Last Thursday, the spectrum of topics ranged from Brenda's detailed observations of a wasp in a car to Loretta's struggles with homelessness, to Hazel meeting Muhammed Ali and thinking that he was handsome (hehe, oh yeah there was plenty of uncensored verbal commentary there…), to Beatrice saying about our program: This is the beginning, not the end.
During class, depending on their mood, not all the seniors write, some listen. But everyone joins in for iphone pics and videos, discussions and snacks. As individuals their voices blow my mind, but together their voices (and listening ears) rock my world.
And so – this makes for an unfashionably long blog post I know, and I am sorry because long things are not “in” or cool these days… but I swear to you, I’ve gotta show you the whole batch of stories just once, just so you know how it feels to be sitting at our story table. The craziest part is how simple the equation is. 1 hour X 1 table.
Beatrice Newkirk
9.13.2012
Doing What I Like Best
I like and love coming to the writing class. We have people from different races. We learn and hear their stories. We are of different neighborhoods.
We live in different parts of this city. Thursdays of every week at 1 o’clock to 2 we are here. There are lots of things we can write about. There are stories we never heard before. When we hear them, it is like I heard it before. We have come a long ways. This is the beginning, not the end. Coming here together is a joyful thing.
There is so much we have not heard.
Michael Chan Man-Tin
9.13.2012
Very Happy
I am very happy to rejoin again after a long summer holiday. I hope all of us had a nice holiday and enjoyed the happiness spent with family members too. Best wishes and happy holidays for members of our families!
Loretta Gaither
9.13.2012
My Livelihood
I am an advising counselor at the senior center. We had a meeting today, and I am on the advising board. I am still awaiting to find what position I want to have. I am very proud of myself.
I am still in the process of moving and finding a place to move to. God is on my side, and I won't stop until I get things straightened out. I cannot be taken advantage of, even if I am 70 years old. I have roommates who don't appreciate staff going through my belongings. My roommates are in need of assistance, and I help them with everything.
I am going to get my GED. I am not finished with trying to get where I need to be. I am fighting for my social security. I don't feel it is fair that the city is doing/treating people wrong. For instance, I was the person who exposed the city council people to the news for the drunk driving incident over the weekend.
I'm tired because I feel the city is taking advantage of me and my livelihood. I am fed up because I only get 2, not 3, meals a day. The only thing I got to spend out of my check is $100/mo. How can someone live off that? I just want my livelihood back. I want a home. I don't know how long it will take?
My psychiatrist, not my personal physician, tells me that I'm crazy, to take my money. If anything happens to me, I want someone to go to investigate.
Besides everything, this class is an inspiration for me. God Bless.
Sincerely yours,
Loretta Gaither
Hazel Nurse
9.13.2012
A Humanitarian
As Muhammad Ali accepts the prestigious Liberty Medal tonight from the National Constitution Center, let’s roll back the years.
On invitation from our principal, at the Huey School possibly in the early seventies, Muhammad Ali appeared at my classroom. He faced a line of about forty eight and nine year olds and proceeded to lift each child into the air, give a big hug and words of encouragement.
What an honor it was to greet this world famous Olympic Medal Winner, Heavy Weight Boxing Champion, but most of all, a fighter for religious and civil rights.
Joe Garrison
9.13.2012
Celebrity
I met my first radio personality when I was 6 years old, believe it or not. She was a lady who did a morning show weekdays from 9 to 9:30 right after the wake up show on KVW. Her name was Ruth Wells. She used to give home-making advice: home decorating, ways to save money on food shopping, every day she would talk about a few days. I guess you could say she was the Martha Stewart of her day, but she was local. I believe this took place in 1948 – I was in 1st grade and Ms. Wells came to visit. After she read us a Christmas story, we sang a few Christmas songs and had refreshments. She was a guest to our class. I was in awe. I was in the same room as a local celebrity?! I was star struck. She sounded just the way she did in person as she did on air. I met other local celebrities after that but Ms. Wells was my first. I never forgot her. I felt special that I had something to brag about to my friends in other classes and to my family.
Isadora Fields
9.13.2012
The Best Day of My Life So Far
The best day of my life so far is today. This sun is shining brightly. I had a rough time getting here today. There was an accident and the bus was detoured. I had to walk back several blocks. I really got my exercise today.
Henrietta Faust
9.13.2012
Sweeter! That’s My Battle Plan
To be sweet, and get sweeter and sweeter day by day!
Sweeter and sweeter day by day! Hey!
I am sweeter and sweeter, I’m talkin’ sticky syrupy sweeter no matter what.
It’s my cure for insanity, I’m believing it baby!
I’m a shelter for the truth!
Spending my life crossing people at the church and the steeple!
I will be sweeter.
That’s my battle plan! Sweeter and sweeter!
I know, I love this!
Henrietta Faust
9.13.2012
His Image on Earth
Healing is an everyday thing.
That was close
To hate his image I almost was provide
It was so fast, I almost sinned by last
And I would’ve been out of the game.
And the game would’ve been over!
If I had fallen for the trick and game would’ve been over
And I would have failed the test of temptation
So I glorify God
I praise God for stopping strong illusions
And I passed a test
One’s own belief and hunger test
And you can’t live by bread alone
Only God’s image I must not hate.
But I almost hated God’s image on earth
Do not hate God’s Image on Earth
Be careful not to hate God’s people on earth.
Greta Adams
9.13.2012
I’m Glad God Made Me
This is something I read somewhere that I would like to quote and share:
I accept the fact that God made me. I am therefore my desire, continuously to seek His will, to walk in His way, to glorify Him both night and day. Even when life’s lessons cause me to endure moments of disappointment, I yet know for sure that God has a plan, heavenly designed and because of this, I can always find joy! And an eagerness to wait and see just how He will work things out for me!
Time and time again like He said He would, He has worked “all things” together for my good.
Glory, Hallelujah, my heart doth sing. I would rather have Jesus than anything.
Brenda Scantelbury
9.13.2012
The Bug Who Cried Out Loud
One evening as I and some of my friends got into their van, we saw a large sized (something) insect on the dashboard. We didn’t quite know what it was, but at closer inspection we thought it maybe be a wasp. When we closed the doors, windows and the air conditioning was turned on; the something started moving and trying to use its wings. One of the friends opened the van door on the driver’s side and I opened the door next to where I was sitting. The winged creature tried to rise up and all of us either ducked down or attempted to leave the van! The friend who was in the driver’s seat grabbed a newspaper and tried to get it out of the van and when that happened, we had a large sound that sounded like a screech. We all gasped, screamed and burst out with laughter at ourselves, how we behaved. I had never in my heard such a thing. I had heard recently that everything has a voice, well that insect or wasp, whatever it was – screeched as to say: Leave me alone. I came into this van just like you; to get out of the rain!