[i]
☼ ○ ▬
I’m in a boat race, kind of half swimming rather than
driving the boat. We cut a corner that we passed going the other direction. I
remember it because of its haunting cemetery-like nature – overgrown marble
structures, rusty gates, and decorative gazebos. I have to lock down where this
is so I can return here another time. I turn on the GPS button to my phone so I
can save the location on my map. It’s not so much a race as it is a traveling
group.
▬ ○ ☼
Waking up just before noon.
My mom walks into the living room...
Me: “So what are we doing today?”
Mom: “I don’t know.”
Me: “Why don’t you have an itinerary planned out for me?”
Mom: “This isn’t a tour. It’s whatever you desire.”
Me: “I don’t know what to desire here in Florida.”
Mom: “Relaxation, peace, and quiet.”
We crack open a coconut we got from the market yesterday.
She shows me how to hammer a screwdriver into the three holes and drain out the
fresh coconut milk. Mmm...so delicious.
Peanut Butter Bagel. Mango. Coconut Milk.
Mom and I set out on the road with no real plan in mind. The
sun hides behind the grey overcast but it’s still humid and hot.
...
We stop in to explore the quaint side of downtown Bartow –
local independent shops and cafés. A place called Antiques on Main takes up
most of our time. I’m all too consumed and fascinated with the various items of
old. Flipping through old yearbooks from the 1960’s. A Duke University yearbook
called Chanticleer from the 1940’s. I settle on buying a few quarterly
issues of Ideals published in the 60’s and a book of new agey graphic
illustrations called Dreamquests.
...
Before we leave, a man and a lady walk in with what I assume
is their daughter or maybe granddaughter. For some reason she strikes my attention – her overall appearance is
just plain attractive. That blue dress fits so perfectly. And her innocent
face, curious eyes, and pure smile keep me stealthily at attention. I’m the
persistent victim of confounding beauty in whatever form it takes, be it a
pretty flower, a mother’s love, or this girl in a blue dress.
While walking along the sidewalk I spot a multitude of
lizards dart across the cinder block barriers by the benches.
Me: “Mom! Look at the lizards.”
Mom: “If you sit down they’ll crawl all over you.”
...
Back on the road we pass this abandoned brick facility that
looks like it used to be a warehouse for something. I make my mom stop the car so
we can explore the broken down surroundings.
Enjoying a makeshift lunch
Cajun Boiled Peanuts. Peaches. Watermelon. Mini
Bananas.
...
We settle down at her friend Teresa’s mobile home. Teresa
pastors the church my mom attends and she acts as Teresa’s assistant as well as
best friend.
...
My mom heats it up in the kitchen and cooks up an amazing
dinner...
Baked Tilapia Fillets. Kale, Peppers, and Onions. Fried
Green Tomatoes. Southern Sweet Tea.
Then, onto church for the Thursday night service. I was here
about a year and a half ago during Christmas. And just like last time I’m
called up to provide piano backing to the praise and worship songs. I haven’t
played songs like this in a long time but it’s easy to follow and go with the flow.
Afterwards, I sit down next to my mom. Pastor Morales steps up to the pulpit
and preaches a fiery sermon. In her voice is conviction and charisma. The
hollering and yelling bursts through the speakers ricocheting off the walls and
piercing into our ears like a knife...
...
“YOU MAY FEEL LIKE THE BEAR IS AFTER YOU RIGHT NOW. YOU MAY
FEEL LIKE YOU’RE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING THAT AIN’T SO HAPPY, LIKE TONS OF
BRICKS HAVE FALLEN ON YOU, BUT YOU’RE IN PREPARATION SEASON. YOU’RE IN THE
FIRST ANOINTING AND GOD IS ABOUT TO PROMOTE YOU!”
...
“OOOOH! I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE
CALLING THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS AND THEY AIN’T ACTING RIGHT! IT’S JUST A NAME
NOW. THE DEVIL HIMSELF IS A CHRISTIAN NOWADAYS!”
...
“YOU’RE NOT IN THE WILDERNESS. GOD IS ABOUT TO TAKE YOU OUT.
GOD IS ABOUT TO GIVE YOU A SPIRITUAL PROMOTION!”
...
“THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THERE IS POWER IN YOUR TONGUE FOR LIFE
OR DEATH!”
...
“YOU HAVE TO BE BROKEN. YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO LET GO!”
...
“DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD AND HE WILL GIVE YOU? SAY IT!”
The congregation answers in unison, “The desires of your
heart.”
“THE DESIRES, NOT OF THE FLESH, OF THE SPIRIT.”
...
“I WAS IN THE WILDERNESS TOO LONG! I AM COMING OUT AND I
AIN’T GOING BACK! TODAY WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS! YOU WILL WALK IN THE
ANOINTING THAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU!”
...
“MY ANOINTING AIN’T ANYONE ELSE’S ANOINTING. I GOTTA WALK IN
MY OWN. I GOTTA LOOK FOR MINE. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT SALVATION IS INDIVIDUAL.”
...
I’m called up again to direct the mood for the conclusion of
the service. I vamp on a contemporary pop progression that comes to mind
(Am-C-F-G-Am) while the singers improv into the microphones. People lifting
their hands up to the ceiling – shouting – praying – declaring spiritual
revelations. While tinkering on the keyboard I observe my mother with her hands
outstretched over someone’s back. She’s lost in God – speaking in tongues.
...
The service is over and I wait out in the car. My mom hops
in. She rolls down the window for Paulina, this little charismatic Tanzanian
women. She looks over in my direction and thanks me for playing. She’s
completely exuberant in her way of talking, her thick Tanzanian accent adding
flavor to her words...
Paulina: “You gotta get the right people to flow from the
well that’s flowing out of you.”
...
On the drive back to the house.
Mom: “How did you feel up there?”
Me: “What do you mean?”
Mom: “How did you feel? You brought everyone into
worship...”
Me: “I was doing my job I guess.”
Back home.
Eating a bowl of Oh’s with Milk.
Helping my mom construct a document on Microsoft Word.
We share a few warm goodnight hugs. Tomorrow we have to get
up super early for me to catch my flight.
She frowns in a cute way and asks, “Why can’t you just
stay?”
Me: “I have a life up there.”
Mom: “But you can have a life here.”
Sleep 2:30 a.m.
[i] All images
by me.
No comments:
Post a Comment