I am So Blessed !!
There isn’t a tree around me that is older than 5 years…everything here is planned and planted…the buildings all perfect and new, the roads wide and straight…no trash in the streets..perfect little neighborhood with perfect little people walking around…it sucks….mostly.
I went back a few weeks ago, quick trip to Lowell, and God is was good to see some trash in the streets, not just talking about people either. Went to Marketbasket…it still sucks, same annoying voice on the PA “Two fa one loaves of won-daa bread here today stretch yur dollaa and save…and only today special on caarvelle ice cream cakes too” …same shitty lighting down there too…Christ you think its bright enough?? Does anyone look good in that place?? Everyone looks like there on Chemo …everyone as pale as the produce section….I can’t believe I miss the place.
Anyway . Its was great to be back…didn’t get chance to see a lot of people, quick trip but good to get the hell out of Pleasantville for a while.
Not that Pleasantville is without diversity…No its actually factored in out here…planed and planted just like the trees. Out here too, every apartment complex has a certain amount of units that are “Section 8”…reserved for low income folks….i mean hell they deserve a piece of paradise too right?? Anyway I’m surrounded by them on all sides and seriously, have no problem with it at all….not really.
The lady right next to me, you walk out my door and your looking into hers, she is about 50 years old…Big lady, two kids and she takes care of her mother who has Alzheimer’s disease, another big lady…I mean they both would have to hire a tent maker for a pair of custom made panties….anyway the landlord told me all about her before I moved in…said she was a “sweetheart”
Only a couple days in and I met her…her name is Ashanti..”Hey you” I hear through my screen door. I introduced my self, shook her hand and said “how are you” and she started in..
”Ohh I’m blessed, I am so blessed….yes the lord dun shine his love and good graces down upon me and mine and we are blessed…iz a Christian women ya see”. . .”Yes” I said. “My mom lives with us and she got a case of the gout you know, and poor thing she ain’t right in the head…she got da…you know..dat can’t get right in da head disease poor thing”. “Alzheimer” I said. “Yes, that be what it is…but trust me da lord is taking care of us. ummm hmmm.”
Just then her mom came around the corner…the exact same women only 20 or so years older….”dis my mama” Ashanti said. “Hi” I said , how are you?” “I is Blessed” she chimed back…same voice but twenty or so years older…Da lord dun taking care of me and mine and da kingdom of da Lord awaits me…sure as I stand here” “That’s great” I said…”good for you” “Now moma” Ashanti said “ you go in and rest iz be right in” I could hear the TV as she went through the door…loony tunes was on…perfect I thought…
What followed…i swear was a verbal assault….Ashanti started in on all the problems she was having with her family, her son, her childrens…it was endless. “I’z had a stroke a couple years ago and since den been hard Mike you know…and my no count husband..hell he comes around only when he wants me to back dis thang up” and she hit herself on her ass…I’m serious. I was in shock…I got a visual…i mean when this woman walks it looks like two elephants fighting under a blanket…..Back that up, Christ you would need a permit, and have to roll her in flour. ”I’m sorry” I said…
“Anyway” she continued, “I wuz wondering if yuz be kind enough to give me a ride to da bank…good God its so hot out dare today…and then to the grocery store…gots to pick up a few things”
Just then my nephew Jordan came in…Thank God.
“I can’t” I said “but Jordan, can you give Ashnati I ride to the bank and the grocery story real quick”
“Sure” he said as she introduced herself. He was stoned so I thought this would be perfect.
Poor kid was gone for two hours..and when he came back she had bought him a watermelon, the size of a baseball…no shit, and a box of Jiffy Corn Bread for his trouble…When I first saw the watermelon I thought it was her moms medication in the form of suppository….nope it was a watermelon…Jordan scooped out about one table spoon of fruit..
After the initial excursion at least twice a week she asks for a ride….I have to try and sneak out I swear or its “hey you”
I keep telling her I have to get to work, I’m busy….couple of times she got Stinch when I wasn’t around to drive her big ass….
But that all ended on Saturday night last week…when in Pleasantville of all places, someone stole my car…right out in front of the place….bummer but I can walk to work, and was selling the car anyway…
It was probably that useless husband of hers after stoppin by for “sum of dat ass”…or “dat no count teenager” son she told me bout…who knows to be fair…might have been some Irish Leprecon who was bounding through Pleasantville..But I tell ya now not having wheels and not having to shut her down…well honestly…..
I’m feeling blessed.
You are seeing the bright side of things.
Mr. Mike … you IS so blessed!
Really? She bugged you for a ride every day? Wow, that sucks. I can see how that would get annoying pretty quick. I appreciate the neighborly, “could you help a guy down on his luck” thing now and again, but it sucks when people start to take advantage to the point where they “wait” for you to come around.
Unfortunately, you shouldn’t have offered the first ride (even by another). But that’s all hind site. You can’t always tell when someone will take advantage.
Still, like you said. She has no reason now. Why can’t she just get her own ride? I’m not saying she has to buy something brand new. Just about anybody can get their hands on a beater. But then again, after getting my car stolen, I can see not wanting to get another one.
What are you going to do now? Are you going to replace your ride, or can you live without it? Still, it sucks to have some scum bag steal from you – even if its something you didn’t want anyway.