Project Kengikat

Double Rainbows

// February 11th, 2010 // Uncategorized

Wednesday was a great day for the most part, although it ended with me in what could have been a very bad car accident, thanks to my brakes going out without any warning whatsoever. Dodger and I walked away unhurt other then me…maybe Dodger too, being very shaken by the entire experience.

Tuesday I went down to Skid Row to get my service logs signed for the volunteer work that I do through my Unpluggin HIV outreach that I created, these service logs are due every month, so I needed to make sure all of them were ready to be turned in today~Thursday.

While I was there I had the chance to visit with Yvette, Donald and Tara and Donald shared that one of the guys was having a birthday and he would be going to get him a cake. He then invited me to join them and I agreed and said I would get some pizza. I knew I would be able to do this because Lee had given me a donation to help with the Kick Start meal program I have. Many time this takes place on the weekend in what I have called Sunday Dinner and most time it is for homeless people. However this time I would be able to help feed the residents as well as provide food for someone who is a very nice young man.

Once I got in the freeway I decided that it would be better if I cooked and I would also be able to feed more people then I would if I were to buy pizzas from some pizza place. I called Donald to make sure this was ok and he said yes. This was all going to be a surprise to the person it was for so I needed to make sure he would be around. After setting the details of the surprise birthday party in motion with Donald, I then called the young man to make certain he would be around. I simply told him I was coming by to speak and hang out with him. He said “yes he would be home.” Then it was all set, all I had to do was go shopping for the food.

It hard started to rain before I left Skid Row and by the time I got back to Hollywood it was raining very hard, but this was not going to stop me and Dodger from the task of getting the food we needed for the birthday surprise. We also needed to get a birthday card as well. We could have went to Fresh and Easy which is closer to home, but they dont have the bulk prices that I would need which are available at Food 4 Less. So we stopped at Food 4 Less and once we park Dodger jumped into the back seat and got under his blanket, as if he were telling me “dont even think to ask me to get out in the rain with you.”

Once inside the store I got what I needed and then headed to the long lines that always seem to be in this store, but just as I was about to get in what was the shortest line, about 10 people ahead of me, this register opened up and I walked right into an empty check out lane. The bonus of this was the fact that she was nice and very helpful at making sure I was getting the lowest prices. YAAAAY. I paid, then bagged my purchase and headed out the store only to discover that it was raining much harder then when I first went in. When I got to the car Dodger had taken his blanket from the back seat to my seat and he was sleeping. When I opened the door he jumped up and looked at me with those huge brown eyes. I loaded the trunk and we headed out for our next two locations.

By the time I came out of the last store the sun was shining and when I looked toward the sky there were these two beautiful rainbows. Not like the ones I had seen before, these were two full arches with colors that were so vivid and bold. The way the sun was in the sky made the rainbows just so impressive. I smiled all the way home just looking at them.

I did all the prep for the meal that night, so Wednesday morning all I needed to do was finish things and then fry the chicken. I cooked buttermilk fried chicken, potato salad and mac & cheese. I also made a video of the cooking for my Cooking with Kengi channel on YOUTUBE. The entire time I was frying the chicken Dodger was looking at me like “what smells so good and can I have some?” Once we loaded the car and made our way toward Downtwon LA, Dodger stayed alert the entire time. I think this was because he could smell the food in the trunk. We did have to make a few stops along the way to get two bags of beans from the Coffee Bean and Teas Leaf, Bed Bath and Beyond for a bean grinder and then a stop for soda for the party. We arrived on Skid Row about 1:15PM. Donald came out to help us unload.

While the guys got things all set up, I went and spoke with Yvette and got a huge hug from Tara. I then headed upstairs to see the birthday boy. He still had no clue as to what was in store for him. I gave him his gift and we spoke for a while and then told him to come downstairs. As soon as he came down we started singing happy birthday to him.

Dodger and I had a great time and many of the residents just love Dodger, so he was right at home with them. I didbring some food with me since he didn’t seem to want to eat before we left home. I was glad I did this because he was all about trying to get the to the food that I cooked.

It was a great day and I am so glad that I was able to be part of it. I really enjoy the work I do down on Skid Row and I am really happy to be able to help in any way, but this time was very special and I am glad that thanks to the donation of Lee I was able to be a blessing not just to the guy who was celebrating his birthday, but to the people who came to help him celebrate it as well.

The food was a hit, everyone raved about it and that made me feel really good. “I had no idea you were going to bring this big old banquet with you Kengi. This is so very nice of you.” Is what Donald said many times.

At the end of the day I asked the birthday boy and some of the residents if they would mind saying THANK YOU to Lee for allowing me to be able to do this, and just like I knew they would, they all said yes.

I visited for a while longer and then Dodger and I headed home and this is where the day went south when my brakes went completely out without warning right as I was exiting the freeway the entire experience only lasted for about 3 minutes but for some reason it felt like it was forever. It was only by the grace of God that I was not hit by the bus that was crossing or any other traffic. My heart was in my chest and once I got the car stopped I was so thankful to God.

With the help of the police I was able to get the car home, but the cost to repair it is far to great, so now I am without a car. This has bummed me out just a bit, but it is what it is. Although I have gotten use to driving and being able to do things for myself, including things for my organization without having to ask people and have them flake, I did get by without a car prior to this one and I will get by without now. It simply means I will have to work a little harder doing what I do, but after the day that I spent down on Skid Row helping celebrate the birthday of someone I think is very cool and deserving, then I know the extra work, time and energy will be all worth it.

As for the car, I am putting it on craiglist to try to sell it and unlike the guy who sold it to me, I will be very honest about the condition of the car.

Like I said I was bummed about the car and this gave me a very bad headache, I called some friends to talk, but no one was around, so after speaking to Donald I simply went took a nap then and headed over to the gym.

I guess my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is my life and for this I am so thankful!!!