I found this photo amongst my Flickr contacts. This is a poweful pic that just spoke to me. It reminds me of my own mortality but more importantly about my mother.
It also reminds me of funerals. Black American Baptist style funerals. I won't say that blacks are fascinated with death but it's probably one thing we are prepared for. Perhaps not financially or anything like that but certainly mentally blacks seem prepared for it. Or I could say there are those who don't believe they'll live a long time and they'll act the part, but not always.
Still I can express my complaints. Mainly the preaching and the organ playing. I know funerals contain those and there may not be much I can do about that. Still I think about the whole program for a funeral. At this point in time it's not very appealing. It is however a fact of life.
I had no idea that the man who created some of my favorite childhood memories on TV, with the Muppet Show and Sesame Street can do a short film. Well it probably helps if you're going to make TV productions in the future involving your puppet creations. This was great to watch certainly.
I've been wanting to take a picture of a sign like this while I was down there, but unfortunately the car I was in was moving too fast. Better luck next time hopefully.
Anyway this sign is an indication of Mound Bayou, MS historical significance. This town was founded by ex-slaves and became an all black municipality having been incorporated in 1898. This is why I wanted to introduce this town to you.
Besides, I thought about this story I heard on cable access once where an old Irish talked about how since the Irish ran his ward in Chicago he thought the Irish ran the world. I have no doubt that some young kid in Mound Bayou thought that same way about the leaders he saw in Mound Bayou. He saw blacks on the city council and as mayor. Of course once he left this town, he would be very disappointed.
You may want to know how much this costs. Basically you have to pay an accomodation fee in addition to a coach seat fare. And the final price depends on when you purchase a ticket or when you make a reservation. It may be expensive if you're planning your trip say a month or so in advance but the closer to the trip you get the cheaper a sleeper room will be. I am talking about first class after all.
In any case, you may be able to buy a ticket and start with a coach fare but say if you give them your contact info and/or if you ask, they'll allow you to change your accomodations before your trip. In addition to that if you're already on the train you can change your accomodations while you're actually on the train. Who can beat that right?
Well what does having first class accomodations mean on Amtrak anyway, other than the usual bed on a train instead of a coach seat. Well your first class charges will include complimentary meals (breakfast, dinner, and lunch) and complimentary bottled water, orange juice, and coffee. No more going to the lounge car for those basic things, although if you need a snack you still have to go back there and get that.
I will say next time I'm either going to get a room by myself or get a larger room. It'll be fun. Or perhaps I should get used to a small roomette for a while longer.
I miss that 40 hour train ride we took to Los Angeles last July. My mother and I as well as a couple of my aunts took a nice train ride accross the American Southwest to the City of Angels. It was my first trip to California in almost 15 years when my family drove out that way. This was the best train ride in my life and it almost hurts that we won't be doing that again anytime soon. We'll be taking another train ride this summer though but not out west.
If I ever take another long train ride I'm not going to fool with coach. I'm going to splurge for a sleeper car which gives me a complimentary meal. It'll be fun.
This is one of my Flickr favorites although I do have some pictures on this blog of my 2005 LA vacation. I have video too if I can get a handle on posting video on the internet I'd post that too.
My name: Levois
I found this photo amongst my Flickr contacts. This is a poweful pic that just spoke to me. It reminds me of my own mortality but more importantly about my mother.
