined. I always liked making my way up along the narrow paths cutting through the trees, even though overgrown with ferns, brambles, etc. to the old road along the top.
One apparent concession in the revised plan for the area involved the building of a very large dwelling near the bottom of the hill, but away from view of any nearby cross-street. This residence took nearly a year and a half to completion and I wondered often who would be living there. I also wondered whether the short-cut I took through the woods up to our now new park land crossed over the property line of the new resident.
My answer came one day as I began across an old single plank footbridge over a small creek. I noticed someone working on the dilapidated shed about 40 yards away. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked. "Up the trail up the hill." I responded. "That's my property." he said, then paused and added, "Have you been going that way a long time?"
When I assured him that I had, he informed me that the large residence was part of an organization he ran for at risk and wayward youth, as part of their training and transition. I said I had been wondering about this house, and the size for the location.
He said that he was just concerned about liability and that I could continue to use the path across the land at my own risk and so long as I would do him the favor of thinking about one question. I nodded, thanks. He said the question is, "What would you say to Him, if you met Jesus tomorrow?" I smiled and proceeded along my way and have never walked that route again.
No offense meant, Jesus. Maybe that's what I'd say, but more truthfully I don't go that way any longer because I'm not sure what I'd say to that guy.
One apparent concession in the revised plan for the area involved the building of a very large dwelling near the bottom of the hill, but away from view of any nearby cross-street. This residence took nearly a year and a half to completion and I wondered often who would be living there. I also wondered whether the short-cut I took through the woods up to our now new park land crossed over the property line of the new resident.
My answer came one day as I began across an old single plank footbridge over a small creek. I noticed someone working on the dilapidated shed about 40 yards away. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked. "Up the trail up the hill." I responded. "That's my property." he said, then paused and added, "Have you been going that way a long time?"
When I assured him that I had, he informed me that the large residence was part of an organization he ran for at risk and wayward youth, as part of their training and transition. I said I had been wondering about this house, and the size for the location.
He said that he was just concerned about liability and that I could continue to use the path across the land at my own risk and so long as I would do him the favor of thinking about one question. I nodded, thanks. He said the question is, "What would you say to Him, if you met Jesus tomorrow?" I smiled and proceeded along my way and have never walked that route again.
No offense meant, Jesus. Maybe that's what I'd say, but more truthfully I don't go that way any longer because I'm not sure what I'd say to that guy.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Finding Jesus by the River
Transcribed from an old man named Washington whom I met while walking a narrow ungroomed riverside trail a good bit past a popular family park. I've sat with him a number of times and listened to him tell stories while he fished. (I found it helpful and enjoyable to reconstruct his speech affects as best I could.) This story is one of my favorites:
De preacha come ovah one Sattiday morn to my-ah hut. I wuz a bit hung down from a bit of corn likker the evunin afore bout as is regular fo de Sattiday morn. See I workt shadow hours all week. Any hour you kin see yo shadow, I workin, fahst of de morn up to night fall. I hat a few minits tah eat my lunch when de Sun straight over on top a me. Friday when I git me pay, I took de rent on me land to Mr. Sam, den I gat a sack o flour, pail o lard and bushel de greens from de stow over to Mammy so she kin have de breakfast and dinnah ready foh us all week. Mebbe I findts a chicken done folla me deah.
Den I go ovah to Lonny’s still fo’ ah coppla jugs likker, sumtime mebbe a chicken folla me home aftah a few swalla’s, so as we kin haf sum fresh meats too. Usually tho’ ah’d play sum cahds ovah ta Sid’s bahn. Or do sum pickin’ n singin’ at Sid’s bahn loft. Like as mah hut and a farmin’ land, dees awl belongt reelly ta Mr. Sam, but dat dint stop Sid frahm chahgin ah nickel covah fo’ dah bahn an anotter nickel fah ta git in de game. So den we callt it Sid’s.
Aroun’ midnight, Mr. Sam send his eldist male chile ovah to break up de game. He say God don’ like no gambling and he be takin’ de kitty fah de Lawd. He say he take evryone’s pockets if they’s no thing on de kitty, so Sid puts de nikkels foh de dowr on de table, but nobody say notten bout de nikkel fo’ de game else Sid don’t be letting you in de game next week. Aside, Sid gave up he nickels fo de game, so wouldn’t be raht te say no mo’.
After dat, a hanful us dit go on up to dah hill to watch de moon and finish down de jugs an see if’n any chickens fallahs us home. De biggah de moon, de mo likely de chicken sees us an will foller. Mos’ times when de moon all big, den a coupla us gat to holler’n sum fah ah spell. Den de white men be sayin how de coon be holler’n liken de coyotes. So de res’ us mos’ sober staht fa home. Sayin’ as de white men and now de coyotes be payin’ tention on de holler’n by de drunk’n fellas back to de hill, seems de chikkens be comfy and gittin’ loose to be wander’n. An’ this uh night sho’ nuff, de big plumpest chikken foller me home.
When de preacha walks in my dawh, des chikken be hungry and is struttin about, den she hops on me bed peckin at some cornbread crumbs from what I et afore goan ta sleep. De preacha say din’t ah know wuz de chikken foller me home to bed de kind wit feathers. Den he staht to laffin’ and laffin’ while I be rubbin’ my head an ah shooin’ away de bird, but I don see clahr yet an’ de bird don peck at mah own peckah. Dis sets de preachah ta laffin’ mo, say some ting ‘bout squeezin’ dis plump chikken neck. Which I says den dat haf no bidness commin’ out de mouth say de wahd of de Lawd.
But he jes keeps laffin’ while he gits de chikken by de neck an’ sets it ovah to de cage. Den he gits dat look wit his eyes meanin’ de Lawd’s wahd ‘bout ta come to him. An’ ah ‘bout thankful fo’ dat by now an, I say’n praise be, but gits dizzy.
He say it a shame ah’m layin’ about awl mornin’ from de effects of likker when ah ought find out where from dat chikken foller me home from, but ah shure kin find forgivness of de Lawd if’n ah be at de chawch for de Sunday sermon, expeshully if ah be in de good voices for to join in wit de choir, sayin’ as dey be needin’ a strong male soprano like mine voice be. He say likely no how kin ah in mah kindition ‘member where from de chikken foller, but dat it’d suhve de Lawd well if’n de bird be cooked up good at me mammy’s foh Sunday dinnah, speshully if he stop by to say de dinnah prayah’s so as God put de blessin’ on de meat for all our nourishmint.
Den de preacha he spy de odder jug mine. Dis one is saved foh de to Sid’s Sattiday bahn dance. Mr. Sam and he son both go out on de town Sattidays so dey kin be gittin’ up tings of dey own to be forgiven on de Sunday mornin’ chuch. Mr. Sam say what else is de Church good fuh. Den he don’t dey don’t bother us none either and de ladies will come on out to Sid’s Sattiday, tho they mammies make de single ones leave afore midnite. Dat’s so dey rested and prettied up fuh Chawch.
De preacha say den he know ah bin having da eye on for MaryAnn, sistah Louise’s dahter and wooddinit be tah mah benefit if he took dat jug so ah’d be shuh to be proper wit MaryAnn at the bahn dance dat night. Now ah’s a tinking wot den am ah gonna haf wit which tah pry her shyness? But mah head too thick tah ague none wit no preacha.
Den he say he goan take de jug en pour it out to the rivah whilst he say a prayah what do make MaryAnn over pass she shyness and anutter prayah she will fogit my sinnin’ from mah not being at de Chuch of de late week. He say ah should be goan wit him, but ah say ah betta keep de bed steady a bit longa. Mah red eyes starta tearing a little when de preacha grabbed dat jug and head out de door. He sayin’ halleelooya praise de Jesus dat ah be seein’ de light proof be in mah weepin’ fo de Lawd.
Din I slept me a bit and drankt up a bucket water, had a chaw on sum smoke meat. Ah took a good long relief on mahsef, empty de bladder and de sack and wuz to feelin’ ahright so figger whilst dey wuz heet lef in de Sun, I should go down on de river for de bath an mebbe wash mah clothes to be gittin’ fresh up for Sid’s Sattiday bahn dancin’.
When I gits ta da clearun dey wuz de preacha and he mus have said all prayers bout the evil in da likker cos he shuh nuff had de jug empty out rollin on de ground. He got MaryAnn deah too and he mus also said ah prayah bout her shyness cos she shuh nuff singin and jumpin back an forth over de empty jug and she naked as de baby born. Den de preacha go about given her de oddest baptismal in de rivah dat I has ever saw. It took ta her real good, as she be hollerin’ out “Oh sweet Jesus, Oh mah deah Lawd!” whilst he responding “Halleelooyah!”.
Now I figger it best ah a leave dem be dere sayin as ah want to heah none bout de chikken in mah bed dat mornin’ in fronta MaryAnn. An too ah din want to haf ta be de one be callt forth as swearin’ oath as witness to de baptismal, sayin as sumtime de witness end up bein’ seen responsible fo’ de accountin’ of it all by folks.
Da baptismal musta tuckered down MaryAnn cos she warnt ta Sid’s dat night nor at de chawch de nex mornin’. Dere she misst was ah give de best voice ah haf in me for de choir. Everyone wuz smilin’ to me an’ givin’ me all dere luvin of Jesus what ah kin hold. Den ah aska de preacha say I hope his prayin’ wuz de success and sayin’ too I wuz shuh de baptismal he giv MaryAnn make huh overcome on huh shyness dat shuhly he wud tell sistah Louise dat she kin shuhly trust MaryAnn ta my care from den on out.
De preacha look at me den sorta sidewise for de moment and den say shuhly he wud do jes dat. He musta bin heavy wit sayin’ de grace at dinnah dat evenin’ at Mammie’s cos he bahly but at 3 pieces de chikkin and 3 helpun’s chitlins and greens while de whole time seem lak he lookin to me. Den he say to Mammie he dun tol’ sistah Louise dat MaryAnn wuz blessed under de Lawd.
Mammie look sidewize to hem den he say cos ah be a good hahd workin’ youngin man wit de blessin’ of de Ahlmahty upon me for de future an shuh nuff dat MaryAnn wud be ah given ta me despaht mah young age an mah missin’ chawch so much. Now Mammie she choke up an cryin’ raht dere and she brought me de bigges piecen de sweet potato pie.
From den, every Sattiday mornin’ me an MaryAnn we went to picnic and sayin’ prayah’s by de rivah all affer noon an shuh enuf we empty uh jug of likker into de rivah. If you saw us pourin’ sum in owah mouths, don’ be worry’n, cos it all be blessed and all of it goan into de rivah.
Den MaryAnn an mahsef washt ahsefs an owah clothenings for de week clean up before de Lawd but we had got de spot furthah up de rivah where no one know where at, but on de quiet day mebbe you haurt MaryAnn singin’ out up ta de valley all huh praisin’ fo’ de Lawd God an Jesus.
De preacha come ovah one Sattiday morn to my-ah hut. I wuz a bit hung down from a bit of corn likker the evunin afore bout as is regular fo de Sattiday morn. See I workt shadow hours all week. Any hour you kin see yo shadow, I workin, fahst of de morn up to night fall. I hat a few minits tah eat my lunch when de Sun straight over on top a me. Friday when I git me pay, I took de rent on me land to Mr. Sam, den I gat a sack o flour, pail o lard and bushel de greens from de stow over to Mammy so she kin have de breakfast and dinnah ready foh us all week. Mebbe I findts a chicken done folla me deah.
Den I go ovah to Lonny’s still fo’ ah coppla jugs likker, sumtime mebbe a chicken folla me home aftah a few swalla’s, so as we kin haf sum fresh meats too. Usually tho’ ah’d play sum cahds ovah ta Sid’s bahn. Or do sum pickin’ n singin’ at Sid’s bahn loft. Like as mah hut and a farmin’ land, dees awl belongt reelly ta Mr. Sam, but dat dint stop Sid frahm chahgin ah nickel covah fo’ dah bahn an anotter nickel fah ta git in de game. So den we callt it Sid’s.
Aroun’ midnight, Mr. Sam send his eldist male chile ovah to break up de game. He say God don’ like no gambling and he be takin’ de kitty fah de Lawd. He say he take evryone’s pockets if they’s no thing on de kitty, so Sid puts de nikkels foh de dowr on de table, but nobody say notten bout de nikkel fo’ de game else Sid don’t be letting you in de game next week. Aside, Sid gave up he nickels fo de game, so wouldn’t be raht te say no mo’.
After dat, a hanful us dit go on up to dah hill to watch de moon and finish down de jugs an see if’n any chickens fallahs us home. De biggah de moon, de mo likely de chicken sees us an will foller. Mos’ times when de moon all big, den a coupla us gat to holler’n sum fah ah spell. Den de white men be sayin how de coon be holler’n liken de coyotes. So de res’ us mos’ sober staht fa home. Sayin’ as de white men and now de coyotes be payin’ tention on de holler’n by de drunk’n fellas back to de hill, seems de chikkens be comfy and gittin’ loose to be wander’n. An’ this uh night sho’ nuff, de big plumpest chikken foller me home.
When de preacha walks in my dawh, des chikken be hungry and is struttin about, den she hops on me bed peckin at some cornbread crumbs from what I et afore goan ta sleep. De preacha say din’t ah know wuz de chikken foller me home to bed de kind wit feathers. Den he staht to laffin’ and laffin’ while I be rubbin’ my head an ah shooin’ away de bird, but I don see clahr yet an’ de bird don peck at mah own peckah. Dis sets de preachah ta laffin’ mo, say some ting ‘bout squeezin’ dis plump chikken neck. Which I says den dat haf no bidness commin’ out de mouth say de wahd of de Lawd.
But he jes keeps laffin’ while he gits de chikken by de neck an’ sets it ovah to de cage. Den he gits dat look wit his eyes meanin’ de Lawd’s wahd ‘bout ta come to him. An’ ah ‘bout thankful fo’ dat by now an, I say’n praise be, but gits dizzy.
He say it a shame ah’m layin’ about awl mornin’ from de effects of likker when ah ought find out where from dat chikken foller me home from, but ah shure kin find forgivness of de Lawd if’n ah be at de chawch for de Sunday sermon, expeshully if ah be in de good voices for to join in wit de choir, sayin’ as dey be needin’ a strong male soprano like mine voice be. He say likely no how kin ah in mah kindition ‘member where from de chikken foller, but dat it’d suhve de Lawd well if’n de bird be cooked up good at me mammy’s foh Sunday dinnah, speshully if he stop by to say de dinnah prayah’s so as God put de blessin’ on de meat for all our nourishmint.
Den de preacha he spy de odder jug mine. Dis one is saved foh de to Sid’s Sattiday bahn dance. Mr. Sam and he son both go out on de town Sattidays so dey kin be gittin’ up tings of dey own to be forgiven on de Sunday mornin’ chuch. Mr. Sam say what else is de Church good fuh. Den he don’t dey don’t bother us none either and de ladies will come on out to Sid’s Sattiday, tho they mammies make de single ones leave afore midnite. Dat’s so dey rested and prettied up fuh Chawch.
De preacha say den he know ah bin having da eye on for MaryAnn, sistah Louise’s dahter and wooddinit be tah mah benefit if he took dat jug so ah’d be shuh to be proper wit MaryAnn at the bahn dance dat night. Now ah’s a tinking wot den am ah gonna haf wit which tah pry her shyness? But mah head too thick tah ague none wit no preacha.
Den he say he goan take de jug en pour it out to the rivah whilst he say a prayah what do make MaryAnn over pass she shyness and anutter prayah she will fogit my sinnin’ from mah not being at de Chuch of de late week. He say ah should be goan wit him, but ah say ah betta keep de bed steady a bit longa. Mah red eyes starta tearing a little when de preacha grabbed dat jug and head out de door. He sayin’ halleelooya praise de Jesus dat ah be seein’ de light proof be in mah weepin’ fo de Lawd.
Din I slept me a bit and drankt up a bucket water, had a chaw on sum smoke meat. Ah took a good long relief on mahsef, empty de bladder and de sack and wuz to feelin’ ahright so figger whilst dey wuz heet lef in de Sun, I should go down on de river for de bath an mebbe wash mah clothes to be gittin’ fresh up for Sid’s Sattiday bahn dancin’.
When I gits ta da clearun dey wuz de preacha and he mus have said all prayers bout the evil in da likker cos he shuh nuff had de jug empty out rollin on de ground. He got MaryAnn deah too and he mus also said ah prayah bout her shyness cos she shuh nuff singin and jumpin back an forth over de empty jug and she naked as de baby born. Den de preacha go about given her de oddest baptismal in de rivah dat I has ever saw. It took ta her real good, as she be hollerin’ out “Oh sweet Jesus, Oh mah deah Lawd!” whilst he responding “Halleelooyah!”.
Now I figger it best ah a leave dem be dere sayin as ah want to heah none bout de chikken in mah bed dat mornin’ in fronta MaryAnn. An too ah din want to haf ta be de one be callt forth as swearin’ oath as witness to de baptismal, sayin as sumtime de witness end up bein’ seen responsible fo’ de accountin’ of it all by folks.
Da baptismal musta tuckered down MaryAnn cos she warnt ta Sid’s dat night nor at de chawch de nex mornin’. Dere she misst was ah give de best voice ah haf in me for de choir. Everyone wuz smilin’ to me an’ givin’ me all dere luvin of Jesus what ah kin hold. Den ah aska de preacha say I hope his prayin’ wuz de success and sayin’ too I wuz shuh de baptismal he giv MaryAnn make huh overcome on huh shyness dat shuhly he wud tell sistah Louise dat she kin shuhly trust MaryAnn ta my care from den on out.
De preacha look at me den sorta sidewise for de moment and den say shuhly he wud do jes dat. He musta bin heavy wit sayin’ de grace at dinnah dat evenin’ at Mammie’s cos he bahly but at 3 pieces de chikkin and 3 helpun’s chitlins and greens while de whole time seem lak he lookin to me. Den he say to Mammie he dun tol’ sistah Louise dat MaryAnn wuz blessed under de Lawd.
Mammie look sidewize to hem den he say cos ah be a good hahd workin’ youngin man wit de blessin’ of de Ahlmahty upon me for de future an shuh nuff dat MaryAnn wud be ah given ta me despaht mah young age an mah missin’ chawch so much. Now Mammie she choke up an cryin’ raht dere and she brought me de bigges piecen de sweet potato pie.
From den, every Sattiday mornin’ me an MaryAnn we went to picnic and sayin’ prayah’s by de rivah all affer noon an shuh enuf we empty uh jug of likker into de rivah. If you saw us pourin’ sum in owah mouths, don’ be worry’n, cos it all be blessed and all of it goan into de rivah.
Den MaryAnn an mahsef washt ahsefs an owah clothenings for de week clean up before de Lawd but we had got de spot furthah up de rivah where no one know where at, but on de quiet day mebbe you haurt MaryAnn singin’ out up ta de valley all huh praisin’ fo’ de Lawd God an Jesus.
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