It’s been about 6 weeks since I first stepped foot in Atlanta. How the time has flown. I never expected to fall in love with the people of this city so quickly, but it’s happened. I’ve had an amazing group of people come into my life and I’m so thankful for it.
I’d like to take the time this week to share with you a few people I’ve come to love and care for deeply.
Cora
Cora is a little girl who lives across the street. She told me that she’s four, but since she is attending kindergarten this year I think she must be five. When I first met Cora, she seemed like this adorable little girl. She was wearing her pink princess t-shirt, her head was covered in little braids and big flower clips, and she was so quiet her brother had to tell me her name. Little did I know that I had just invited the feistiest little girl in the neighborhood to play in my yard!
After a short while of playing with the other kids, Cora (who really can be a sweet little girl) began fighting with the boys. She began pushing them around and laughing while she did it. Had it broken out into a real fight, I think I may have placed my money on Cora. I couldn’t believe it! I was even more shocked as I heard her began cursing as she messed up her tiny painted fingernails. I was saddened to hear these words coming from the mouth of a five year old.
The next morning I gained a better understanding of the reasons behind her misbehavior. I was heartbroken to hear that there had been a party at Cora’s house that night lasting til 6 in the morning. Evidently (I slept through it) a fight had broken out between two of the women at the party. They had an argument in the street for quite some time full of cursing, scratching, and all sorts of insults. It wasn’t til the police arrived that the fight finally died down.
How sad to think that Cora, is growing up in this environment. She’s being exposed to all sorts of violence and cursing. This is part of her everyday life. It is my hope that, even for a small five year old, I can be a change in example. I long to spend more time with her and show her that violence and cursing are not the proper forms of expression.
Sidenote: Last night I was sitting on my front porch and saw Cora playing in the yard across the street. In her tiny hand she held a small stick. I observed as she moved the stick around in the dirt to make various shapes and pictures. She did this for quite some time when all of the sudden her ears perked up and she immediately looked down the street. She had heard the loud bass coming from a car down the road. As the car drew closer the music grew louder and louder. Almost immediately, Cora threw down he stick, threw her hands in the air and began dancing to the music. It was the cutest thing! She didn’t care who was watching, she just wanted to dance her little heart out. As the car passed her house, they saw Cora dancing and stopped to watch for a few short seconds. Cora wasn’t embarrassed or shy, she just kept on dancing. As soon as the music died off, Cora sat back down in the dirt and began drawing once more, as if nothing had happened. I seriously wish I had been able to videotape her dancing. I laughed as I realized that a little five year old has more dance skills than I will EVER have. Haha!
Reggie:
Reggie is a character. He works for the church, does landscaping, and drives forklift on a inconsistent rotational basis. He loves chicken and collard greens more than anything! Lol. At any given moment you may see Reggie driving around the neighborhood in the church van. (the church hired someone in the neighborhood to fix the van… now, as you drive, the dome light, auto locks, and windshield wipers will go crazy and began clicking on and off). Reggie (also known as Bo or Bobo) has 8 kids ranging from ages 4 to 30!
Yesterday I rode with Reggie to pick up dinner for the kids at SAY Yes! We had a hilarious conversation on the way. I’ll try to give you an accurate picture of it.
Me: I went to lunch with Pastor Tim and Ms. Shananay today.
Reggie: Oh yeah? Where’d y’all go?
Me: Mary Mac’s, they took me with them to have my first Southern food experience.
Reggie: Mhmmm! Did you have some collard greens? I love Collard greens
Me: nope, just fried chicken and mashed potatoes
Reggie: One of these days I’m gonna be cooking for y’all and you’re gonna come to love Collard greens, don’t you worry little girl, you’ll love ‘em so much that there’ll be a little more to ya (suggesting that I’ll gain some weight) and you’ll be walking a little prouder after that.
Me: hahaha, oh Reggie, I’m pretty sure we have different ideas about what walking ‘prouder’ means. Y’all gotta stop trying to fatten me up!
Reggie: haha, we’ll have pot liquor too, you know what that is?
Me: (I thought he said Potluck) Oh yeah! When everyone brings a dish to a meal and you all share it?
Reggie: no, no little girl, that’s not what it is.
Me: Yes it is! Do they call it something different in the south?
Reggie: no (He was acting as if I was crazy), Pot Liquor’s what they make out of dem collard greens.
Me: OH!!!!! You said POT LIQUOR? I thought you said Potluck!!!!!!
Anyway, it’s not as funny when I write it out, but Reggie definitely had me pinned as an idiot for a little while there. I still have such a hard time understanding the southern drawl and the dropping of syllables! Hahaha. Btw, for those of you unfamiliar with southern food, pot liquor isn’t alcohol, it’s like a broth with collard greens that you eat with cornbread. I got to eat some for the first time yesterday.
Well there’s a ton more to tell you about Reggie, but I’ll have to save that for another time… I wanna run my story by Pastor Tim to make sure that it’s accurate, especially since Reggie and I can’t understand each other talking. Haha.
