Mosesina
If you live in the area that I live in, have you ever seen this woman? I call her Mosesina. She looks quite old, with a thin, wrinkled face, and wears a large, plain white shirt and white pants, with hiking boots. She also wears a white head-wrap, and carries a large walking stick. So she reminds me of Moses, but she's female, so I call her Mosesina.
Sometimes when I see interesting people like Mosesina, I like to imagine their life stories...
Perhaps Mosesina grew up on a rural farm in Kentucky. She was a happy little girl, and used to run in the fields and pick wildflowers for the dinner table. But then one day, when she was 10, her mother tragically fell ill. The doctors tried everything with the mystery disease, but it wasn't long before it took her life. Her father was never the same after that--cold, silent, distant--and unable to care for his only child. Some kind old aunts took her in, but there was no one around to play with, and they lived in a busy city, far away from the sunny fields and wildflowers. Eventually she became accustomed to riding the city bus, dressing fashionably in cat-eye glasses, and teasing her hair up to tower-size beehives. But not long after graduating from high school, just when her boyfriend was about to ask her to marry him, she began attending a weekly meeting. Some called it a Bible study; some called it a life-inspiration group. She'd been feeling restless, and this group seemed to be searching for meaning too. The leader was charming and dynamic, but soon he began having "revelations." Eventually she found herself on a compound, hand-sewing her own clothes, and slaving away in the kitchen. After a few years, things began getting stranger, however, but unlike many in the group, Mosesina had the presence of mind to recognize it--and to plan an escape! She did escape, but when she went back home, she found that her boyfriend had married someone else. Still looking for meaning, she decided to travel to India and work with Mother Teresa, if she would have her. Mother Teresa took her in, and taught her the way of mercy for many years. But one day, Mother Teresa died. Mosesina missed her terribly, and decided it was time to head home again. With very little money to her name, she was able to hitch a ride on a commercial ship, as long as she did a few chores with the rest of the crew. Eventually she made it to San Francisco, and for the last 10 years has wandered the highways and byways, heading East. She has a cousin who lives in a little town near Chattanooga, and has decided it's as good a place as any to settle down for a while. At least til she thinks of something else to do. For now, the walk to the VM satisfies her restless heart and her organic tastes, and her white garments remind her of her life of mercy in India, and her dear, dear friend, Mother Teresa...
One day I'd like to talk to Mosesina and find out her real story. But it's fun to imagine. :)
Sometimes when I see interesting people like Mosesina, I like to imagine their life stories...
Perhaps Mosesina grew up on a rural farm in Kentucky. She was a happy little girl, and used to run in the fields and pick wildflowers for the dinner table. But then one day, when she was 10, her mother tragically fell ill. The doctors tried everything with the mystery disease, but it wasn't long before it took her life. Her father was never the same after that--cold, silent, distant--and unable to care for his only child. Some kind old aunts took her in, but there was no one around to play with, and they lived in a busy city, far away from the sunny fields and wildflowers. Eventually she became accustomed to riding the city bus, dressing fashionably in cat-eye glasses, and teasing her hair up to tower-size beehives. But not long after graduating from high school, just when her boyfriend was about to ask her to marry him, she began attending a weekly meeting. Some called it a Bible study; some called it a life-inspiration group. She'd been feeling restless, and this group seemed to be searching for meaning too. The leader was charming and dynamic, but soon he began having "revelations." Eventually she found herself on a compound, hand-sewing her own clothes, and slaving away in the kitchen. After a few years, things began getting stranger, however, but unlike many in the group, Mosesina had the presence of mind to recognize it--and to plan an escape! She did escape, but when she went back home, she found that her boyfriend had married someone else. Still looking for meaning, she decided to travel to India and work with Mother Teresa, if she would have her. Mother Teresa took her in, and taught her the way of mercy for many years. But one day, Mother Teresa died. Mosesina missed her terribly, and decided it was time to head home again. With very little money to her name, she was able to hitch a ride on a commercial ship, as long as she did a few chores with the rest of the crew. Eventually she made it to San Francisco, and for the last 10 years has wandered the highways and byways, heading East. She has a cousin who lives in a little town near Chattanooga, and has decided it's as good a place as any to settle down for a while. At least til she thinks of something else to do. For now, the walk to the VM satisfies her restless heart and her organic tastes, and her white garments remind her of her life of mercy in India, and her dear, dear friend, Mother Teresa...One day I'd like to talk to Mosesina and find out her real story. But it's fun to imagine. :)
Quite the imagination! I just think well they're probably actually 40 and just smoked the last 30 years and already have 2 grandkids. I've met a few of them that way at least.
ReplyDeleteI think there's more to Mosesina than just 30 years of smoking. Why does she wear white all the time? Why does she carry a big walking stick? Why does she look like Mother Teresa? There's gotta be a good story behind all that.
ReplyDeleteI know this woman. She was actually raised by wolves in the jungles of Timbuktu. She can open a banana with her feet (which have opposable thumbs). She comes from a long line poverty, she won a molasses gargling contest when she was 22, and her favorite color is SHARK!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, and her blood is mercury. Not like the element, but like the planet.
Well done, Nick! :) This just in: my grandma says Mosesina comes to her Sabbath School class! Yes! And she never sits down for some reason, but she wears normal Sabbath clothes. So I asked my grandma to see if she can get the scoop! (that's a lot of exclaiming. sorry.)
ReplyDeleteI like this imagination game.
ReplyDelete