Act 4 Scene 1- Well we were able to make it through the night and the next day. We spent sometime in the morning chatting with other travelers we met in the dining room. One lady stands out in my minds eye. She was an elderly lady from South Central who was traveling back home after visiting relatives in NY. She was the quintessential character. She was perfectly coiffured and an avid reader. We chatted about Culture, African Spirituality, Greek Mythology, International Films and Politics! After a lengthy conversation and my passionate conversation that focused on history and culture and the importance of understanding or at least have some knowledge about "others" and their worldview, she left us and returned stating that I should be involved in some capacity with film making. Little does she know that I am working on a screenplay and have thoughts for a small documentary project.
It is now close to 6:30 pm on day 2. I feel a sense of anxiety as I know we will be pulling into New Orleans soon. I am unsure of what I will see and what we shall feel. We make our way back to our seats to gather our things and prepare to leave the train and spend the night in New Orleans before resuming our trip.
Act 4 Scene 2- I hear the conductor's voice. Next stooooopppppp Neeeeeew Orleeeeans. I feel that feeling again. I had family there and considered living there about four years ago. I love the place and I feel so many emotions all at once. I feel sad, fear, pain and happiness all at once. I know the history, culture, the music and I can taste the gumbo in my bones. I could walk through the French Market blindfolded. My mind scanned my last trip before Katrina for Essence Jazz Festival and it brought a smile to my face. But what now? The train was slowing down...very slow...it was as though we were stuck in a moment in time. The travelers were silent as all stared out the window. I felt my heart stop. Months after this horrific catastrophe we were still unprepared as the train slowly made its way into downtown New Orleans....What we saw was overwhelming....
Sheer horror. Devastation as though we were viewing a place/time frozen in history. Houses were abandoned.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The Start
The Past informs the Present...and..the present informs the Future
I think it is only fitting that I start in the past
(2008) and come forward. This will allow us to be on the same page
-no pun intended.
Well, let's begin with the effervescent excitement that gripped every pore of my body as I planned my first trip to California. Being me-and only I can be that, I decided that I would do things a bit differently this time. Usually, I book "em danno" make the reservation, go through the mind debilitating process of putting and removing 14.5 million just in case pieces of clothing in my luggage and start sweating ...or as a lady would say perspiring before they (those wonderful airline people) in slow motion (at least in my head) weigh that bag. I then would play out in my head EVERY single time, whether I would remove my bracelets, toe-rings, earrings, and necklace...before walking through a security metal detector barefoot -where 25.5 million people have stepped before me and I couldn't prove they have washed their feet.
This time was different, I decided that I was going to take charge and do what others before me have done. See the country and travel via Amtrak. What the *!@#%!! was I thinking? Oh yes that’s right, I wanted to push my seat back and pull up those leg rests (you can’t do that on an airplane) and look out the window for 48 hours . Yeah that was it. As my plan unfolded, I laughed out loud HAHA to you airline and security people….Grenada Munro was going to get 2 trips in one and see the country.
Well, let's begin with the effervescent excitement that gripped every pore of my body as I planned my first trip to California. Being me-and only I can be that, I decided that I would do things a bit differently this time. Usually, I book "em danno" make the reservation, go through the mind debilitating process of putting and removing 14.5 million just in case pieces of clothing in my luggage and start sweating ...or as a lady would say perspiring before they (those wonderful airline people) in slow motion (at least in my head) weigh that bag. I then would play out in my head EVERY single time, whether I would remove my bracelets, toe-rings, earrings, and necklace...before walking through a security metal detector barefoot -where 25.5 million people have stepped before me and I couldn't prove they have washed their feet.
This time was different, I decided that I was going to take charge and do what others before me have done. See the country and travel via Amtrak. What the *!@#%!! was I thinking? Oh yes that’s right, I wanted to push my seat back and pull up those leg rests (you can’t do that on an airplane) and look out the window for 48 hours . Yeah that was it. As my plan unfolded, I laughed out loud HAHA to you airline and security people….Grenada Munro was going to get 2 trips in one and see the country.
..and the beginning of California Babee began. Looking
back (which I hate doing) I should have paid attention to that nervous tick in
my stomach when I couldn’t get a room onboard Amtrak. A voice egged me on –so
what-you don’t need a room-the seats go back, you have your $5.00 pillow from
Walmart, a small blanket, your MP3 player and your laptop. You have packed
fruit, wonderful sandwiches( a couple of hidden Hershey bars with almonds) and
you have your cell phone. The voice kept egging me on. “This will be great… you
will never forget this trip…none of your friends and or family have done
this…you are the best!!!.” It was not until later that I realized the voice was
the voice of the Devil. HAHA to me.
Act 1 Scene 1 -…(Pre-Travel)
Ok so one thing I forgot to mention. I never, ever had a desire to go to California. The idea of visiting forget living in a place where the ground could move at any given moment never ever ever appealed to me. But, I now had family there who would no longer allow me to not visit simply because they lived in a place where the ground shook, buildings swayed and concrete broke apart. Soooo, I tucked my fear in my luggage and decicide that if I was going...I was going to do it my way!
As friends and family were told of my exciting adventure (traveling 3,000 miles by train) the responses ran the gamut from, “Are you craaaazee?” to “Why on earth (as opposed to another planet?) would you do that? I ignored their foolish responses and continued repacking my 14.5 million pieces of clothing. The more I thought about it, they seemed to have a massive attitude . Well, I was going on an adventure and no one was going to spoil this trip for me. They (in my interrupted thought process) had forgotten how to have fun and be spontaneous…yeah that’s the ticket (there was that voice again).Michael (my guy)had pretty much let me run the show. Looking through my rear view mirror at the events leading up to departure, I have come to realize that all he cared about was getting to the "Cali"...so whatever I decided, figured out, planned , kept incessantly talking about was ok. Maybe he erroneously thought I would be quiet and pensive on the trip? Maybe he thought he could walk around the train and feel a sense of unbridled freedom and soak up the sites? Maybe just maybe he thought I would look out the window and sing with my headphones on so he could sleep until we get there? Because as I review this all he kept saying was "sure love", "right" .
As friends and family were told of my exciting adventure (traveling 3,000 miles by train) the responses ran the gamut from, “Are you craaaazee?” to “Why on earth (as opposed to another planet?) would you do that? I ignored their foolish responses and continued repacking my 14.5 million pieces of clothing. The more I thought about it, they seemed to have a massive attitude . Well, I was going on an adventure and no one was going to spoil this trip for me. They (in my interrupted thought process) had forgotten how to have fun and be spontaneous…yeah that’s the ticket (there was that voice again).Michael (my guy)had pretty much let me run the show. Looking through my rear view mirror at the events leading up to departure, I have come to realize that all he cared about was getting to the "Cali"...so whatever I decided, figured out, planned , kept incessantly talking about was ok. Maybe he erroneously thought I would be quiet and pensive on the trip? Maybe he thought he could walk around the train and feel a sense of unbridled freedom and soak up the sites? Maybe just maybe he thought I would look out the window and sing with my headphones on so he could sleep until we get there? Because as I review this all he kept saying was "sure love", "right" .
Act 2 Scene 1- ...(Travel Day)
Happy and excited, we..my guy and I
head to Amtrak and the infamous Penn Station dragging two humongous suitcases, laptops, and food. Allllll Aboard!!! They called
our train number, we eagerly stood in line … No problem finding a seat as we were pretty much first online, with fruit, sandwiches, yogurt, couple of big bottles of water, laptop and plenty of reading materials and oh yes our tickets. My guy and I settled in with our two inch travel pillow and excitedly thought about our adventure ahead. Or maybe I am revising history...he didin't really talk as I think back, but I did as he tried to pretend to listen wishing I would be quiet so he could listen to Pandora. As the train slowly pulled out of Grand Central I smiled as I thought about the fun ahead...
Act 2 Scene 2 - Oh so let me digress for a moment. Even though we were unable to get a room on the train we decided to go ahead and make the best of it. I figured it was an adventure and after all it was only 30 hours to New Orleans which was where we would spend the night and resume travel the next morning. I must add that this was after Hurricane Katrina. Although I was happy to stop there, I was a bit overwhelmed as I knew the city well. I am unsure what I would see and how I would feel. Yet, I still wanted it to be part of the plan. You see, there were two routes one could take to LA. One went through New Orleans and the other went via Chicago. I chose the New Orleans route.
Act 3 Scene 1- The opening of our goody bags signaled that the trip had began. We carefully snacked on fruit, a wonderfully crafted smoked turkey and gouda sandwich on ciabatta bread and opened a small bottle of delectable wine. Oh!Life was good and those folks that tried to cramp our style were left behind...haha I truly was LOL!
Act 3 Scene 2- Afternoon has turned to evening and evening to night. As the darkness envelops the day and the curtain slowly begins to roll down as the moon prepares to rise. I look around at the travelers, all of us strangers to the larger group yet each one of us separated by six degrees of separation. I observe that this car of the train is comprised of travelers that are different colors, different ages, different cultures and ethnicities all together in this space at this time. all together for the ride. Some chat quietly while others of various ages and cultures laugh loudly, talk loudly while still others have put on the light above their seat and are reading quietly.
Across from us sits a young couple named Luke and Lilly (I know this because I heard each one of them say their names). They were on their way to New Orleans. They were going to help...help in any way they could. They were young, idealistic and passionate about life. I step back into my mind for a moment to look around at the faces on the train and think about who they are and why they may be traveling. The international couple, I decide are on a See America trip that allows them to get off the train anywhere they like and re-board at a later time/date. Seated in front of us are a mom and her two beautiful girls. Before I realize what is happening they take me out of my thoughts, look over the top of the seats and begin chatting. They were originally from Oklahoma and on their way to visit their grandparents...for them, it is an adventure as well. I can feel their excitement as they begin talking very fast, asking questions like rapid fire while sharing snacks without skipping a beat. Their mom apologizes and attempts to distract them. I laugh and tell her it is ok. I actually am enjoying their excitement. As I listen to their voices and watch their faces, my heart melts for at that moment for one second at that time, I saw myself. I saw the wonder and excitement and sense of awe and adventure that I use to feel as a little girl traveling. The only difference between them and the little me was I was the one traveling on airplanes that walked around chatting with everyone whether they liked it or not. I saw that little girl again...how cool was that. Although we did not know each other, may never see each other again, we connected at this moment in time traveling for different reasons. I turn back to my guy and smile...I get it -this is a rebalancing, a time to stop rushing, stop working, stop doing...just reflect enjoy the moment(s) and spiritually renew. I curl up next to my guy and place my mini me pillow under my head and close my eyes...
Act 2 Scene 2 - Oh so let me digress for a moment. Even though we were unable to get a room on the train we decided to go ahead and make the best of it. I figured it was an adventure and after all it was only 30 hours to New Orleans which was where we would spend the night and resume travel the next morning. I must add that this was after Hurricane Katrina. Although I was happy to stop there, I was a bit overwhelmed as I knew the city well. I am unsure what I would see and how I would feel. Yet, I still wanted it to be part of the plan. You see, there were two routes one could take to LA. One went through New Orleans and the other went via Chicago. I chose the New Orleans route.
Act 3 Scene 1- The opening of our goody bags signaled that the trip had began. We carefully snacked on fruit, a wonderfully crafted smoked turkey and gouda sandwich on ciabatta bread and opened a small bottle of delectable wine. Oh!Life was good and those folks that tried to cramp our style were left behind...haha I truly was LOL!
Act 3 Scene 2- Afternoon has turned to evening and evening to night. As the darkness envelops the day and the curtain slowly begins to roll down as the moon prepares to rise. I look around at the travelers, all of us strangers to the larger group yet each one of us separated by six degrees of separation. I observe that this car of the train is comprised of travelers that are different colors, different ages, different cultures and ethnicities all together in this space at this time. all together for the ride. Some chat quietly while others of various ages and cultures laugh loudly, talk loudly while still others have put on the light above their seat and are reading quietly.
Across from us sits a young couple named Luke and Lilly (I know this because I heard each one of them say their names). They were on their way to New Orleans. They were going to help...help in any way they could. They were young, idealistic and passionate about life. I step back into my mind for a moment to look around at the faces on the train and think about who they are and why they may be traveling. The international couple, I decide are on a See America trip that allows them to get off the train anywhere they like and re-board at a later time/date. Seated in front of us are a mom and her two beautiful girls. Before I realize what is happening they take me out of my thoughts, look over the top of the seats and begin chatting. They were originally from Oklahoma and on their way to visit their grandparents...for them, it is an adventure as well. I can feel their excitement as they begin talking very fast, asking questions like rapid fire while sharing snacks without skipping a beat. Their mom apologizes and attempts to distract them. I laugh and tell her it is ok. I actually am enjoying their excitement. As I listen to their voices and watch their faces, my heart melts for at that moment for one second at that time, I saw myself. I saw the wonder and excitement and sense of awe and adventure that I use to feel as a little girl traveling. The only difference between them and the little me was I was the one traveling on airplanes that walked around chatting with everyone whether they liked it or not. I saw that little girl again...how cool was that. Although we did not know each other, may never see each other again, we connected at this moment in time traveling for different reasons. I turn back to my guy and smile...I get it -this is a rebalancing, a time to stop rushing, stop working, stop doing...just reflect enjoy the moment(s) and spiritually renew. I curl up next to my guy and place my mini me pillow under my head and close my eyes...
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