So I pull into the gas station to fill up my van and a car starts honking and keeps honking and keeps honking and keeps honking and keeps honking and I open my door and I look behind me and a woman opens her door and suddenly screams “MOVE YOUR CAR!!!”
And then I go “But I’m getting gas?” and then she goes “BUT YOU PARKED IN FRONT OF ME!!!” and then I go “Because I’m getting gas?” and then she goes “BUT YOU COULD HAVE PARKED THERE!” and then I go “But my tank is on this side?” and then she goes “BUT YOU SAW ME RIGHT HERE!!!” and then I go “DOES YOUR CAR GO BACKWARDS???” and then right as things are sizzling up and it feels like I’m about to get smacked in the forehead with a squeegee another woman walks between us and says “YOU DON’T GOTTA LISTEN TO HER!!!”
It was enough to cut the tension and help me give my head a shake. The situation simmered down and melted away as she reversed out and I was left standing there, filling up my tank, thinking about how we are all too wound up right now. Tension is high. Pandemic is wearing. We don’t need to yell at each other at gas stations! We need to give each other space to feel what we’re feeling and try to help each other along the way.
Right? I think? Something like that?
I was feeling bad about not being more compassionate when my public defender walked by me again. I said thank you and we exchanged big exaggerated eye-smiles and I got a sudden feeling that there was a little connection right here, right now. So I told her I talk to people about formative books and asked if she wanted to chat. Her reply? “HELL YEAH!” So we drove our cars across the street, I hit record on my phone, and we ended up laughing, crying, and connecting over the highs and lows of life, in just a few minutes, as two complete strangers.
How did it happen? I don’t know. I can’t explain it! But I think this guerrilla chapter of 3 Books will stick with you for a long time.
Get ready to discuss how it feels to lose everything, how it feels to suddenly be homeless with only your children and a stack of books at your side, and how it feels to be Black and raise Black children in the world today.
Get ready to meet a woman you will not soon forget.
Get ready to meet the incredible Shirley the Nurse aka Shirley Davis.
It is time for another guerrilla chapter of 3 Books.
Let’s go!
What You'll Learn:
What does a day in the life of a critical care worker in remote regions look like?
How do we encourage young people to ask questions?
How did a single mother turn her kids lives around with books?
How does it feel to raise Black children in the world today?
How can language help defuse stressful situations?
What is the value of unconditional love?
Notable quotes from Shirley the nurse:
“All we had were books.” – Shirley the Nurse #3bookspodcast
Word of the chapter:
Resources Mentioned:
Shirley’s first book [13:00]
Shirley’s second book [14:57]
Shirley’s third book [24:35]
The Black Friend by Frederick Joseph
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