Reconsidering...

And so do you think a week could go by without Jeremy and I changing our plans again?  Of course not!

Last weekend we had a nice time catching up with Jeremy's friend from high school, Neil, involving the obligatory visit to Sully's - a bar of fine distinction.  Nothing like seeing local white guys sing reggae in a perfect Jamaican accent.  On Saturday we took advantage of the pool at Neil's apartment building in early celebration of his birthday the next day before a relaxing barbeque and an early night (one visit to Sully's is enough for one weekend - and no matter where you intend to go for the evening, all roads lead to Sully's). 

Sunday was a day for inspiration - and we went to the black church in Hartford which Jeremy is so fond of.  It was an AMAZING experience, and something that I recommend to everybody.  We got there in time for the end of the singing, which actually took a long time to end, and it was like walking into a disco, except that the people who were grooving the hardest were all over 50.  There were women in their Sunday best running up and down the aisles, one woman who was easily 70 was jumping up and down in her row, the deacons rushing around to make sure no-one tripped over and did their hip in, and women ushers rushing around holding sheets up in front of those getting extra excited to make sure they didn't expose too much of their flesh while they boogied like it's 1969.  It truly was amazing, and their was such a feeling of love and family that I have never felt before in a large gathering of people.  The preacher got up in jeans and a black t-shirt and really looked like he was about to give everyone a schooling, and he certainly did.  The lesson was about weathering storms, and he shied away from neither politics nor race issues.  This was a preacher who calls it how it is, and he certainly was an inspiring speaker.  Jeremy was visited by some people who recognised him, I was surprised that they recognised him but then he did point out that he kind of stands out there (the only other white person in the building was the sound engineer, who might have been paid to be there).  A couple of people came up to us at the end of the service and thanked us for coming, and I really felt like they weren't just being nice to the poor white visitors.  I very much recommend finding yourself occasionally in a situation where you are the odd one out in terms of colour/culture.  It is a healthy experience.