I have recently moved into a new neighborhood. Because of the wiring in the house we have yet to be connected to cable, phone, or even the life-giving intangible waters of wifi! I am a little put off by the delay in installation but not as much as you would suppose. You see, I love the outdoors.
-- As much as I am able I am outside watering the new to me grass. I am learning how to use the new to me lawn mower. And when all else fails I engage the last fruit of my womb, my precious Sarah Bear, in an artistic endeavour. We own a large container of something called sidewalk chalk. We have made murals, slogans, and drawings of animals of which people must be told their true identity. The artists of the world are safe when we take colors in hand.
My neighbors have noticed Sarah and I hard at work on easy humid summer evenings. The first time Rose, the lady of the house next door, spoke to me she brought about her own annoyance, bothering and tarnation. The family next door to us is Black. The family next door to us is educated. The family next door to us recently immigrated to this country. Their mother country is Kenya. I have been able to contain myself so they still believe that I am a nice lady.
I have yet to bug them, endlessly and effortlessly, with my Afrophile questions, romanticism, and admiration which lacks feet on the ground experience. I have been able to do as my granny dictated to me at least a million times. What did she try to beg, coax, bribe and even lightly beat me into doing? "Act like a lady for the Lawd's sake and fool somebody!" I'm trying so very hard granny but you know, I know, and everyone who can read knows that soon and very soon my doctor man of the house and medical technician/pharmacy student lady of the house will know the depths of my thirst for all things African.
They have a clue because I have decorated my short patio by using "African" drums as pedestals for my flower pots. So, one could say that they have been given fair warning because those drums are not exactly congruous with my light, high Mississippi accent. I am hoping with every fibre of my being that La Madame will ask why I have those drums. I have even tried to tempt her curiousity by moving them into a more prominent position. She has yet to rise (or lower) to the occasion and notice.
I pray to God that winter begins early and I will be less inclined to be outdoors. Until then, I'll be hard at work trying to win the Oscar in my role as "Lady."
"Kenya, oh Kenya. Why have you come so close to the pestering of this busy honey bee by uttering the name of your Motherland?" said Lady Staples. It is scene one, curtains have opened and we have yet to know if it will be a drama, comedy, heart warming, tear wrenching cinema verite or all of the above.
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