Get Out And See The World

Hot Body: Sex: In a Foreign Country

2011-03-28T13:58:00.006-04:00

My friend and I sat in our beach chairs absently reading our sex filled vacation books. We sipped drinks laden with rum as our toes fiddled the warm sands of Bay Rouge in French St. Martin. We both had our suit tops down exposing most of our ample breasts. Life was good. I first noticed the Fabio hair from behind. It was black, wet and nearly reached the small of his back. A back that was rippled with hard ripe muscles that glistened in the warm Caribbean sun. The smell of fresh cooked ribs and chicken mingled with the smell of the ocean. We both noticed him at the same time. He stood chest deep in the clear water and smoothed his long beautiful hair back out of his face. He dove beneath the clear waters and disappeared. We looked at each other and laughed. We were both retired and assumed that having bodies like that between the sheets was a thing of the past with us. Without speaking we touched our plastic cups filled with Bahama Mamas and toasted to a time gone by.

We were involved in deep conversation about where to eat dinner when we both noticed that the Adonis had turned in our direction. He was walking towards us. Directly towards us. The water was now at his slender waist and we could see his rippled front. Again, we salivated and looked at each other as we silently admired his six pack. "10". We both said it at the same time. When he emerged full bodied out of the water he walked directly towards us. He was immediately surrounded by his comrades. They spoke French to each other. My friend and I returned our attention to the books on our laps. I saw the legs first. They were tan, luciously muscled, sprinkled with thin hair and dripping water onto the hot sand in front of our beach chairs. He was standing directly over us with his towel thrown over his back. He proudly displayed the bulge in his speedo.

He started talking to us. We didn't understand a word. It really did not matter of course, because he had only two teeth on the bottom and three on the top. The inside of his mouth was disgusting. Talk about disappointing. He spoke enough English for us to relay the message that we were not interested in whatever he was selling and he walked away shrugging his shoulders. We held the laughter in our bellies. After all, he was with several other people. My friend and I slapped five that we had really been taken for a ride with fate on that one. We settled back into our beach chairs, sipped our Bahama Mamas and continued to read.

2011-03-23T16:17:00.000-04:00

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BB's Corner Grille: Dutch Sint Maarten

2011-03-23T14:04:00.007-04:00

Many travelers avoid the local foods. This is usally a very good idea. After several visits to a particular region we learn that there are requirements for food service establishments. They may seem very simple to us, but workers must be tested on a regular basis for various communicable diseases that may be passed on to customers during food preparation. This establishment is built on the ruins of a hotel distroyed by hurricane Lewis. It sits nestled on the corner between two Timeshare Hotels, the Atlantis Casino and the American Medical School of St Martin. It has changed a lot since it was first noticed peeping up through the ruins of the devastated building. The grille is owned and operated by a man we know only as BB. This is BB's Corner Grille. BB's specialty is Baby Back Ribs. Ribs are popular on the Island.

On the menu are, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, green salad and delicious grilled ribs. Sauce is optional. Ribs may be purchased without the sides and taken back to the room where more desirable sides may be added. It is a pleasant place to sit, listen to music, talk to passers by and the employees who have free time in the down season. BB's Corner Grille also serves various soft drinks, beer, grilled chicken and alcoholic beverages. It is a short walk from the University, Atlantis Casino, and Sapphire Beach Club.

Detailed information regarding Food Service Requuirements in the US.

2011-03-23T13:22:00.000-04:00

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A Little Bit of NJ in The Caribbean

2011-03-12T22:30:00.005-05:00

The owner of this little beachside business took this sign on his way to the airport when he left the United States. What are the chances that I would run into a person who has transported himself to the beach on a small island? I found the manager and introduced myself. Talk about a small world. This little trinket store/plus beer bar is on Orient Beach in St. Martin. The beach is known for it's clothing optional code. It is clothing optional. That was NOT the draw for me. As always, the people who should think twice before removing their clothes were naked.

It was fun to walk the length of this long beautiful beach while marveling at the people who take their clothes off in public. Naked men facing each other while engaged in conversation...well it is quite a special kind of sight. Sun bathers are not shy of cameras so I usually only take photos of the buildings and the water when at Orient Beach.

Stands like this are open year round. This one closes right before sundown and the owner does not work on Sunday. He doesn't seem to work very much at all. He is a large fellow who is comfortable with his beer belly. His island floral shirt flies wide open revealing a chest filled with salt and pepper hair. It was down season, but the bar/store was still filled when we walked pass. In this photo, it is near closing.

Sex and Alcohol in The Foreign Country

2011-03-12T16:17:00.003-05:00

Drinks

When you step off the plane there will be people waiting to greet you. There will be taxi cab drivers, car rental agency reps, friends already there, folks who live on the Island. And then there will be
the jigolos. They will tell you how beautiful you are in the Island sun. They will beg to touch your golden skin and ask you personal questions about your love life. They will charm you or annoy you. It depends on your perspective. There will be promises to love you down like no American man ever could. You'll get so many winks it will seem every man looking your way will appear to have something in his eye. Before your ego gets the better of you think on
one thing. That is his job. He will lay it on so thick that you will take off your wedding ring and give
him the gold. "Flashing gold and sexy", might not be the best plan when arriving in an unfamiliar place without body guards. The same man who undressed you with his eyes was taking inventory of your jewelry, the brand of perfume, the designer names on your apparel and how you handle your money when you pay the taxi driver or other aiport fees. You are a mark. So don't paint another sign on your already vulnerable back.

Anyone you meet on vacation is a stranger
Don't go off alone with strangers
Always go sight seeing with groups until you know the area
Don't drink a lot of alcohol (sometimes it is cheaper than orange juice and milk)
Don't tease the men sexually: They are very serious about sex
Don't get too familiar with the maintenance men and housekeeping staff at the resort
Don't get drunk, if you do, do it with friends or at the resort bar
Don't allow people to see your money handling
Don't flash your credit cards (you don't really want people to think you are rich)
Don't wear all of your jewelry (you should probably leave expensive items at home)

In St. Martin, two very different cultures are sharing an Island only 37 square miles. That is smaller than our smallest state. On one side there are houses where one may purchase time with almost any type of woman he wants. The other side has large billboards along the road as you cross the borders warning visitors to practice safe sex. Sex and alcohol go together in the minds of some people. Do not accept drinks from men that you are not interested in. Drinks are cheap. Buy your own. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers have not influenced people around the world. I watched a man sip merlot from a wine glass while driving on a poorly kept montainous road. I was cringing in the back seat. A teenager filled this rotund man's glass as he drove. He was top Island Timeshare salesperson who constantly complained about his backaches. The teenager's parents were silent as I strongly suggested he cork the bottle. He stopped drinking when I screamed as we plowed around a tight corner above a steep cliff. He probably entertained the thought that he would never get into my room after hours if he scared me to death. I mean, have you seen those hills, roads, and sharp drops down in very hilly places.

Hungry Timeshare Fiends

2010-05-15T14:23:00.005-04:00

Yesterday morning I was awakened by the phone at 7:30 am. I am retired. I sleep later.
"Mrs. Walker?"
"This is she," I answered still full of sleepiness. "What is it?" I asked, eager to return to dreamland.
"We would like to speak to you about your timeshare."
"What about it? Do you realize what time it is?"
"Yes indeed, I do Mrs. Walker. It is time for you to unload that timeshare."
"Who are you?"
"I am someone who can help you get rid of your timeshare."
"I don't have any money to give you."
"You do not have to give me any money until after closing."
"Closing. So what do I get out of this?"
"Peace of mind that you don't own the property anymore."
"Wait a minute. You mean that you will sell my timeshare and I will get nothing. No money. Just peace of mind. Are you crazy?"
"No I am not crazy. I can help you get rid of your timeshare with only the closing costs."
"Now why would I say yes to that? I could just abandon it and never deal with it again in that case it would be free."
"You can't do that. It is going to cost you money to get rid of it any way you go. It is of no use to you now anyway."
"What is wrong with you? Don't call my house anymore."

I was very upset and aangry. It is very annoying to be called before 9am with such a ridiculous offer. My main question is this. Does anyone fall for this kind of scam? So who would get the timeshare? Someone obviously benefits from that and that someone is definitely not me. I get call similiar to this nearly everyday. This one is an extreme example so it was especially annoying.

Timeshare owners beware: The industry has changed a lot over the past few years. It also seems to be in a lot of trouble as the economy changes, but there is no reason for us to become victims to predators just waiting for us to become desperate. Who knows if any of these companies that promise to relieve us of our properties is legitimate? I know that I can name 4 that I have dealt with and a few more for which friends have shared information. None of them have ever rented or sold any properties for us. They have ALL taken the up front money and never done a single thing to earn it.

Are all of them scam artists? Only persons who have used the services can tell you for sure. Website testimonials are not reliable. Rely only on people you know and trust. The above description of an early morning phone call demonstrates to what lengths Timeshare Resellers or unloaders are willing to go. I object to the fact that they even have access to the information that I even own timeshares. Why is this public information? Are our timeshare companies selling this information to third parties without our knowledge or permission? Some food for thought.

Organizations To Aid Haiti

2010-01-15T19:35:00.009-05:00

I thought it would be okay to share this with my friends. I am praying for my Haitian friends and their families. I hope the information below is useful.
To our members:
We at TripAdvisor are saddened by the devastation in Haiti this week and are concerned for those living and traveling there. We wanted to provide you with this list of several organizations currently working to provide aid and relief. We encourage you to help if you can.

Thank you,
TripAdvisor

The American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/
Text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 (billed to your phone)
The United Nations World Food Program
http://www.wfp.org/
The Salvation Army
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/
Action Against Hunger
http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/
Project HOPE
http://www.projecthope.org/
Partners in Health
http://www.pih.org/

This list is provided as a service to our members. TripAdvisor is not affiliated with these organizations and does not specifically endorse them.

The Healing Exfoliating Sands of Pinel Island

2010-01-14T23:12:00.000-05:00

My first visit to this small island located on St. Martin was very interesting. My sister and I were escorted by two of the island's popular MacDaddys. Yes, they have them all over the planet. For fifteen dollars we got lunch, a boat ride and a trip to a market. The outing was accompanied by a stern warning that we had to hold tight to our belongings and not leave them in the cars. They lined up about twenty of us and showed us how easy it was to break into the cars without leaving traces. We were advised to take everything with us. They told us stories about how we needed to behave on the island if we wanted to protect our belongings. We were advised not to shop and put things in our car until later, because by the time we finished shopping everything would be gone. Any shopping for folks back home was to be done the day before leaving.

We listened as we watched the small craft unload on the island and return to pick us up. The boat operator spoke 7 languages. He used all of these to explain that we were to stay in our seats and keep our hands and feet inside the boat at all times. Upon arrival, we were warned that noone was allowed to remain on the basically uninhabited island overnight.

"We will not look for you. You hear the horn you are already late. So plan wisely and be packed and ready to leave by 4:30, no exceptions."

The water was magnificent and warm. It was very shallow and deepened gradually without rocks out to where the small boats were anchored. The sand was very fine. I sat on the beach and rubbed my feet in it for a very long time. Tiny little fish gathered around my legs pecking at something in the water. I got used to them. It is a most relaxing place. Later that night, I noticed that my feet felt like I had just had a pedicure. My feet were very smooth and soft. They were not that way before.

Miss Barbara from housekeeping explained that the little fish were actually eating the dry, dead skin exfoliated from my feet. The sand functioned as a very effective exfoliant and I fed the fishes. Now is that just to the left of gross.

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You Really do Need Luggage

2010-01-07T17:33:00.004-05:00

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Believe it or not our national airlines really are going to charge us to carry our baggage. When last I traveled, the cost was incurred on the 2nd bag. Now they have decided to charge us per bag per weight. So travel and pack lightly friends.

Fast and Easy: Timeshare Purchases

2010-01-07T17:04:00.002-05:00

Timeshares are offered for sale at a time when most of us are definitely NOT looking to buy big ticket items. For instance, how many people go on vacation planning to purchase a vacation?

Many times salespeople insist that the property must be purchased before you leave the resort. Come on. If you contact a resort two months later for a purchase, they are not going to refuse your money.

Make sure you read all information. Ask for a quiet place to sit as you go over the information. Better yet, ask to take it with you for perusal. The last time I purchased a timeshare the sellers were quite desperate for a sale. They printed out my timeshare history and told me that I was losing money every month with my current arrangement. (my timeshares are all paid in full) The idea was to convince me that they could save
me money. And you know, it worked. I walked out of the office thinking I had made a good deal. That didn't last long. The next day I requested a meeting with the manager. He was not in. I met instead with the young man that had sold me the property. He wrote out a bunch of figures saying that is how much it would cost per month. I left the office unsatisfied. I went back to the office again, because something was nagging at the back of my mind. It was not saving me money. I asked for an indept explanation as to how the purchase would save me money. Here it is.
As long as I sent them at least ten people per year, I could earn points that would pay my maintenance fees. I was actually purchasing a timeshare that I did not want, could not afford, located in a place that I should not visit that often (Atlantic City), in a building that I did not like, and I was agreeing to promote the company and send them more people to confuse. Needless, to say, I went home and exercised my right to cancel. I wrote so many letters to cancel (sent registered to all offices listed) that someone from corporate called and asked me what happened. I got my chance to complain about the fact that I had been lied to.

Remember that if you own, the meeting is not mandatory. I often blow them off at my home resort simply because I don't want to hear it.
I have resolved that I will no longer go to the presentations that do not pay me money. I have gone to presentations that give you: a bottle of cheap wine, meals for two, boat rides, or almost free stays at other resorts that require you sit in on other presentations.
Time: I have never attended a presentation that lasted 90 minutes. They take much, much longer. Every meeting is designed to sell you something more, not to give you info
Always make your appointment in the Am before visiting the bar
Eat breakfast before the appointment
Remember that the salespeople will say anything to get you to sign the dotted line. You are not even welcome at the presentation if you do not carry a credit card.
Just say no.

St. Martin Sights

2010-01-05T23:28:00.005-05:00

Will You Need A Car?

2010-01-05T16:48:00.000-05:00

Making arrangements for rental cars can become very tricky. Some people leave this chore for after arrival. If you decide to travel this way, you must plan ahead. Taxi rides are just as costly in St. Martin and around the world as in the good old US of A. Book your rental car ahead of time. When visiting a destination multiple trips, it becomes more convenient and expedient to arrange for the rental car to be at the airport when you arrive. In some cases a small van is on hand to take you to the rental car. At any rate, it beats finding a cab at the last minute.

Getting There

2010-01-05T16:38:00.000-05:00

Regardless of where your timeshare is located you must calculate the cost of airfare. When listening to the sales pitch from the timeshare seller, keep in mind that transportation is not included. Consider the cost of the property and add that to the estimated cost of travelling.

Preserving the Memories

2010-01-04T21:06:00.001-05:00

How many times have you arrived someplace and remembered that you were not carrying your trusty camera? In the past, it was a cumbersome gadget that took a lot of figuring in order to coach out a passable photo. I never did master that F-stop business. I prefer a digital small camera that basically does all the work and delivers some very good photo likenesses of reality.

There are many different digital camera brands and they all take great photos. Make sure you purchase a memory card and install it before you leave. This camera is also great for making copies of existing photos. It is far less time consuming and less expensive than scanning each photograph.
I bought a box of Christmas cards and took pictures of them. I sent these digitized photos to my facebook friends instead of paying for postage. Make a digital photo library of the valuables in your home in case of fire or theft. Carry your small digital camera in your purse so documentation of accidents may be made immediately. I carry my digital camera more than I carry my ipod.

2010-01-04T20:45:00.001-05:00

My first Timeshare Experience

2008-11-19T14:58:00.005-05:00

My first experience with Timeshares came when I was a young parent and a new teacher.

I took my 14 year old daughter to Disney World. She was being a typical teenager and did

not want to go on any of the rides. Epcot Center was the only place she was interested in

seeing. She was at that age where she did not want to do anything that she thought was

childish.

It was mid April and most of the trip was very cloudy and overcast. It was not a good

time for swimming, although we did sit around the pool fully clothed. Our most

enjoyable time together was in sight seeing. We both liked the look of the homes in the

area. We spent a lot of time driving around the area taking photos of the houses,
landscape and flowers.

On the very last day, we were approached as we were leaving for our daily drive. I had no

idea that the young woman was a salesperson. She was very pleasant and seemed to have

a genuine interest in our lives. She asked me all types of questions. One of which was, when we were leaving. I told her we were leaving the next morning. She invited us to lunch. We accepted. Afterall, money was getting rather scare. We made arrangements to meet her at 1pm the same day in the lobby.

After our morning drive, the pleasant blonde lady met us in the lobby. She escorted us to the parking lot where we piled into a bus with other tourists. The bus was buzzing with talk about home and the lives of the people aboard. We passed beautiful orange groves and flowing green golf courses. At our destination, we were all taken on a tour of a fabulous resort with a beautiful lake at it's center and an expansive orange grove around it. It was magnificient.

We were herded into a room with a long table filled with various delicious foods. There were all types of fruit and vegetables ready for dipping in delicious sauces.

"She sure invited a lot of people to lunch, Mom."

My thoughts exactly. I was confused, but I was also hungry. We had skipped lunch because of the invitation. A smooth talking, dapper gentleman came out periodically and escorted couples into another room. There were occasional shouts from behind the closed door. Our bellies full we started to get restless.

"Can we go now?"

"That would be really rude, honey, besides we came on the bus. How will we get back. We a captive luncheon guests."

So we waited for the pretty lady to return. The crowd in the room got smaller and smaller. Finally the smooth talking man came to our table.

"Mrs. Walker?"

"That's me," I answered.

"Come this way," he instructed.

"Where are we going?" I asked. "We were asked to lunch by a nice young lady, but we haven't seen her since we got here."

"Oh, that was Miss Hodges. She has gone for the day." I stopped in my tracks.

"So why are we still here?"

"Don't worry, this won't take long."

"We have already been here a long time, Mister." My daughter's tone was showed definite annoyance.

"Very spirited child. What is your name young lady?" He engaged her in conversation about the weather, the trip, her likes and dislikes while he walked us into a large room filled with tables.

Now I knew where the other people from the bus had disappeared to. Each couple was seated

at a table with a clean cut man or woman with loads of catalogs and notebooks before them.

"Did you bring a credit card and a check book, Mrs. Walker?"

"Why do you need a credit card and a check book?"

"We are getting to that. Do you travel often?"

"No."

"And where is Mr. Walker?"

"Married again for the 5th time. Are you trying to sell me something?"

He laughed at the question and started to take out his wares. He asked if I had ever heard of time sharing. I had of course. One of my colleagues at work had been bragging about hers for a couple of years. It was in Orlando and I vaguely remembered the description. It sounded rather like this one. He took out a legal pad and began to scribble and talk. He had a knack of writing upside down so that I could see it right side up. It was a rare deal, because we had come at just the right time. We were going to have the opportunity to purchase a one bedroom vacation that we could enjoy one week a year for the rest of our lives. It was going for a really low price. My daughter hung on every word. I was skeptical, but I kept thinking about how happy my friend was with hers. And my troubled teenager's face had not been so thoroughly happy for years.

And he would take a check. The price was a very low 6 thousand dollars and my family could have a vacation home for the rest of our lives. He wrote continuously on the legal pad demonstrating how over the years I would save money on vacationing. I bought it hook, line and sinker even with the knot in my gut saying, "keep your checkbook in your pocket, because you are on vacation."

Everytime someone in the room signed up the place erupted with applause. The couple was congratulated as if they had just won the lottery. On the way back to our hotel, it was determined that 5 couples had purchased a little piece of paradise. We all kind of marveled that we had actually spent so much money on vacation. Noone volunteered the amount spent. Everyone seemed really happy. My daughter was already planning our next vacation. I mulled over my $6,000.00 lunch and realized that we had all been hoodwinked.

When we arrived home, I sat down and went over our bills. I realized immediately that I had made a rash decision. I could barely afford the rent on our modest apartment. The monthly payment on the timeshare property was a little over a hundred dollars monthly. It was a luxury that I could not afford as a single mother. I wrote a letter and cancelled the transaction that same day. I did not share this information with my daughter. I just never mentioned it to her again.

The Tracks Are Disappearing

2007-10-08T18:08:00.000-04:00

Those tracks that I held in such awe as a child are disappearing fast. Some were destroyed by flood and others were actually removed. When my sisters told me that they were taking the tracks up I didn't believe it.

Trains mean different things to different people. I always think of that long ago ride with my Grandma and the smell of food, shaving cream, hair grease and sometimes body odor. There were so many of us. As an older person, I read about the middle passage (the transport of slaves across from Africa) and was reminded of that train ride. There were numerous empty cars ahead of us, but we were lucky to be packed into the very last car like sardines.

Pennsylvania Station in Newark, New Jersey was a very scary place when we finally arrived. When I have occasion to visit the station today, I marvel at how the intimidating bigness of it has all but disappeared even though it is much larger than it was in 1967.

The only remnants of the old line and that old tradition is gone forever except in
the memories of those of us who rode the colored only passengar cars North.

Eastern Seaboard Line: Fried Chicken Express

2007-05-14T15:12:00.000-04:00

My first train ride is engraved in my memory. Since I could recognize the loud peel of the warning horn I had dreamed of riding that train to a better place. I left North Carolina with a shopping bag filled with my belongings. A meager trust. My shopping bag luggage contained 20 comic books, 3 pairs of underwear, a half slip, a writing pad and a couple of pencils. I wanted to bring more of my belongings, but my grandma assured me that my Aunt Martha was sending me clothes. I would have all of the hand-me-down fashions that a 16 year old southern girl could wish for.

We arrived at the train station very early to take the first train of the day. We were the only passengers at our stop in Norlina, North Carolina. The train had already picked up most of their fare from destinations south of us. The car was packed. I stood up a good deal of the time until a man gave me his seat beside my granny.

It was impossible to sleep because the train was tightly stuffed with African Americans northward bound. (It was the summer of 1967 and Jim Crow laws were not quite dead. As a matter of fact, they were very much in full force.) There was loud nervous chatter as everyone tried to speak above the constant noise of the old passenger car. The protests of animals in the cattlecar reminded me of the farm I was leaving. It did not seem to bother my fellow passengers as they all hugged their tattered suitcases and overstuffed shopping bags. The entire car smelled like a delicious picnic. Fried chicken was the dominant smell, but there was the hint of potato salad and cheap wine and corn licquor. After 3 hours on the train, the aroma of the box lunches was mesmerizing. I had no idea what my grandma had packed. I so wanted to join my fellow passengers in eating their lunches.

"We eat at exactly one o'clock, " my grandma assured me.
I read my comics, earsdropped on several conversations, and dreamed out the window as I watched the southeastern United States rattle by. I tried to erase the wondrous smelled of southern fried chicken from my olfactory senses. As if by clockwork paper bags started rattling. Even my grandma started digging into her large duffle bag.

"Your mother made us a boxed lunch," my grandma said smiling at me. "It's a lucky thing she did. You look starved."

I have never enjoyed fried chicken so much in my life. Ahead of us and behind us people were passing chicken, biscuits and cool aid around. They spoke loudly and enthusiastically as they shared recipes for making the batter used in frying the chicken. A couple of the porters came back and ate their lunch with us. This was the largest group of black people I had ever seen outside of church eating and having fun together. It felt really good to be part of this exodus.

Eastern Seaboard Line: The Tracks

2007-04-25T09:36:00.000-04:00

Leaving North Carolina involved getting a ride to the train station in Norlina and waiting for the Eastern Seaboard Line to come rambling through going north. In our world it ran alongside #1 Highway in Ridgeway, North Carolina. As children, we played all of those dangerous games on the railroad tracks that parents warn you NOT to play.

On the one day that I decide to cut school with a friend, my younger sister, who was born on my birthday 2 years after me, decided to follow along.

"Little Miss Book Worm ain't going to school, well neither am I. And you can't tell anybody. So how do you like that?"

I spent most of my childhood avoiding fights with a younger sister who was a terrible bully and who stole my birthday. My one day of being a rebel because now I had the responsibility of looking after her. Strange things happen on railroad tracks because of the immense possibilities that come to life in the minds of young ones that should be in other places, safer places. My sister, the bully, tore her Achilles heel on the tracks after only 2 hours out. I had not even figured out what was so fun about the dreaded tracks. I was lying on the embankment listening for the 10:15 to hit the Norlina station 5 miles away. Her screams sent shock waves through my head and face as I rolled in her direction. She passed out soon after the scream. My friend Dot and I ran to her. Dot didn't even stop, she continued to run for help. I stayed with my little sister. There was so much blood. The back of her foot was caught on a spike.

Needless to say, we all got what was coming to us for that day. Authorities had to be relied on to get medical attention. We were taken in a police car to the Hospital. Our parents were picked up at their places of work. Losing half a days pay was no small matter in those days. Railroad tracks held no fascination for me after that day. All I had to do was think of my sister's scream, the blood, and the anger of my parents in losing half a day at work. The whipping was secondary and meant nothing compared to the disappointment my Mother expressed in me.

"I expected that of her, she doesn't know any better. You are supposed to protect her. Why on earth possessed you to play on the railroad tracks with your hardheaded little sister? Even if you were already ditching school. Why couldn't you do something like YOU normally do!"

I spent the other part of my life trying not to talk back to my parents.

On the Road

2007-04-09T15:45:00.000-04:00

In my dreams faraway places soothed the demons of sleep and made life on a poor dirt farm a little easier. Life was hard and backbreaking. Picking cotton, priming tobacco, gathering sweet potatoes, cantaloupes, cucumbers and corn for market was all I knew. One could work all week picking cotton and not earn ten dollars. If one was a real go getter one could pick over 200 pds. of cotton and make a whopping 3 dollars per hundred pounds. Do you have any idea how hard it is to pick a hundred pounds of cotton? September, October and part of November was spent in Harvest. School boards allowed farm children too many days out of school for harvest. My report card was empty for nearly two marking periods. I had to work especially hard to catch up every year when harvesting was over. The absences started again in spring with planting. My life was filled with dreams of far away places and knights in shining armor. My hands were bloody and filled with calouses most of the time.

I Moved to New Jersey when I was 16 years old. It was the summer and I thought I was going to a whole new world. Leaving the farm had been a necessity. My life was taking a new turn. When the big clunky cadillac turned onto the treelined street, I was astonished. I had never been North of Richmond Va.

My joy soon turned to something quite different when I realized my living conditions. Directly across the street from my Grandma's place was a bar. The Blue Moon kept some late noisy hours. Even though we inhabited the third floor attic apartment, the noise made sleeping quite difficult. My grandma's bedroom was directly above the most popular spot on the corner. She didn't seem to hear the noise at all.

My Grandmother invited me to live with her, because she didn't want me to join a girlfriend of mind whose family had already moved North. My Mother was concerned that I would get eaten up by the big bad north. My Grandmother just wanted me to have the baby and go to work to support myself.

In case you are wondering, no, I wasn't pregnant. My Grandma was still waiting for me to give birth 1o months later. In her mind, that had to be the only reason I would leave home without graduating high school first. It never dawned on her that I was still having my monthly. Englewood, New Jersey became my new home. My Grandma became my new jailer. She charged me rent right away. I got a job 4 days after arriving in town. I paid my way from that moment on.

My father gave me an old Remington typewriter and I shut myself in a small closet off the kitchen on the otherside of the apartment. I wrote 2 plays, numerous poems and did my homework from that closet.

I still dreamed of going someplace. Every time I heard a bottle breaking beneath my window, I knew I wasn't there yet.