When I boarded the flight to Vermont in November I knew my life would change but I was not clear on the details. I was there to work on a contract with a non profit and the University of Vermont, affectionately known as UVM. I was tasked with meetings, curriculum development and research on African diasporic foodways. Just the type of thing that excites me. For me, details matter greatly, the mise en place of life is what has either kept me from making decisions or became the driving force of my decision making. Type A, ENTJ Commander personality type, yes, I need the details. So, you may be wondering why the self proclaimed Oakland Girl would make the leap and move to Vermont. It is actually kind of a cool story.
I was invited to Vermont last summer to speak at an event and that week was one filled with joy, peace and an overwhelming understanding that my desire to leave my home state had intensified beyond belief. I have had the opportunity to travel when I was active duty and even spent a few years living in Maryland with my ex husband and children. But, the desire to stay in California had dissipated. I yearned to see what the U.S. had to offer. When I was active duty I spent most of my enlistment out of the country visiting amazing places like Italy, Japan, Greece and Spain. But as I grew older and started to do more research about my family history I wanted to see more of my own country.
You ever woke up and said “I wonder what the food is like in Michigan”? Well, I did. I wanted to see the Great Lakes, The Grand Canyon, Coney Island, Niagara Falls and the swamps of Savannah. I had already enjoyed the gumbo of Nola, the blue crab of Baltimore, and the bbq of Houston. I grew up with the amazing tacos of California.
I think the desire really started to build up when I watched travel shows featuring chefs and foodies who had traveled to places in the U.S. that many would consider mundane. The stories of the people who lived there captivated me, how they made certain dishes or ingredients popular and in some cases knowing that I either had family there or knew people from my military days who lived in the area.
I was born with an adventurous spirit, a city girl who did not mind playing outside, finding bugs and bringing them in the house to scare my mama(she still does not appreciate my love for bugs). Maybe it was the summers in Bakersfield but I lived on the edge of being a city/country type girl my entire life. Fishing with my family as a child in Bakersfield and shopping with my family in Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles. IYKYK. A girl who knows not to wear blue/red in certain situations, what block to avoid, more of a Air Max 90 girlie than heels. I can go to the sports bar watch a game and pick the right beer and wing combo or I can go to the club and have an entire routine to my favorite song with my homegirls. Always hella extra with 50/11 earrings, bracelets and head wraps to match every outfit.
I guess that really does not truly explain HOW I ended up in rural Vermont. But, the truth is I am not certain there is a tangible way to explain it. The land and the lake called me. It was a breezy, warm and slightly humid day when I decided to take a walk to Lake Champlain. I wanted to baptize myself in the water and pray. Again…. I am a nature girl at heart and a church girl. I know the importance of prayer and water. I had already taken a walk around this amazing farm where I could smell the trees and I touched the soil. But the lake, the lake was loud. It called me the same way the water spoke to me when I was out to sea and would sit on the weather decks dreaming of a life I did not recognize while asking God to make the vision clear. I was in Vermont and on the other side of that lake was New York. A state I had fallen in love with the moment I arrived at JFK a few years ago. More on that at another time.
The water was calm, there was some movement but not much. The blue skyline with a touch of cotton candy style clouds made me inhale deeply and exhale gently. The trek to the water was a bit rough. I have had surgery on both knees, a torn achilles and foot surgery. Walking down the rocks would prove to be a process where I am sure I appeared to onlookers as a woman 20 years older than my true age. I was not worried about falling, getting up is always more challenging than the fall.
The beach was rocky. Really no trace of much sand so I took it slow and easy. Praying the entire way. I knew I would make it to the water. Getting close was not enough. I needed to get IN. Not to swim but I needed my feet in that water. I finally arrived at the perfect spot where I could see small fish, algae and other microscopic life floating around. I put my feet in the water, not more than ankle deep and prayed. I took my hands and poured the water over my body, head to toe. Thanked God and stared at the mountains of upstate NY and exhaled. This would be my home soon. I have work to do.
The work I would do would not be made clear until several months later but none of that mattered to me. I knew that it was time to leave California and it was a divine appointment. A way would be made for me and it was. Now, I am packing my life up once again, this time alone but not lonely. I am taking this journey solo because the work that I have is spiritual in nature.
It is my belief that there was a reason why every door closed in California. I needed to isolate myself from what was familiar to move into this next phase of ascension. Sometimes elevating requires isolation. I was reminded of how Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in isolation. Most spiritual icons often speak about how critical isolation is and while I do not consider myself any sort of spiritual icon I am well aware that my work in and of itself is spiritual in nature. So, isolation for a time is the prescription given to me.
I plan to live in the beautiful state of Vermont, learning the local culture, eating great food, working on amazing projects (will share more later) and putting maple syrup in my coffee(because it’s actually amazing that way). I hope you join me for the ride. It’s going to be hella sweet. Just like maple syrup.
