Makeda Sings

It's Friday!! I am always happy to bring in the end of a week. You know, it's so nice to live in such a culturally diverse area here in the Washington metropolitan area. For instance, I was on the train last night on my way home and there was a small crowd on the train. It was getting towards 9:30 PM so the people were peppered here and there on the car. I was sitting in the rear of the train observing four Ethiopian women and a little boy. I am not familiar with the ethnic groups in Ethiopia so that's all that I could decipher. They were looking at clothes that they seemed to have just purchased. They were, of course, speaking in their language and laughing about whatever they were discussing. I was about to read, but I put down my book to listen to them. Even though I couldn't understand a word of what they were saying it sounded so beautiful. The laughing was all I could understand. They continued to talk and look at the items of clothing. They seemed to comment on each item as they went along. The little boy became restless and began to act out so that he could get his attention that was absent at the time. One of the women comforted him as she held him in her arms. She began to sing a song in her language to soothe him. I became instantly enthralled by her beautiful singing voice. She would stop every now and then to respond to the other ladies who were still engaged with their activities, but she would continue to sing afterwards.

The siren like beauty of her voice sooothed me. I wish that I knew what she was singing about. It would've been awkward to ask. Besides, I didn't want to interrupt what I had been enjoying so far. Eventually, the little boy calmed down and they all got back to their conversation. Admittedly, I wanted the little boy to become impatient again so that I could hear her sing. The conductor finally announced my station and it was time for me to leave. I got off the train and proceeded down the escalator for my final destination. This was just something that I wanted to share. I'd like to think that we all have moments like that, but as my grandmother used to say, "Stevie, you can't expect everybody to think like you." Well, maybe they don't, but they don't know what they're missing. Have a good weekend. Peace~