Journey 5: Week 3 Richmond, VA/ and Week 1 NY

Merry meet friends!

Michelle here, bringing lots of love and light!

When Octavia, Julia and I left Greensboro last Sunday, we had gone about 40 miles when Octavia’s car said there was no gas miles left.  Octavia began to panic; she had never run out of gas before.  I, on the other hand, have.  I rolled into the station once and it cut off directly in front of the gas tank.  She has Triple A but was concerned about the length of time it might take.  Anyway, we were looking for signs at exits that said gas and we didn’t see any until we were pass the exit.  When we saw the airport sign, Octavia said she knew gas would be there.  We got off on the exit and the sign said Valero in 0.8 miles but not necessarily which way. 

We took the left and as we continued to ride, the car made that sound it makes when it’s running out of gas.  Octavia stepped on the gas and I told her to ease up a little and let it kind of coast.  Julia said she would get out and push if needed and I laid hands on the dash and prayed.  Octavia was sweating bullets and her stomach started churning.  We pulled into the station and she thought it was closed.  I told her that I didn’t think it was, because I’ve never known Valero to close on Sundays, but some stations let you pump with a credit card even if they’re closed.  She put the credit card in and voila it worked.  I walked to the door and it was open.  Octavia was so flustered that she pumped regular instead of the higher octane.  I told her to stop pumping and start again with what she wanted.  She finally calmed down and we resumed the trip.  It was funny afterwards. 

The night before I left for Earthaven, Octavia took me to dinner at a restaurant called Vanquish.  When we walked in, the hostess asked us to register our names for a gift certificate.  It was dinner for two with a value up to $100 and had to be used by the end of June.  I thought I would be in Earthaven for five months, so I decided not to register but Octavia said to do it and give it to her if I won.  Well, I won and gave it to her.  Since I was in Richmond, on Thursday we decided to use it.  Her daughter, Carmen was in town and friends of hers were sponsoring an event that night as well.  It was called Stix and Stilettos and we, along with another friend of Carmen’s were invited.  None of us smoke cigars or cigarettes but we do wear stilettos.  I love to see young people following their passions.

We decided to order hor d’oeuvres in order for all of us to eat.  Carmen ordered an Asian BBQ sandwich and crab dip, Octavia ordered prawns and lamb and I ordered oysters.  The oysters had a roumalade sauce on the bottom of the plate, a slice of watermelon, honey dew pieces and a sauce in a shot glass to dip.  It was pretty and delicious.  I should have taken a picture.  The total for all of that was $46.  I was already full but we wanted to use the full value.  You should have seen us trying to get to $100!  Octavia and I ordered salads and I couldn’t even eat mine.  We only totaled around $64 after that.  We decided to order entrees to go and finally we hit $99 and some change.  It was hilarious.

On Tuesday evening I picked up the car.  Yay, no more losing water, $600 later!  Even though I knew my son, Jason, would be coming to Richmond, I thought it would probably be mid-July.  I decided that I would take a short trip somewhere; maybe visit my friend Amanda’s farm and learn more about natural living.  Before that could happen I received a call from Jason asking me to drive the car to NY to help him pack.  He was feeling overwhelmed because he waited until that week to do anything. (I wonder from whom he gets that?, hmmm)  He also wanted to use the car to pack it with items coming to Richmond.   So yet another example of why Spirit had me in Richmond.  Had I visited Amanda, I would have had to come back to Richmond to unload my things and then travel to NY.

On Friday I began the process of unloading the car.  These are the items: laundry detergent, a box of scarves and shawls, a small box of containing scissors and household items, 2 small boxes of CD’s, a boxed mini CD and radio system, yoga mat, portable chair, winter coat, 2 jackets, 2 pairs of sneakers, riding boots, rain boots, a pair of flannel boots, a box of stationary, stamps and journal, a small suitcase containing jewelry, an electric digital hot plate with a frying pan, a mesh bag for laundry, and a duffel bag.  Did I mention that was just the trunk?  In the back seat, I had a large suitcase, a smaller one that I added for the immersion, a tote for the computer and books, another tote for extra personal items and my travel tote for personal items.  Whew, Lawd!  It’s exhausting just to write.  Surprisingly enough, it only took 45 minutes to unload.

While unloading I began to think of long ago Gypsies and their nomadic lifestyles.  Gypsies traveled with all of their worldly possessions in a horse drawn mini house; a precursor, if you will, to RV’s.  The speed of the horses allowed them time to appreciate the landscape; they were out in the air, slept in their wagons, cooked outside, used the woods for personal needs and washed in creeks, rivers or streams.  They used old clothes to remake them into something new.  I saw a lot of that creativity at Earthaven.  Everything they carried with them was essential to their wellbeing. 

I started thinking how maybe what I considered essential really wasn’t.  Then I thought a bit deeper.  Was I really so different from female Gypsies?  They traveled with scarves and shawls.  They wore jewelry: earrings and plenty of necklaces and bracelets.  They had tambourines, harmonicas, banjos and guitars for music.  Their cook ware was with them.  They had clothes and shoes, perhaps not as many as I, but they had them none the less.  Perhaps they had some sort of folding chair.  I felt as if some distant ancestor was a Gypsy and spoke to my spirit about what to take with me for my nomadic journey.  I wish I had a camper van to travel in.  It would eliminate the need for places to sleep and eat.  I could actually save money.

In 2009, I lived with my oldest son, Donnie, for a while.  When I knew in my spirit that it was time for me to leave, I asked Spirit for a place to live with little or no rent because of my income or lack thereof.  Within two months I was a Resident Manager in a home for homeless women with children.  I paid no rent and received a stipend.  Spirit reminded me that if I could ask and set an intention for shelter, I could do the same for a car; and so I did.  Let’s see what happens.  My journey isn’t over because Jason needs his car.  I actually feel as if it is just beginning.

I drove up to NY on Saturday to help my baby boy.  In the words of Jeffry Osborne (I think), “What we won’t do, do for love”.  Jason had done absolutely nothing!  He said he had it all in his head.  I didn’t fuss because he looked so pitiful and I understood because I plan things in my head first as well. And then I feel as if I’ve done it!  I have moved nine (9) times in the last ten years so he wanted my expertise.  Jason was overwhelmed because when he moved from Pittsburgh to NY he had professional movers.  I came in and gave him instructions on what to do.  We got a lot accomplished in a short time.  Well I have more packing to do.
PS.  My friend Michael Talbert, who made his transition in April of this year, and I used to talk until 2 or 3 in the morning.  In one of our conversations I said something about not liking confinement or schedules and that I liked being free.  Michael said, "You're a gypsy or you were one in a previous life".  I laughed and agreed with him.  How insightful and prophetic!

Until next Sunday…….

Merry part and merry meet again!

Gypsi Mama Michelle