How God Gave Me Back The Color Red

Sounds like a strange title why would I or anyone lose the Color Red? People lose certain colors in a lot of Urban Communities which we call da Hood. You lose certain colors usually Red, Blue, or Black depending on what Gang is in the neighborhood you live in. The CRIPS controlled my area since 1986. The CRIPS wear blue. Their enemy is the BlOODS who wear Red. The gangs used to strictly enforce the No Red Rule but that stopped about 20 years ago. This affected everyone.

My Friends Tammy and Gisele at the Free Store Gisele is the tallest one and the Second Lady of PA

Now for me a former member of the CRIPS the BLOODS were my enemies and we called them SLOBS and they called us CRABS. Wearing the Color Red in the Hood meant you were Set Tripping and that was disrespectful and could cost you your life. 

This is my friend Jen 

I retired in the 90s but those attitudes remained. Once a CRIP always a CRIP was my attitude.

Then Jesus came into my life in the form of City reach Braddock and Swisvale and another woman who became my mentor, an artist and a strong woman of God. I began working on my anger and grew in bounds but continued to hold on to my dislike of the color red. My best friend Jennifer knows not to buy me red. 

Pastor Chris at City Reach Swissvale

On September 8 I got baptised and although I 

continued to fall short in the sight of God Daily I was growing in my faith.

Last Tuesday while shopping at the Free Store I found a beautiful red sweater with Bling Bling on it. I picked it up without thinking and wore it to a conference on Thursday. 

On Friday, I went to The Hollander Project, run  by my friend and the 2nd Lady of PA Gisele Fetterman, for a Coat Drive. I looked through several coats but they either wasn't warm enough or they didn't fit me. I finally found my coat it was warm and it fit but it was RED. I got it anyway.

The next day I realized that two times that week I wore Red and didn't think about that life I lived. I had moved on to being the daughter of God and the BLOODS were no longer my enemy. 

The Arkwardness of Social Distencing in Public

It's the end of April and we have been Social Distencing for six weeks now. Masks are now required in PA and everyone is wearing them.

Going Grocery shopping has changed now everyone has PPE on. You no longer go up and down the aisle both ways anymore it's now One Way. This is like coming to a intersection when one driver waves the other one through.  People are getting better at Social Distencing but unlike with a cart no one has the Right of Way. Most people wave the other through and then both people back up if your coming down or move to the left if your going east to west.

I was at my daughter's house on Friday. We've been together since the Shut Down began. I was coming down the Steps the same time the cable man was coming in and neighbor was leaving her apartment to let the Cable Guy. We all had masks on our faces. We all took a step back as we figured it out. I said "Strange times" to the both of them. 

" But blessed to be here," 

I said "Amen" and we parted. 

There is always a line now outside of Walmart and the Larger Giant Eagles. They let 50 customers in and Everytime one or two people leave they let you enter.

This is our life at the moment and on the most part I see Americans doing the right thing and staying home. We will get through this together.

Before Everything Went Crazy. Life the Day Before and During a Pandemic

March 11, 2020

The day before things went Crazy was an ordinary Wednesday. I went out to get a new phone and a pair of pants and Tennis shoes. I didn't know then that in Two weeks both the Cricket store and Cititrends would be closed a week later. 

As I was walking my son Jamel called me to ask me if I we're going to be home I would be there later, I informed him.

My grandson Jeremyia

A couple hours later my son My daughter in law and 3 year old grandson came to visit we went to eat and then to Walmart ending up at my daughter's house. It was the first time I saw the new apartment. Then I said good bye to my children. I did not know I would not see my son again since then.

We knew about the Corona Virus and were growing more concerned. That day I thought about Small Groups the night before and talking about it. I told my group of my Church Family that I would be Self Isolating because I am high risk. 

On Thursday March 12 Governor Wolf announced that we now had 3 Unconfirmed Positive cases of Covid 19 also known as Corona Virus. 

The Health Secretary Dr Rachel Levine introduced us to something called Social Distancing. We were told we ought to stay home in order to flatten the Curb.

Woodland Hills announced that the schools will be closed until Monday. The next day they were closed until the end of March then April 

  

Downtown Pittsburgh during peak Weekend Hours.

I got as much food as possible so I could shelter. I also got cleaning products. Something told me to buy toilet paper so I brought enough for 30 days. I didn't know that soon it would be impossible to find Toilet paper and Hand Sanitizer as well as cleaning products. 

My Mentor Carol went to Argentina and ended up quarntiened there. She had to deal with Military keeping an eye on them and worried about how she was getting home. She didn't leave Argentina until April 4. I worried with her and prayed.

On Sunday March 15 I went to church. I didn't know that would be the last time we would see each other. We didn't hug that day and that was the first time we streamed the Sermon.

 The rest of the week most of us began Social Distencing and learning a whole new lifestyle.