Safa means tranquil, serene, calm…I try

You know, you often hear that times are worse now than in the days of yore. But really people have done evil things. Why am I bringing this up now? Well it was prompted by my weekend movie viewing of Changling. The movie was done…I love Clint East.wood as a director. Anyway, I won’t give a recap of the movie that is based on a true story. Whenever I see a film or read a book based on actual events, I will routinely research archives to read actual newsclippings and other info related to the event.

This movie takes place in 1928 California. After I read LA Times articles on from the actual events, it really sickened me but also me think…people were sick back then too. I see now as being no worse. I am not even considering atrocities committed against Blacks during and after slavery. I talking just people who do evil and unthinkable things.

As we approach historical changes today in this county, it kind of makes me sad that the evil that men (and women and sometimes children) do has not simmered. I feel really sad. I’m sure some of it has to do with a story I read today. Well not really a story. I went to the Chicago T.ribune’s website to read a story on Ob.ama casting his vote and started reading the “paper”. They have a section where they post recent mugshots…for some reason I thought it was pics of wanted individuals. I always check stuff like that (ya never know who lives next door). Anyway, along with the mugshots are brief descriptions of what they were arrested for. It just made me sick and sad. I need meds…for real. I am so emotional and take things so personally. I cry like a relative was killed. It just seems like evil never rests…

I went to the movies on Saturday with a friend of mine. We decided to see No Country for… It was playing close to my house at the Old Town Theater (pic of actual theater). This is an independent “movie house” in the ecclectic/funky/historic section of Old Town Alexandria in VA (DC area). Anyway, this theater is like others in other cities where you can order food and drink and have it delivered to your seat. Ok, so the theater is historic, having been there since like 1910 or somthing. It has 2 screening rooms and no elevator/escalator.

My friend had never been to a movie house or cinema draft house as it is called in other places. The elderly cashier did that job and ran the concession stand at the same time. She was initally taken aback when she found out that once she purchased her popcorn, the cashier gave her the popcorn container. She was like, “ok, what I am supposed to do?”. He pointed her to the popcorn machine and told her to scoop out her own popcorn. You would have thought he asked her cut off a hand or something. She did it with a smile though.

We then proceed to walk into the first room we see. It wasn’t our movie but Atonem.ent. She comes out and says, “how am I suppsed to know where to go, there are no signs?!” The old man laughs and says oh, go on upstairs. We go in and find our seats. Now, the movie was supposed to start at 7:30, it was about 7:40 and the screen was blank. She wondered why there were no ‘coming attractions’ on. I told her sometimes they had them but oftentimes they did not. We just sat and talked and people watched. Around 7:50 the old man comes ambling up the steps. He stops on the middle step and says to the theater goers (in a deep southern accent), “Now y’all box up your trash when y’all done ‘cuz it’s just me and that other fella on tonight and someone just quit on me last night…ya hear?” My friend looks at me and says, “oh hail naw”.

The old man walks back and up to the projection room to start the movie. At first he has it all projected on the wall. During this whole debacle, everyone is kind of smiling and nodding. Now let me say that in this whole screening room, there is only one other black person besides me and my friend. He finally gets it right. However, he forgets to dim the lights and no one has the heart to say anything. So basically we watch the whole movie as if I were sitting in my auntie’s kitchen.

My friend…out of nowhere, just BURST out laughing. I ask her what’s so funny. She says (in earshot of others) , “In Old Town this place has character and charm, try this ish in southeast DC and people been done left, cussed out the old man and labeled this place a hot ghetto mess”.

Can’t argue with her there!