December 14, 2001---Days of the Demons

For the luck of a duck, I don’t know why I can’t get on a smooth pathway, and stay there.  Since September 11, which was the day the Taliban terrorists attacked the United States (by crashing 2 passenger planes into the World Trade Building in New York), there has been a downward spiral in and around my life.   At the risk of sounding like a whiner I will just list the tragic events chronologically that have occurred since my last entry.

 ARE YOU READY?   Here goes.....

November 10, 2001- Tried to sleep, but I couldn’t (after 60 oz of coffee).  So I           went to get my driver’s license replaced (that was stolen                                            with my purse last month), to the Beauty Shop to get my                                            hair done, then back to my apartment to start a marathon                                        packing (in the dark).

 After, approximately, 10 hours, I decided to take a short                                              break by going to Wal-Mart to get more boxes.  Mid-way                                             through the store I started to get that old  feeling ...myheart…it  was palpitating rapidly, and I was getting out of breath and woozy.  “No, God, not now.”   Yes,

now. Tried to make it to my car thinking I just needed sleep.                                      I ended up in Florida hospital.  HEART FAILURE.  My                                                     potassium was dangerously low.  I hadn’t taken any of my                                         meds.    So they kept me over night, feeding me mega-doses of                                     Potassium medication and my other heart meds.

The young man who came to my rescue in the parking lot

was a young Marine of Cambodian descent.  Wow! Was he                                         great.Tried to make me say his name to keep me awake.

I wish I could remember it, now.

Thank God, for good friends, Joan Recio and Lena Dottin, my                                     dear Florida friends, who came to my rescue and made the                                         next few days of moving easier.

 

 I got to hear my old choir “the Messiah Chorale” practice,                                         and was surprised to see my name still reserved a seat in the                                     soprano section.

November 12, 2001 - Okay, I’m all better, and packedd, the movers are on their       way, but suddenly my cell phone doesn’t work.  Bank                                                    electronic payment problem.  So I’m rushing to ATT                                                        wireless to pay the bill before the movers arrive.  I get back                                        the same  time they arrive (whew!).  Move complete.                                                     Everything in movers van to store, then they present me                                                with a bill that is double the “written” quote.  (Here Come                                          the Rain, Again).   After haggling with the manager by                                                telephone,  I got them to lower the price to a medium                                                    range.  Then,  I was off to DC.  This time I made it my                                                    business to stop over night at a motel.   I   had timed it so I                                            would be able to see a Michael Jackson  special ---but ---                                             curses---their TV did not get the station broadcast.                                                      Luckily, I had my 2 ½ “ portable Casio.  Next day I drove to                                         work, without incident.  Now to prepare for my trip to                                                 Chicago for Thanksgiving with my girls, and to attend my                                         grandson’s christening on November 25, 2001.

November 21, 2001 - After being robbed and undergoing the turmoil that                followed due to delayed mail via the “Anthrax” scare, heart trouble, moving scam---things can only get better.

I got a cheap fare via Southwest Airlines to Chicago.                                                      Flight leaves Baltimore BWI airport 7:10 am EST, to arrive in Chicago 8:30 am CST.  “Arrive 2 hours before flight time” were the instructions from the                  airline reservationists.  I’m in the shower around 12:00am.                                          My intention was to shower, sleep, drive, fly.  While I was                                          in the shower, I got another call from my daughter,                                                     Ayanna.  (I had just gotten off the phone with Ayanna).                                               My roommate stated it was an emergency (Yeah, right!).  I                                         got out of the shower, and snappily answered the                                                         telephone, “Ayanna, what is it?”  “Grandma just called                                                 (instantly, I braced myself).  Marcus (my 11 year old                                                     nephew) was killed by a hit and run driver of an                                                             automobile.  Silence, sigh, sadness, and sickness every                                                 negative emotion over came me.  I had never seen Marcus                                             in person.  When my sister left Chicago for Tennessee and                                             California, it was all telephone calls and pictures.   This                                                 was the being of the end.  

I didn’t sleep much, got turned around on my way to the                                             airport, but I made it in plenty of time.  However due to the                                         extremely crowded situation at the airport, and the fact                                             that I had a pair of manicure scissors and pepper-spray in                                         my purse, I was held up and missed my flight.  I arrived                                             into Chicago at 12:00.  My baby brother, Lamont, met me.                                          We had already planned our trips to Sacramento, Ca. for                                             Marcus’ funeral and to console my sister Yvette and her                                             daughters, Simone and Shakira.

  The Thanksgiving Holiday was pleasurable, though tiring,                                         since I was cooking and cleaning, for Ayanna, whose time                                         was monopolized by my gorgeous and brilliant 2-month-old                                         grandson, Duane Jr. (DJ).  My ex-husband showed up for                                             dinner to my utter surprise and dismay.  My daughter                                                 knew this, but I forgave them.  DJ’s christening was                                                     spirit-lifting, and I got lots of videotape.  The lovely holiday                                         ended.  I returned to the Base for one day to advise my                                                 superiors of my funeral leave.  Then I headed to California.                                         The airports warned that certain people would be selected                                         randomly for security checks.  I made the selection at every                                         point.  (I should have this kind of luck when I play the                                                 lottery).

<>
<>November 28, 2001 -December 2,2001  -   The four days I spent in          Sacramento, California was more  dismal than the whether.  Marcus,was a well-liked, and popular young man.  It was my loss not to have met him in              person.  My sister stated that for his Christmas present he                                           wanted to go to Chicago to meet his grandmother, aunt,                                               uncle, and cousins.   Marcus was our angel.  I hope he                                                   enjoys seeing us from his heavenly realm.

The television and radio stations, and newspapers were                                               bombarding my sister all day.  The California Highway                                               Patrol finally caught the evil man that left Marcus for                                                   dead.  The story can be read here NEWS 10  also                                          KRACHANNEL.   I try to keep in contact with her several                                              times a week.  It’s difficult to talk about.  I know she is                                                  feeling a deep hurt, daily.

December 4-5th and  11-13th - In travel status attending Tax Seminarrs for my     job.  Airport checks are getting old,  now.  This travel would be uneventful, except for the fact that my dear Air Force military clericals did not process         my request for travel advances and the government credit                                         card properly, so my travel expenses are in the red.   Some                                         days my heart starts to palpitate and I get winded easily.                                          I’m definitely getting a full medical work-up very soon.  I                                             hope I can stay on the job until this assignment ends (May,                                         2002).

Today -      The condominium complex towers, for not having a parking                                     sticker, towed my car.  I was NOT parked in a hang-tag spot.   It took                     the better part of the day to get my car back, as well as $125.00.  I                         called the lady from whom I am boarding a room.  She said she would                     look into it.

RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO GO HOME!!-TO FLORIDA.  I WANT TO SIT AT HOME ALL DAY WATCHING SOAP OPERAS AND PLAYING MY ORGAN.  I SO WISH TO SIT AND PLAY CHRISTMAS SONGS AFTER A LONG WORK DAY.  I WANT A

LITTLE SHACK BY THE BEACH WITH HOLES IN THE FLOOR, SO I CAN WATCH THE SAND CRABS CRAWL UNDER MY HOUSE.  I MISS MY COMFY LOVESEAT, AND MY STEREO ( TO PLAY MY JOHNNY MATHIS ALBUMS).  THE SIMPLE

LIFE IS THE LIFE!!!

    Tomorrow night is the Grand Christmas Ball for the Air force personnel.  I got my invitation weeks ago, but due to the state of things I did not get my RSVP back in time.  The Major that is in charge of the tickets said there are no more tickets.   I really, really wanted to go.  I brought my fur coat and formal from Florida especially for this occasion so-O-O the question become “ to CRASH, or not to CRASH”.  With my luck of lately, I’d better not chance it.  Or maybe, I will.  We’ll see---