SEPTEMBER
WEEK 80 Thu 1 - Wed 7
WEEK 81 Thu 8 - Wed 14
WEEK 82 Thu 15- Wed 21
WEEK 83 Thu 22 -Wed 28
OCTOBER
WEEK 84 Thu29- OCT 6
Uh... if you can't remember what happened in PART 1-
Click here WEEK 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 AND BITS AND PIECES... PART 1
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A DELIGHTFUL DAY
And so I continue with my bits and pieces of my last weeks in the United States. Where
should I begin this time? Ah, yes... that unforgettable Sunday when I got up and while having
my morning coffee I decided to put on a positive attitude and make the most of the day.
Hence, I got dressed, went to church, and afterward I enjoyed a nice lunch by myself at Chen's
garden....
Now, while enjoying my fried rice and mongolian chicken, I made plans for the rest of the day.
On my mental list stopping at Veronica's (my niece) to drop off the laundry-softener scented
bed sheets, conforters and pillows that I had wanted to hand down to her for the past week,
was a priority.
I was done eating. I was done planning. It was fortune cookie time. I wondered what my fate
would be as I cracked the stale cookie ( I don't know about yours, but mine always taste
stale) with my hands. Ah, unlike the last time I ate here, it was not empty. How exciting.
The little strip of paper read- "You are about to have a most delightful day". Sweet!
After lunch I headed home. I worked a little on my book, talked to Pepe, and as planned
packed my car with baskets full of bedclothes. So far so good. But then it took me forever
to get to Buford. Was everyone going to the mall? Oh, I know! It was that time of the year.
"Endless shrimp" at Red Lobster for sure was causing this traffic. Anyway, I was almost at
the apartment when I received a text from Sherry, my video clerk, informing me that she
couldn't go in to work that afternoon. Great. I had to stop the car and call my other clerks
to see who could cover the department. Ring... no answer... Ring... voice-mail... Ring...
voice-mail... Ring... Aha! Ken picked up! A sigh of relief followed his acceptance to work
Sherry's shift. Good. I wouldn't have to change my plans!
Two minutes later I was by the gates at Veronica's apartment complex. But before I could
reach my cell phone and call her for the entry code... I heard the bzz, bzz, of a text message
coming through. I read. Basically, she asked me to return another day. Her son was in the
middle of a "break up" crisis and it wasn't a good moment. After exchanging several messages
of concern with my niece, I sat there in the car dumbfounded. I turned and looked at the
bedclothes. Then I turned around and headed home with my laundry-softener scented sheets
and pillows.
Somewhere between Braselton Hwy and Hamilton Road loneliness creeped in my soul. I didn't
want to go home. Maybe I should eat dinner around the area. Maybe I should go to the
movies. I did both.
First I stopped at Moe's. I planed to eat my beef taco along with every single chip that comes
with it, and wash it down with a diet Coke. I sat there eating and looking at the framed
artwork. All singers. All dead. I made the decision of not returning to Moe's EVER. Not
because of the depressing artwork hanging on the walls. No. Not because of the food. No.
I like the food, but... I came to this conclusion: I hate their music selection. And here I
was biting into my taco with The Doors', "Light My Fire" song at full volume...
"You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn't get much higher
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fiiiiiiire"
(Now, try to imagine the creepy psychedelic organ music in between verses)
Let me tell you, by the end of that song I was ready to set Moe's on fire. But I didn't
have a lighter, so instead I went to Great Escapes and got a ticket to see The Help. And that
I enjoyed very, very much. Too bad it had to end.
It was midnight and I didn't want to go home. But I don't do bars. Not yet. So- as I drove
down the dark road to my house, I thought about that fortune cookie at Chen's Garden.
"You are about to have a most delightful day". Then, BAAAAM!! I hit the brakes
causing the neatly folded bedclothes to fly everywhere in the car. I said to myself, stupid
possum in the middle of the road! I certainly won't miss your kind in Spain!! The headlight-
struck critter slowly made it's way to the brush, and I had a good laugh, I guess out of relief,
on that lonely road. Definitely, the movie was the only "delightful" thing out of the whole day.
I continued with my drive.
I turned on the radio and heard, "Try to set the night on fiiiiiiire".
I cringed and turned off the radio like there was not tomorrow. I thought, yes, yes, yes,
The Help was the most delightful part of that day.
*************************
The Walk Thru
Finally, September 9th rolled around. At 8:30 A.M. I was parked in front of Mayra's house
patiently waiting on Bubba to do the walk thru with me.
After twenty minutes I knew he wasn't showing up. I called him. He said he couldn't
make it. He needed to take his daughter to a Doctor's appointment. To my amusement,
he added, "Earlier I sent a text message to Raul to let him know I couldn't make it".
I thought, you are so funny Bubba... Raul is in Spain... there is a six hour difference...
he can't call me once he is working and you know that... and why on earth didn't you
call me? I AM THE ONE IN THE U.S. DEALING WITH THE WALK THRU!!! DUH!!!
And you expect me to believe the Doctor's appointment? Sure. Nevertheless, calmly I
said, "Just let me know what time then is convenient for you." He said six
thirty that afternoon. I agreed.
Well, I didn't go in to work until ten. Might as well go to Mc Donald's and have some
breakfast. I drove over there. I go in. I drink my coffee and eat my Egg Mc Muffin.
I go out the door. I see Bubba's truck in the drive- thru line. My jaw drops. I thought,
you son of a gun (actually something else).
I got in my car and drove around the line to confirm I wasn't seeing things. I stopped
my car right next to his red pick-up truck and stared right in the cabin. Yeap. It was him.
He saw me and put a "S**t, I've been caught" look. I shook my head and drove off to
work while imagining myself having a baseball bat and bashing it into his red pick- up truck...
many... many times.
That afternoon... At six thirty ONE he shows up at the house. What happened was
unbelievable. Folks, what you are about to see is what Bubba called, "NORMAL WEAR
AND TEAR" to a house that was rented to him and Mrs. Bubba, in pristine conditions.
Lovely, isn't it?
Plus, there was a damaged wall... and torn laundry room floor... and scratched floors... and
who knows what plastered in the walk-in closet's carpet...
Well, Bubba wanted me to sign a paper stating that he was released of all obligations, and
that $500.00 (His deposit- which he never paid infull!) be discounted from what he owed
to Georgia Power... which was now up to $639.00!!
What do you think I said?
You are right!
I dindn't say anything- I laughed.
But afterward I told him what I thought of his proposal.
The walk thru papers were not signed
and he stormed off not turning in the keys!
See if I care, Bubba!
I changed the locks.
*****************************
AMONGST THE CHAOS
Amongst the chaos, I searched for a sign that all would be well.
I stepped outside my daughter's house to see what once was the garden.
All was dry, except for one small bush.
In a dry dessert a delicate Rose of Sharon bloomed.
Amongst the chaos, I found my sign.
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