Saturday & Sunday, Jan 28th-29th, 2001,: MY FIRST JOURNEY BACK TO CHARLOTTE SINCE I MOVED AWAY IN JUNE 1998...
I got to visit with several old friends:
--Mike Carpinelli, the METROLINA FIRE AND SAFETY MAN.
Here is another useful plug: to my visitors here to this webpage with finer culinary tastes, I recommend Mike Carpinelli's website www.familysecret.com to find out about his Pasta Sauce , Fresh Herb Sauce , Kid's Sauce, and Family Secret Recipes , Little Dining Guide (glossary), and Gift Baskets. This may be a great discovery for you to check out.
Anyway, THANKS MIKE for the beer and companionship there at Joey D's (Joey Diatora's) Restaurant by Firebirds at the extraordinarily plush Stone Crest Shoping Center off Rea Road).
-Robert Leas in Indian Trail. THANKS BOB for the Jersey Mike's regular Tuna ALL THE WAY there in Matthews and for helping me replace my tires with some new Pirelli's rated for 160 mph -- never know when you might have a need for speed) Fortunately, the only manner in which I crashed was figuratively, onto my pillow back at the hotel for the night.
Sunday morning I attended my old church, South Park Christian Church in Charlotte and was warmly greeted by the old church family. The motto of this assembly is in my mind, beyond reproach:
It was great moment when my old friend and minister, JERRY WHITT called out to me right in the middle of the service just before beginning his sermon, asking, "Robert, is that you?" I showed my marathon metal and stated that I had come for the Charlotte Marathon. I appreciate the applause when I answered his question of how I had done with "I finished!"
I especially enjoyed visiting in Cotswald and jamming some with my old musical BRO, Ed 'the WICKED' PICKETT, and singing and playing jazz on my sweet new ax-wife, Celia. We will make it into that recording studio before the clock runs out! Now here I am again, facing a "STORMY MONDAY" -- I'd rather be performing the song, Stormy Monday now that I have learned the progression of all those jazz chords! Anyway, it was my first foray into Charlotte (outside of the airport for connecting flights) since I left in June 1998. I experienced a supernova of emotions. Charlotte is such a beautiful and vibrant city (check out Charlotte's Web). I absolutely envy everyone who is able to live there. I had never felt so at home anywhere else in the world. Maybe again some day...
I saw an omen in Charlotte yesterday as I stood outside my old church at noon hour. Above in the sky, a large Cooper's Hawk was flying in low circles.
the attack of the crows A number of crows were flying all around him, dive bombing and harassing him in flight. He circled repeatedly, enduring the attacks and refusing to leave. With each turn, he steadily gained altitude. As he climbed higher and higher, the crows had increasing difficulty maintaining positions from which they could fly down at him. Suddenly, he reached an altitude exceeding that of all the crows. Immediately, the attackers dispersed in frantic retreat. They avoided getting into his line of flight with their lives. One last crow tried to buzz the Hawk a last time and then realizing perhaps that he was now the last of the assault force remaining, he fled in panic. The Hawk now soared alone and uncontested, sweeping great arcs high up in the blue sky. Once such a hawk sat very quietly in a pine tree, looking at me for a long time. Before he left, he gave me one of his feathers. I have this gift still and it reminds me that I can soar above my oppressors.
