If I Be Lifted Up...

I am writing this a little earlier than I usually do. I just got back from church and wanted to jot some things down before I forget it. So I attended CoC in Roxbury. What can I say? First let me say that I was glad to be in the house of the Lord because I am a Christian that enjoys worship. Second let me say that I will try not to talk too badly about my experience because it is church. I WILL TRY!!! Now… When I first walked in the door I thought to myself, where am I? I felt like I was thrown in some church in the woods of Mississippi. What happened to the city? Tiny congregation (about 80, if that), no piano, no organ, not even a tambourine. Just singing and foot tapping. And this lady behind me… my goodness. Bless her soul, she must love to sing but someone in her life time I am sure has told her that SHE CAN NOT. I am not exaggerating on this one. She was the worst singer I have ever heard and of course she was the loudest thing in the congregation. She was so bad, that it was painful. I prayed that she would shut her trap or that my ears would filter out her NOISE. We had a scripture, prayer, 3 songs back to back and then the sermon. Note about the songs… we sang a total of 5 songs and I only knew 2. I flipped through their hymnal to find that the majority of the songs were foreign to me. (I wonder if they take song requests. LOL). The only time we stood was during the first prayer. I am beginning to believe that I have a mild case of ADD because 30 minutes into the service I was like, can we please stand up in here. Side note, before I forget… After the scripture was announced, one lady yelled out, “Not yet, I’m not there”. Oh my goodness!! HUSH!
So I have to do a little research. I don’t know if this is all CoCs churches or just them, but there was no preacher, no revered, no pastor, nothing. A brother from the congregation brought the message. He also wrote on the white board during service too. I wasn’t sure if I was in lecture hall or church. No deacons. It was youth day so the young men of the church passed out the communion. Another note… they take Holy Communion EVERY week. Another new one for me.

And here is the part of the service that I did not like. PERIOD. After the sermon, someone swings the mic stand right in front of the pulpit for repentance time. Now I know what it means to repent, but when I heard this in the order of events earlier I just knew it couldn’t be what it sounded like. Yes ma’am. Here is your chance to get up in front of the congregation and share your SINS and repent publicly. One girl got up and shared that she had spoken some ungodly words about another female this week and that she wanted God to forgive her. WHAT!!!???!!! I know this is a joke. I believe in repenting my sins to the FATHER, not the congregation. It ain’t none of their DERN business. I almost cursed right there but I am talking bout church. I should clean my mouth up for at least this post. I wonder if they have folks get up there and tell it all. PLEASE LORD NO.
The entire service was about two hours. The sermon took up one by itself. I was ready to go. L stayed and wanted me to do the same. Thank the Lord for H. Everyone was going downstairs to eat and then they were returning upstairs for youth sermons (PLURAL I SAY). That’s enough for me for one day. H had already told me this morning before we left that she was driving her own car because L likes to stay at church all day. Oh no thank you. I did that growing up. Don’t miss that. I turned toward H when service was over and gave her the look like, don’t you leave me here. She explained to L that we were leaving and you could instantly see that L was disappointed. I was sorry to see that but I was too ready to go. She followed us out to the car in a last minute plea for us to stay. So sorry L, we out. H told me I need to figure out what I’m going to do in the future because she is returning home very soon. DON’T LEAVE!!! I need to go to church but I also need to be where I am comfortable. I don't know how L is going to take this one, but I gotta find somewhere else to worship. I'll give it another try cuz I believe in second chances. Where is Pastor Nelson or Pastor Black when you need em. I think I will have to have Amber or Shelton put me on speaker phone next Sunday.

Well that’s it for now. I’m on the bed about to doze off. One of L’s neighbors had a party last night and they kept it going until the early morning. I didn’t fall asleep until they turned the mic off, so I’m tired. Going to take a nap before we go to the cookout at Sam’s house. L is still at church.

Biddy Town Meeting

Another day and I’m still standing. I gotta tell ya when I first got up this morning it really hit me; I miss home. As I always do when I’m in a foul mood, I turned to shopping. I decided to go ahead with my initial plans and go to Downtown Crossing and sneak a peek at Boston shopping. I ended up buying a purse, two shirts and two pair of shoes. At the end of it all, my mood was still sour. I had my earphones in and every time that a slow tune came on, I fought back the tears. KT called and I almost burst into tears on the phone while in the subway. I told him I was really missing home and I am. I called like a handful of people and just my luck, nobody was home. I knew G was home and that if anybody could lift my spirits, it would be him. By the time I called G, I was on my way back to the house. When I got here, L and H were upstairs clearing out the closet for me. How nice of them! Soon and very soon they helped bring my spirits back up. They probably didn’t even know I was down a little.
They are hilarious. They cut the fool today (saying from home). We started talking about men (no surprise). H told me that I am in my prime and that I need to learn how to tease a man and reel them in. She said every woman has that one dress; the "get em dress". She went on to reminisce about her, as we call it now, freekum dress. L said she never denied that the dress was bad but that H used to wear it every time they went out. I guess if it works, why change the routine or dress in this case. HA! H said she used to wear them short and hot. Do now!!! They had me cracking up. Said I need to work it while I still can; that I need to walk through a crowd of men and catch every single one’s attention. I was also told that I need to make sure I look good tomorrow for church and the cookout afterwards. At church there will be some good and fine college graduates to attract and that at the cookout there’ll be some cops. I guess I have to apply my training tomorrow to real life situations. LOL. I told Mom everything. She told me to listen and learn cuz she wants a good-looking and rich son-in-law so she can have a Benz and some pretty grand babies. Mom is a mess. Then she caught herself and told me to leave the men alone here because she didn’t want me falling in love and staying in Boston. No ma’am. I meet my husband up here, baby… you got to at least go to DC with me. I can’t live this far up.
I can’t even remember all H and L talked about. They started talking about one man… H and L got up and high-fived on the man’s looks. H said he was so fine that he made her want to change her religion. He must have been pretty damn gorgeous! We also talked about age. I threw out the scenario of a chick dating someone 20 years her senior. Without hesitation, H asked if the man had money. She said if he is broke that he has to go, but if he has money then it’s ok. Damn! Is it like that? What happened to love? Guess that don’t live there no more.
At the end of it all, my spirits had returned to a healthy level. I know everything is going to be ok but I still miss the good ole south or maybe just some of the people there! :-)

Day Four: Class Schedule

So today we got our schedules. That’s about all that happened worth mentioning. Oh and I went and bought a jacket. Guess what it says on it? Of course it says Boston University School of Medicine. Isn’t that some pretty cool shit? Hey… I’m excited. Nobody else has to be! Back to my schedule… I’m taking Physiology, Biochemistry, Human Growth and Development and Counseling Techniques. I’m really wound up and ready. I know it’s going to kick my ass but I’m ready to get this boat moving. In Counseling Techniques we will learn how to communicate with the patients and make them feel comfortable. Basically we’ll be working on our bedside manner. Isn’t that cool? I know, you’ve read it already. Better enjoy these “I’m excited” posts because I’m sure they will be on the other end of the spectrum in just a few short weeks.

I decided to go back and put my thoughts from the beginning of the week within this post. I have always documented my feelings but I just started this blog yesterday. I really want the beginning of my whole med school journey to be on here. So here we go…

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

So I’m writing this from Boston. Yeah baby. I made it. It’s been a LONG month but at the end of this August, I find myself in an entirely new place. I’m not even going to get into all the things that went down to get here… it’s way too much to regurgitate. I’ll give you a light summary. I ended my time with the Centers for Disease Control. I moved out my apartment. I cried. I left KT back in Atlanta and we are still trying to figure out what we have going on. I’m still trying to figure out what to do with him and my feelings. Arg. Next… I’ve got a million people that I know are anxious to hear about what is going on with my life and I promise myself I will get in contact with them very soon. Anything else? Orientation is on Thursday and Friday and school starts on Tuesday.
I’m currently residing with my new aunties (LOL), Aunt L and Aunt H. They had my room set up really nice for me. Apparently they have some younger friends that they are going to get me in touch with. It would be nice to move into my own space or at least a younger space. I was told early on that the alarm is set downstairs when L comes up and there will be no going downstairs until the morning. Deal with them apples, huh? LOL. I was like wow. You know I can’t do this but so long. With that being said, I can’t stress how much I appreciate her hospitality and giving me somewhere to lay my rusty butt. Very sweet of her.
Ok, that is all I’m doing tonight. I’m going to watch Hilary at the Democratic Convention and then I’m going to bed. Going to go check out the city tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Day two… My first official day in Boston, Massachusetts. Not wanting to seem like a lazy young person, I woke up around 9 am despite my body’s calling to stay down between the sheets. I washed up and headed downstairs to find out that Ms. L had gone to aerobics class and Ms. H was watching CNN. Ms. H is a politics junky. I left her on the couch watching MSBC and when I came down she was still stuck to the television… just a new channel. I thought Emily watched a lot of news. I have learned more about the election in 24 hrs then I have in the past 8 months. LOL. Anyway. When Ms. L returned we went and picked up her grandson, J. J was going to take me around the city a little to make sure I don’t get lost tomorrow. Before I get into that. We are on our way out the door and Ms H turns to me and tells me I should get a sweater because of my cough and the wind outside. GET A WHAT???!!! Lord have mercy, when did Emily get here? I’m ok I promise. 75 degrees is warm enough for me to survive without a SWEATER. So we get in the car. L drives a Jaguar. You go girl. She starts driving and then realizes that she has H’s glasses on. They go to fussing bout each other’s glasses and putting them in the right spot and this and that. I could have sworn for a quick moment that I was in the car with Emily and Grace or Marian or Nell (pick a set of sisters, lol). So we go right up the street and pick up Jamal. I have to make a side note here. Folks here drive like 5 miles and say it was a long ride. I guess they are used to everything being within distance versus Atlanta, where EVERYTHING is spread out in a million directions. Anyway… we get J. J is 16 and on his way to his junior year in high school. He’s a pretty straight kid; just so happy being a kid. His birthday is in 13 days and he is so excited to be turning 17. He said when he turns 18 that he wants to throw a party at Jigga’s club in New York. He talked about prom and that he had gone already (said he had to impress some people). How cute!!!

First we went to Boston University Main Campus. I was under the impression that BU’s Med Campus would be in the vicinity of BU’s Main Campus. NOT!!! Different sides of town. So we went to one side, realized that I needed to be somewhere else and went to the other side. Baby, when I tell you momma’s feet hurt when we got back in this house. I was like Lord JESUS; get me some Epsom salt and some hot water cuz I need to soak my bunions. I have got to go find some sneakers this weekend. My mules ain’t gon make it otherwise. I’ll check out the shopping situation on Saturday. Tomorrow I’ve got to find me a CVS though. Auntie Flo will be visiting this weekend and we need to get her room ready. LOL. Maybe I’ll find one tomorrow in-between here and campus. So I’m typing this downstairs. I decided to come out my room because I’ve been hibernating up there since I arrived. L is at bible study. I would have gone but I’m a little leery. I’m Baptist born and raised. She is Church of Christ. WHAT!?! I don’t even know what that is. LOL. Moving beyond my own ignorance, I’m going next week and check it out. Matter of fact, I am pretty sure that I will be dragged to church on Sunday. I’ll give you the full assessment once I check it out. Back to the house… so what are we watching now, tennis. I tell ya. Old people watch the news, their favorite sport and religious shows. Anything else? NO! I need some junk. Can we watch some reality television? Flavor of Love reruns, anyone? Any who!
Last night Hilary spoke. In case I read this decades from now, I am talking about Hilary Rodham Clinton. She addressed the National Democratic Convention and I think she said all the right things. She stated that she supports Barack and that her supporters, if they were voting for the issues and not the person, should also vote for Obama. I thought it was a well put together speech. This is such an exciting time. I just know Obama is going to be the next president and baby… I’m thrilled. Tonight Bill speaks. Ok, let me stop using first names like I know these folks. I was referring to Bill Clinton or William to be precise. Tomorrow is the night though. Obama will speak and it’s on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have A Dream Speech. How appropriate!!!! That’s about it for today. I spoke with Aunt Grace and she seems to be good. I’m going to get on the phone now and talk to Em and probably Peggy. Tomorrow I need to call Elsie, Aunt Ingera, and Jonathan (it’ll be his birthday). Later.

Ok. I am sure that is enough to read for one day. Tomorrow I’m going shopping. Hooray!! That always makes me smile.

Day Three: Orientation

Another day and boy after this one, I AM TIRED. As soon as Barack Obama closes his mouth, I am going to close my eyes. While he is doing so I have to give my recap of the day. So I woke up like 15 minutes before my phone alarm went off. I thought to myself, I might as well get up even though you know I really didn’t want to. Oh well. So I go the bathroom to wash up. On my way out the door, Auntie H comes up the stairs and tells me that I need to get up now and get dressed. I’m in a towel; did you think I was going back to bed? Ok, sure. Be down in twenty. When I get downstairs I have a bowl of cereal and a banana waiting on me. These ladies are too sweet. I eat and H tells me she will walk me to the Mattapan Station. Ok. Sure. Let’s go. On the way out the door, I ask her if she wants me to turn off the television. She says she needs to do it because it is tricky and I might not be able to do it. Ok. I watched her simply walkover to the tube and push the POWER button. You’re right! I could have never been able to do that. LOL. Out the door we go. EVERY SINGLE TURN that we made, H turned around in the direction of the house and asked me to recite the directions to the house. Are you serious? I thought after the second turn I could tell her, I got this. No ma’am. Like a teacher waiting on an answer from a pupil, as expected after the next turn, H looked at me awaiting my response of how to get back home. Old people are so funny. So I get on the train, finally and make it to the school. Nothing interesting was in-between. People stared at their shoes, their books, their nails, anything but each other as we rode towards the city. I popped in my headphones and tried not to take it all in. I had to get off the train and transfer to the bus. While waiting on the bus, which comes every 20 minutes, I started texting my cronies at home. I miss those guys!!! While texting them love, I look down to greet a new friend: a pigeon. I wonder what bus he was waiting on? Moving on… I get to the school. When I got off the bus, one of the first things I saw was a sign that said BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. I had arrived. I surveyed the campus to see white coat city; four or five “short coats” tagging behind a “long coat”. This was it. I damn near burst in tears after taking two steps forward. I was filled with so much emotion. This is the beginning of my story… my medical biography. On my obituary, it’ll say that today I began my journey. It was really a great feeling and I know my words are inadequate.

Orientation was in one word: boring! That's all I can say about that! I am excited about the program though. Thank goodness.

The grounds are beautiful. The grass is crayon green and the flowers are full and plentiful. I wish I had my camera. I have got to start taking some pictures to tag along with all this typing. At the moment, I can’t even tell you where my camera is. With the moving and everything, it could be anywhere between 3 different places. I’ll look for it next week. In the mean time, I think I’m going to find me a CVS or something and get a disposable one to capture these precious moments. LOL. That’s about all that happened. When I got back to the house, H was frying pork chops. HOT DAMN!!! Shower. Smothered Pork chops. All that could make it better is a glass of wine. I think the house is dry though. I might get a beverage before I come back in tomorrow. The only other thing I can think to add to that list is SLEEP. On my way…

Oh, I forgot. We were sitting at the table eating dinner. First, I have to say I have no idea how these conversations start but they do. H made the comment that she needs to find a sugar daddy. I hear ya H!! Girl I’m looking to make my SO one. LOL. Just joking! I miss him by the way. I’m excited to see him next week. Hopefully I can get enough attention to last me for another month. Hohum! Ok. Night!