My New Years Eve was probably my BEST EVER!
And it came as such a surprise. The night before New Years I had no plans and no real money to go out. I have no real “Let’s hang out” friends here so I figured that I’d be alone for the celebration. Just in a last minute rush of hope I said to the Universe, “If I’m not supposed to be alone, let someone call me and invite me out.”
The next afternoon I got a call from my sons, “Mommy can we spend New Years Eve with you?”
I mulled it over. With no car, no money and no TV, what kind of New Years could we possibly have? But I figured it was probably divine so I told them to come on over. Their Dad had a party planned and couldn’t watch them anyway.
So by the time they came I had spoken with the guy at the corner store who told me that they have a HUGE celebration on Hollywood Beach and I could take the bus there. I got excited! PERFECT! I love Hollywood Beach! It reminds me of what I think LA looks like.
By the time my boys got here I was already dressed looking cute in a creme turtleneck and creme corduroys with gold accented jewelry. But when we walked to take the bus I was told that the bridges to the beach were up and no traffic could go through.
We sadly walked back to my studio and took off our clothes. I opened my laptop and chose a movie, hoping it would raise our spirits. The internet connection was bad though so the movie kept pausing but.. in the meantime we simply.. enjoyed each other.
We told jokes. We told stories. We wrestled. We told secrets. They asked me to perform poetry and I did. By the time it was time for the NYE countdown, I had found a website that was streaming the ball drop from NY so I turned on the video camera and videotaped us watching the ball drop!
We screamed and we cheered as the countdown ended. My younger son leapt up and got naked and ran around the house screaming. LOL! I had no idea what was going on with him. Then I told them that it was a ritual to stand in a circle and make wishes for the new year and then sing ring around the rosey. “When we fall down, if we believe our wishes will come true, they will!” I explained.
They looked at me crazy but we did it!
My older son wished for a hundred dollars so he can buy everyone he knows something nice. My younger son wished for lots of hot cheetos so he can take them to school and sell them to his friends and he wished that I would get a new house that was really nice and not dirty. LOL!
I wished for a new car that is reliable and paid for a nice home and that all of my positive wishes would come true- As soon as I make them- ALL YEAR LONG!
Then we sang the song and all fell on the floor- except for my youngest, he flung himself on the bed. Then we heard noises outside so we went to see what it was and it was my landlord doing fireworks with her family. We joined them and they offered us food and even gave us half a strawberry cheesecake to enjoy!
“Thank GOD for your landlord,” my younger son said. Indeed.
We fell asleep listening to Erykah Badu croon through my laptop and by the time I woke up they were wrestling and playing. We got dressed and went to the park. Then we had fajitas at a mexican restaurant.
While we were eating I told my sons, “Well, you know I’m graduating in August and it’s crazy but the things I’m most good at, I can’t really find jobs for here in Miami. This city is really for tourists and models and I’m no model.”
My sons paused and looked at me, “It’s ok Mama. Pick another city and we can come visit you during the summer vacation. Pick a good city- like LA!”
My eyes grew wide. I tried not to let them see how elated I was. See, a couple of years ago they asked me not to leave again after my fantasy trek across country. They asked me to stay until they were in college or highschool. After this, I felt stuck. Stuck in this city where everyone thinks I’m weird. The poetry scene is the only scene where I feel like my creativity is appreciated.
I was even considering getting my PHD because I felt I had to find SOMETHING to do to make me stay here.
Now..my boys are actually saying I can go for mine, in whatever city I choose. I feel like the gates to heaven just opened up.
THIS TIME- I won’t just up and run with no direction. I believe that I am going to be headed toward something CONCRETE when I leave here, hopefully just after graduation in August.
Now, I have to be sure to learn as much as I can in my internship..pass my comprehensive exams and GRADUATE.
My boys and I visited another park before heading home to meet their Dad. When they left I came back inside, laid on my bed and sighed. It was so great to hear them says, “Dang, we had no TV and nowhere to go but we still had so much FUN MAMA!” We sure did!
I can do anything. My boys said it was okay.
I am much smarter and much stronger than I was the last time I ventured out.
I hope to fuse my education in counseling with my journalism abilities and do something GREAT in media.
I wonder where all of this will take me?
Right now I’m thinking Washington, DC. I mean, I had 3 people who lived in DC tell me that I do not belong in Miami and if I ever wanted to be appreciated for being the artist that I am, the woman that I am, DC is the place.
But it’s cold there.
I wonder if…
Maybe that’s the next place for me.
I’m going to start researching the city now.
I have been smiling all day long…and I can’t stop.
In 8 months, I’ll be on to my next adventure…