Thursday, September 9, 2021
The series of events that happened today were too unreal for a listening ear. But, I promise you, every last one of these points are true:
I didn’t finish packing on Wednesday because I was too tired. I should have done it on Tuesday, but my headache was too strong. Oh well, it is was it is. I needed to leave out between 8:30am and 8:45am so I could make the 7pm deadline in Greensboro, NC. Well…that didn’t happen. But I did walk the boys (Rico and Papa) and saw the sunrise. There’s something to that. After smooching up on my husband and saying our “see ya laters,” I finally pulled out a bit before 9:30am. I was just gonna be okay with being a tad late because I needed my cuddles. I turned on GiGi (my Garmin) and set out on my nine-hour adventure to Greensboro, NC. Yes indeedy! I was doing this! Well, I was doing this until I missed the turn for I-10 E. (In retrospect I should have just turned around.) GigGi directed me down Thomasville Rd to Metcalf Rd. As I bust that sharp right, I should have known that something was wrong. No pavement as far as the eye could see. I love the color orange. Hell, I was even wearing the color orange. But, THIS was too much. When I saw the tractor on the same road that my Prius was on, I should have known. Nope! I continued on my journey because GiGi directed me this way and plus, maybe, the Universe had something for me to learn. When I saw the Jeep with the big wheels on the same road as my Prius, I should have turned around. My wheels were not meant for this clay road. But nooooooo. GiGi said Metcalf and I trusted GiGi. |
The REAL Lesson Begins
After about 10 minutes on this clay road with no sign of pavement in sight, and one fateful turn on Horne Cemetery Rd, I said enough is enough. Before going deeper into the unknown and crossing the railroad track, I decided to turn around. Well…I thought I was turning. The Universe laughed and said, “Not today!”
I feel my wheels spinning and reverse doesn’t seem to work. Forward isn’t working either. I’m stuck, And I’m not just kind of stuck. I’m stuck on a fuckin’ train track!! I get out the car and see the extent of my stuckness (haha) and start to freak. I called my husband (he didn’t answer on the first try). Fortunately, a security guard came around the corner maybe a minute after I got stuck and he stated the obvious, “Looks like you are in a pickle. You got anyone coming to help?” I kindly tell him no. He says he will go see if a local dude can come and help me. |
When he leaves my husband calls me back and I tell him what’s going on . He was scared. I could tell. He wanted to come save me but we have the same car. He’d get stuck, too and plus, I don’t know where I am.
By this point my husband is telling me to call AAA. ( I don’t’ hare my card and I don’t know the number) The security guard comes back and says the guy isn’t available. It’s all starting to just be too much. I’m still on this fuckin’ train track! I get through to AAA only after the automated system says, “AAA is experiencing a higher than normal call volume and will send me a text so I can file a claim online or I could hold.” Shit…I thought it would be best to just wait. After less than five minutes, the operator picks up. She asked if I was safe. I explained to her that I’m on a train track and I’m stuck. She said she’d expedite my call but the wait could be up to 2.5 hours. |
I call my husband back and tell him the AAA news. He, on his end, called Georgia department of transportation. The person he talked to suggested that I call 911. Never in my life have I called 911. If this is the response, I can see why people don’t call. :)
The 911 operator took my information and called the local police. She informed me that she was going to hang up and the officer would call me right back. Nope!! Not the case. I call 911 again and tell her that no one has called. Finally, someone calls back. By then, a kind stranger, in a big ass truck, pulling a trailer, asks if I need some help. |
He happened to be in the right location at the right time and have the right tools to pull me out. Thanks, Grant!
The security guard never returns. Grant pulls off probably never to be seen again. Before he left, he tells me to keep driving forward and I’ll reach the pavement. Go straight. Turn right. Turn right again. Off to Thomasville I go. The adventure isn’t quite over. Siri takes me through every back road possible - at least it was paved! I couldn’t drive over 60 MPH because Ebony (the name of my Prius) started shaking. It definitely looks like a message from the Universe - “Slow down. Be here. Be now. Others may go faster than you, but you WILL arrive at your destination. Proceed.” |
All of this was JUST to get there!
Friday, September 10, 2021
Today was a full day of breathing and belonging:
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Saturday, September 11, 2021
How will today turn out? I’m so excited to see and be seen. (Artist Talk.)
[I pause while I write this because the sun is filtering in and illuminating my soul and warming my face. There is an abundance of energy in the sun. That is the art. The ability to rise daily. The ability to shine on the whole of the world while possibly making one person feel whole. The ability to signal a beginning. As she moves, so do we. We are engaged in a collective dance with the sun . We follow, she leads. She was here long before we were, and she’ll be here long after we leave. Today, we have a choice. How will you spend your 24 hours?]
Jasmine, Ritchie, and I walked around the Folk Fest and stumbled into some amazing experiences. We decided to grab some lunch before heading back for the artist talk. I got sidetracked by Uncle George, a guitarist from Africa, who played to my soul. I danced in the street with him. Pure energy of love exchanged. I told Jasmine and Ritchie to just go on down and meet Jordan and that I would be there after Uncle George played his guitar. (His string broke during our dance.)
Jasmine, Ritchie, and I walked around the Folk Fest and stumbled into some amazing experiences. We decided to grab some lunch before heading back for the artist talk. I got sidetracked by Uncle George, a guitarist from Africa, who played to my soul. I danced in the street with him. Pure energy of love exchanged. I told Jasmine and Ritchie to just go on down and meet Jordan and that I would be there after Uncle George played his guitar. (His string broke during our dance.)
It is 2:45 pm and there are still people on a tour of the museum. They are still working on tech and we are running late. No worries. I’m practicing my #PressPause. I’m good. I get up to deliver my talk and I feel good. We do breathwork. I talk about Mama. I talk a bit about Dad. I connect ME and M.E. (Mother Earth). (I need to refine that part of my delivery in the future.) Besides the tech issues, I feel good about it. {Written after the fact: Uncle George happened to be in the audience! The Universe definitely arranged that chance meeting in the street and now this chance witnessing of my first ever Artist Talk.)
Next up is Ritchie - his work is raw and lovely. I love his conversation about making offerings to his pieces. He has a lot of videos of past work and present work and different shows he has done.
Next up is Jasmine - Artist talk expert. Phenomenal artist. Southern roots. Her pieces explore Black fem identity. I loved her porch piece. She does it all and knows her history. Richness!!
Next up is Jordan - animation dude with wonderful skills. He, too, showed several of his pieces and even a clip from his “Midnight Milk" talk show for artists. Even though it wasn’t my kinda talk show, I loved how they were loving it. Fun!
Now…here comes Q & A:
A man in the audience directs his question to me after seeing everyone’s art and asks, “I would like to see some more of your art. Are you a painter or anything?” This question hurt, but I tried to maintain my composure and smile through my answer. I responded with, “like I said, THIS is my art (as I moved my hands in the space that existed between us). I create and hold spaces for self-restoration and healing. I am a storyteller and collector.” Although my answer was firm, I felt a bit weak. This is a new space for me and I don’t have all the langue at the moment.
Next up is Ritchie - his work is raw and lovely. I love his conversation about making offerings to his pieces. He has a lot of videos of past work and present work and different shows he has done.
Next up is Jasmine - Artist talk expert. Phenomenal artist. Southern roots. Her pieces explore Black fem identity. I loved her porch piece. She does it all and knows her history. Richness!!
Next up is Jordan - animation dude with wonderful skills. He, too, showed several of his pieces and even a clip from his “Midnight Milk" talk show for artists. Even though it wasn’t my kinda talk show, I loved how they were loving it. Fun!
Now…here comes Q & A:
A man in the audience directs his question to me after seeing everyone’s art and asks, “I would like to see some more of your art. Are you a painter or anything?” This question hurt, but I tried to maintain my composure and smile through my answer. I responded with, “like I said, THIS is my art (as I moved my hands in the space that existed between us). I create and hold spaces for self-restoration and healing. I am a storyteller and collector.” Although my answer was firm, I felt a bit weak. This is a new space for me and I don’t have all the langue at the moment.
Sunday, September 12, 2021
While reflecting upon a different comment from yesterday, the young person said to Jasmin and me, “I really thank you for sharing the stories of those who have been silenced.” That frequency is starting to really touch me right now. Is that part of my identity? I am a storyteller and collector. I am also an eco-storyteller and collector. My stories are related to my experiences, but I do eventually want to take this calling and divine assignment to collect the stories of the silenced.
Chris, are you doing that because it is what is expected of you? Or, is this really your identity? When writing that, I looked up and saw the leaves blowing and I got excited. I want to be with her. Sit with her. Take her picture. Tell my version of her story and share that story. Not only is she [Mother Earth] silenced, she is often times ignored. |
Monday, September 13, 2021
Okay, here we go. This marks the first FULL week of Elsewhere. I will be juggling my craft, my school, an interview for Homecoming Princess, and other responsibilities associated with Elsewhere.
Reflections from yesterday (9/12/21):
- The group hung out at a museum, grabbed burgers, and even went to a cemetery. That sounded like a blast. I didn’t go because I had a FULL day of homework. Because of that full day, I am in a better position to have a full and present week as an artist.
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- There is a conversation in these spaces about becoming, breathing, belonging, and being.
- There is a conversation about time; how we spend it, how we show gratitude for it, and how it quickly escapes us.
- There is a conversation about growing and aging. This is where the gardening and plants come in. The perennials will be here long after we are gone ONLY if we take time to nurture them now.
- There is a conversation about aging and walking into new spaces.
- There are so many conversation and I’ll take today to think about which one I want to have with my work and subsequent artist identity.
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Yayy for another morning. Today, I woke up a 6:06 am. I didn’t go to bed until after midnight, so it surprises me that I got up so early. Well, I guess if your body has its own alarm clock, you’ll just have to follow it. Now, why was I up past midnight? (Keep reading to learn what happened yesterday - 9/13/21.)
I was out socializing with the cohort because I wanted to be included. I didn’t want to miss another outing especially since I missed the Sunday outing because of school work. But, let me tell you how I felt in this space…
I turned down the first invitation to go to Salvation Army with Jordan and Ritchie because I had class at 9:45am. I wasn’t going to miss a third invite.
Ritchie wanted to go grab drinks. This was the third invite and I wasn’t going to turn it down. I need to call my husband back, so I told them I would join them later. He said he go downstairs to grab a beer and pre-game. That bought me about 20-30 minutes.
I went upstairs to call Duck. It seemed like he was really having a day. So, at 20 minutes into the conversation, I text the group and told them to go without me and I’d catch up. About 15-20 minutes later, I was off the phone and I heard movement in the house. Jordan stayed behind to get some work done and was going to catch up later. I waited for him. I finished me proposal then off we went.
I was out socializing with the cohort because I wanted to be included. I didn’t want to miss another outing especially since I missed the Sunday outing because of school work. But, let me tell you how I felt in this space…
I turned down the first invitation to go to Salvation Army with Jordan and Ritchie because I had class at 9:45am. I wasn’t going to miss a third invite.
Ritchie wanted to go grab drinks. This was the third invite and I wasn’t going to turn it down. I need to call my husband back, so I told them I would join them later. He said he go downstairs to grab a beer and pre-game. That bought me about 20-30 minutes.
I went upstairs to call Duck. It seemed like he was really having a day. So, at 20 minutes into the conversation, I text the group and told them to go without me and I’d catch up. About 15-20 minutes later, I was off the phone and I heard movement in the house. Jordan stayed behind to get some work done and was going to catch up later. I waited for him. I finished me proposal then off we went.
I ordered a South African pinotauge. It was good; it wasn’t great. I joined the group, with drink in hand, and was ready to bond. That didn't’ quite happen. There were bonding moments but most moments were monopolized by Jasmine and Jordan R. (This is the other Jordan that works for Elsewhere. He was the cinematographer for the film.) I felt like I was watching a conversational ping pong match. I wanted in. Jordan R, at one point, said, “we should zoom back out because there's more than just us at the table.” That zoom out was my chance. I told a story about what happened at the Cheesecake spot. I added to a couple other conversations (not much) and then the convo zoomed back to the two of them.
When there was another opening, a conversation about birthdays, times and signs, I jumped in. I asked when everyone’s birthday was. No one asked me. I asked what their signs were. NO one asked me. I was done by that point… and so was my wine.
When there was another opening, a conversation about birthdays, times and signs, I jumped in. I asked when everyone’s birthday was. No one asked me. I asked what their signs were. NO one asked me. I was done by that point… and so was my wine.
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Grand rising, Chris.
Thank you Creator and Ancestors for granting me another day to watch the sunrise. So shall be your will, I will watch the sunset, too. Thank you for your lives so that I, too, may have life. Thank you for being there for one another, so that difficult times seemed less difficult.
Today, I will go forth and shine with an internal wisdom of knowing. A knowing that greatness, determination, resilience, love, compassion, joy, etc. runs through my veins. I am simply the manifestation of all of ya’s greatness. Thank you. Ase.
Thank you Creator and Ancestors for granting me another day to watch the sunrise. So shall be your will, I will watch the sunset, too. Thank you for your lives so that I, too, may have life. Thank you for being there for one another, so that difficult times seemed less difficult.
Today, I will go forth and shine with an internal wisdom of knowing. A knowing that greatness, determination, resilience, love, compassion, joy, etc. runs through my veins. I am simply the manifestation of all of ya’s greatness. Thank you. Ase.
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I must acknowledge the power of this morning’s sunrise:
- At the 1:11 mark, I captured a blue energy ball that entered the room.
- I also owned the writing on the wall (literally). ARTISTS LIVE HERE. Embrace that! I am a visual storyteller.
- She, I-Sis, is bring this blue energy that is being charged by the sun. By M.E.- Mother Earth.
- I-Sis was waiting to be discovered. I-Sis was waiting for me to discover her and for me to discover myself.
- She reminds me of the Isis meditation, “Walk to the door. Speak/think your concern. Walk into the room. Sit with her. At the end she surrounds you with her wings. Release your pain/concern.”