Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The night before thanksgiving

pictures from

The winds are brutal and unrelenting. They whip at my body with malicious glee, reminding me that I have to go through this gruelling journey everyday, twice a day. And at this time, everyday as I await the bus to take me home, I go through all the things that I find unsatisfactory with my life. I list all the things that I wish would end and all the things I would do, if given the chance. I look for all the things that aren't there and tell myself, "any day now, God please, any day now"


Then by happenstance, someone will come to stand by me. By the looks of them, he or she is also waiting. But not for the same thing. They are waiting for me and all others to leave. We are in their way. We are in the place where they call home. This uninsulated shed with a broken bench, pooly lit and inusfficiently sheltered. We are in the place where tonight, and most likely every other night, they will call bed.


We don't meet each other's eyes. I am a bit ashamed of my ingratitude but unrelenting in my ambitions. I can do better than I am now and I want the chance to do so. Yet, I know in that moment that I could be in so much more worse a situation.
It's okay though. For now, the wait ends and I continue on my way. I am paying my dues so that what comes next is much more appreciated and every action from now on must be done to ensure that it does not bring to another, difficulty and unneccessary strife.
For the ride home, I try to remember: Cat, dear, be grateful.

18 comments:

Nefertiti said...

I like!

Yeah lots of homeless people in the harsh cold. Some of us are complaining about gas prices, while some seek something basic like shelter. May God help us all.

Ms Sula said...

As long as in that moment, one remembers to be grateful, life can keep going on.

Good write up, and I am thankful for it!

Unknown said...

Hmmm...food for thought.

Jennifer A. said...

I love this. One man's poison is another man's food. But what struck me most about this post, t'was the fact that it all happened "the night before thanksgiving."

How ironic.

Lovely post!

Jennifer A. said...

Pls permit me to feature this...I'd like to share...

Anonymous said...

well said! You and me both.

Gia Shakur said...

Put a plate in sumone's handz!!!

ShonaVixen said...

i love this hon!!!

miz-cynic said...

D irony of life!

Anonymous said...

There are people even worse off then that person. C'est la vie.

guerreiranigeriana said...

...nice...wow its been a long time and i've missed your writings...

bArOquE said...

it can get worse than you can even think about...lets be grateful to Baba God

deola said...

Wow! This is good.

atticus said...

sometimes i too, am reminded to be grateful. by scenes like those in that shed.

Miss Definitely Maybe said...

true
we should be more grateful
but longing for something u do not have doesnt mean you are ungrateful for what you do have,
its okay to want more
without losing sight that we are blessed in many ways.

Tinu said...

thats life for u!!

lovely!

Emeka Amakeze said...

For this to happen a night before thanksgiving is one of those ways we really do not understand, that life uses to teach us that there is always a reason to always be thankful to God.

ablackjamesbond said...

There is always a reason to be thankful to God. Thanks for sharing.