WHAT CONNECTS ME TO MYSELF
BY WALLACE MORELAND
What connects me to myself is my culture, my upbringing, my city (which is famous for its very culture – the food, the music, the history, the smells, the energy is a vibe.) On any given day, you could be caught in the middle of a parade. You visit anyone’s home; food will be offered, and you had better accept. The respect level is at an all-time high, the elders, women and children are protected. It’s friendly but at the same time no nonsense. We party until the bar lights come on and the sounds of the trumpets and drums gets you dancing out the door.
My connections with all of the above remind me not only of where I come from, how I was raised, but also what I survived. My time as a youth connected me with my work ethic, my charm, and personality. If it wasn’t for my friendly connections I never would have learned how to cook on a line, wait tables, bus tables, carry trays stacked nine high upstairs without dropping thousands of dollars’ worth of food. With my connections, I never would have known etiquette, the do’s and don’ts in polite society. If it wasn’t for my work connections I never would have been exposed to other races, cultures, and mannerisms.
My upbringing was of the Baptist religion which had an effect on my sense of community and moral compass, thus helping to shape my personality. We are a sum of our choices and experiences, but the best I believe is in front of us. Act one of my life is over – that was in New Orleans, LA. Act two is in Portland, Oregon and beyond. Both places give me a real sense of connection. It’s been 20 years since I left Louisiana and yet I feel like I just arrived.
Time and places connect me to myself. | WM