Scrub, Scrub, Scrub

Monday June 17th, 2013

I did my first load of laundry today. My sister Moline wanted to do it for me but I insisted I do it myself. She stepped in to show me how to properly scrub my dirty clothes in the soapy water bucket. Sema, Shannon and another girl from the neighborhood, Suku, sat on the steps and watched me the whole time that I washed my clothes. Even my underwear. I kept looking over at them thinking , “Really? Do you really want to watch me do this?” I had to take a second to go to my room. The kids were teasing the dog and provoking him and another neighborhood dog into a fight. It really upset me. I know it’s only a dog but any animal or person in danger and not fully well upsets me. I’ve seen so many dogs here that are so skinny you can see their bones poking out through their flesh. I know it’s a very American thing, the domestication and spoiling of dogs, but it’s one that I’m used to.

I walked to Hlalakahle today so I could know where April’s house was. My sister Moline and her friend Mandrick walked me there.  Mandrick was jubilant to find out that I was an artist. He told me of his dream to be an actor and started asking me tons of questions such as, “How much does it cost to be an actor?’ ‘How do you actually get put into films?’ Oh Mandrick, if only I knew – ha! It really hit me while I was talking to him and he was sharing a poem with me how many people throughout the world may have aspirations of being an artist but are not born into a position of privilege of being able to fulfill this dream.

Julia Cameron talks about it in The Artist’s Way. I can’t find the exact quote and if I had unlimited internet I would google it but since I don’t please forgive me as I try to paraphrase. It was something to the effect of it is our duty to pursue our art and be an artist because there are a lot of people around the world where that dream is not even an option for them.