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I was sitting at the bus stop last night waiting to return to my abode when I was approached by a friendly painter. I knew he was a painter because he had on all white. He started talking before he got to the bench and never stopped. He reminded me of my brother who is 5 yrs older than me. We shook hands and soon found that we had Louisiana ties. He was raised in Louisiana. His grandfather was a “dirt farmer†down on the bayou. His grandfather’s home had been destroyed by Rita. Ann soon joined us, she smiled when Tom said, “I’m Tom. Man you smell good!â€
We talked about being poor (they assumed I’m poor because I was at the bus stop) and how God always takes care of us. Ann is very religious, but in a gentle caring sort of way. She talked about how our lives are supposed to be all about helping and caring for others. Tom’s cheerful demeanor weakened a bit. He said, “I can’t help nobody. I don’t have anything. I’m not complaining, but I’ve never had anything. When I eat at the shelters my friends complain about the food and I tell them that they need to be happy that God has provided for them. I like the food there, but I can’t help nobody.â€
Ann confidently declared, “Yes you do. Think about it.†After a couple of seconds of silence, Tom smiled and said, “There’s an old fellow at the assisted care facility where I work that I give three cigarettes to every morning. He don’t have nobody to get him cigarettes.â€
“That’s your blessing! That’s how you share God’s blessings. Spreading your blessings. Yeah, I knew you did†said Ann. I tried not to ponder the theological implications of describing handing out cigarettes as “sharing your blessings.†Later, Tom and I shared a smile as someone on the bus “borrowed†a cigarette from him.
Tom asked about the source of some spotlights and I told him it was the theatre. He said, “I’m going to the movies tomorrow!†“You know, I haven’t seen a movie in 25, no 30 years!†I couldn’t help but play along with him like I had done with my brother so many times.
“You’re kidding me Tom. You haven’t seen a movie in 30 years?â€
“No, man I haven’t seen a movie in a theater since I was a kid.â€
“No way. You didn’t see Jaws in the theater?â€
“No. I don’t remember the last time I saw a movie.â€
“Come on. You never took a date to see a movie?
“No. I come from a really small town.â€
“You didn’t see Herbie and the Disney stuff at the movies?â€
“No.
“You didn’t see the Exorcist or Stripes or Star Wars at the theater?â€
“No, man. None of those.â€
“Never saw a movie.â€
“Not in 30 years.â€
“Not one.â€
“Not one.â€
“Let’s go tomorrow. I’ll go with you.â€
“OK, man I’ll get up early so that I can get my eight in and we’ll go.â€
I can’t wait to see a movie with Tom today. I hope he shows up. This is so out of character for me, but everything I do is so out of character right now that I’m up for anything that will take the boredom away at night.
The experience that I had there with Tom and Ann was somehow the closest to communion that I’ve had in a while. We shared, we laughed, we encouraged each other. We talked about God and life, idiots with their pants halfway down, greens and cornbread, and old people. We talked about how God has taken care of us and how much fun it is to share our blessings.
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My friends stopped in on their way to New Orleans yesterday. It was a huge deal to me because I haven’t seen a close friend in a while. It cost them several hours of travel time so I was very excited. We walked around the Vandy campus and Scarritt Bennett. They had ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s. It was so great to get a hug and share with friends!
It seems that some of those who came to rescue New Orleans have taken all of the Bourbon Street street signs!