I Am Rahab…The Long Journey
By Monifa S.
(Excerpt from book 1)
From the moment Puah Marie Auguste stepped off the plane at New Orleans International airport, she has perfected the role of damsel-in-distress. She waltzed into town as the only mourning child of the deceased and fed on that title. No matter what happened between them, Charlotte “Lotti” Auguste was her mother. Pride kept Puah tending to appearances, and all she offered Rahab was her handshake in an introduction. “I’m Puah,” she said, extending a strong, straight, and slender arm. Her wrist draped in gold. “I’m your mother. You may call me Pu, like everyone else.”
Last July, I drove approximately 1,058.1 miles from FL to NY, in my relatively broken down van, and made it! I traveled with my then 4yo son, 15yo daughter, 19yo son, and his girlfriend. My husband was supposed to take the trip with us, but unfortunate circumstances prevented him from doing so. After realizing that I would have to do most of the driving myself –about 19 hours worth– I debated going; however, my spirit was strengthened to endure the journey. I’m thankful that I did.
I95 took us through 5 states, but before going into NY, we visited my best friend, Jessica, and her family in PA. That felt like an entirely new adventure all its own…it added on several more miles to our already, very long, tiring drive. As beautiful as the scenery was –we literally saw verses from the song, America the Beautiful play out in front of our eyes– I was exhausted when we got there and dreaded going anywhere else. We stayed in PA for a few days to celebrate an awesome event for my friend’s husband’s retirement and to recuperate.
The drive to NY was frustrating, to say the least. We left PA around midday and expected to arrive within three hours or so; (according to Google Maps) but unfortunately, I had made a wrong turn somewhere and ended up on the NJ Turnpike which added an additional 326.9 miles to our destination. I WAS VEXED. After what seemed like an eternity, we finally arrived in the city…it was only past MIDNIGHT! Then we had to find parking, and if you are familiar with the streets of NY…specifically, the Bronx, you know that it was no easy task. After driving around for what seemed like another eternity, I finally found a parking garage…PRAISE GOD! I called my sleeping cousin to buzz us into the building, and the kids and I were practically asleep before we even got off of the elevator. The makeshift pallets my aunt so graciously prepared for us on her livingroom floor were a comforting joy.
My grandmother, Evelyn, was the main reason that we planned the trip. The last time my children and I saw her –where she was able to recognize us– was for her 80th surprise birthday party seven years ago. It was heartbreaking to realize that on this visit she couldn’t remember who I was or who her great-grandchildren were. It brought tears to my eyes knowing that I wouldn’t hear her sing-song my name like she always did whenever I walked into a room that she was in, or when I spoke to her on the phone.
The next few days we enjoyed NY as much as we could and spent time with family that we hadn’t seen in years, and although we didn’t get to see everyone, and despite it being the most uncomfortable and unpleasant drive I had ever experienced, it was a trip that I will never regret taking. My beautiful, lovely, loving, sweet, wonderful, God-fearing, giving, caring, always praying for us…by name, grandmother and matriarch of the family passed away in April of this year just a couple of days after my amazing uncle James, passed from cancer. Both hurt deeply but I’m glad that I listened to His voice. I feel grateful, thankful, and blessed to have been able to –unbeknownst to me– hug, kiss (even though she pushed me away) and LOVE ON my gramma for the last time. The Holy Spirit encouraged me to do something I didn’t want to do…because I am Rahab, too.
