teaching students at The Hewitt School how to build a library. It was great fun and she will be missed. xo

Rev.Bobby O.MCarroll,D.D.(youngest of the five children) 
My first trip to the "Big City" began friday-nite with a long soaking/bath in the tub,followed by an early bed time. 
Excited, saturday morning started with dressing in my short-pants and long stocking outfit, not forgetting to put vasaline on my face, elbows, knees and on my new patten leather shoes.        
The long walk from our house in Elizabeth, N.J, (a blue-working-class street- changing into a Black middle-class communiy) to the train station, up the rickied stairs and onto the wooden platform all added to the anticipation/fear of a nine year-old, following his older sister into (what my mother would say was "God only knows where".
The view of the engine spitting out smoke,the feel of rotting seats on by bare legs,the dirty windows, the deafening noise of the wheels on the tracks didn't bode well as we desended into the long black tunnel, under the Hudson River.

 Tighly cluching Vernell's hand, we made our way though the ant-hill of Grand-Cental-staition. Scurrying in all direction were more people than lined the parade-route in Elizabeth on the 4th of July.

Our first stop was Radio City Music Hall. As we waited for the elevator, I asked
"why do we have to sit in the balcony like we do at our local movie?" Her answer was " the differrence is that this is New York and were are going to sit in the mizzanine". 
The Rocketts (showing more under-clothes than was pictured in my Sears-catolog, under my bed) danced and kicked high.The movie screen seemed a block long and two stories high kept me tranfixed for hours.

Horn and Hardy was our next stop. Five nickles and the slot opened to a beef pot-pie, which was eagerly, devoured      

   Off Broadway, the marquee read... Paul Robeson in OTHELLO !!!.
I didn't ask Vernell if my mother knew that she had named my brother after a famous character, but knowing moma, I was sure she was completely aware.
 Good seat helped me to settle down.
In hushed tones came three quick tutorals:
  "Bobby, it's theater...not thee-ate-a'
 This is the story ..line and what is going to happen
 Now sit back and enjoy!!!
Who was this gaint, black man with a voice so deep that the sound made me shake..But not so much afraid that it stopped me from leaping to my feet and yelling  "Othello...Othello..she didn't do it..like that man said".        
A gentle but firm hand pulled me back into my seat, as I cried.
At His second curtin call, the lights came up and this hulk of a man leaned from the stage and said "I hope that the critics are as convinced.". 

Stepping out into the evening and looking skyward at a thousand/million points of light, my teacher/mentor directed journey of enlightment and learning began for me a life-time of  "wondering as I wandered".
As a Biblical teacher/Pastor for more than fourty years, I have hoped and constanly watched for that moment (as Vernell also did) when the lght of understanding/revelation shown in the eyes of my family, friends and students.
"We all dance to the tune we have been shown, but there is one dance we must
all dance alone"  author unknow
.
 Maranatha.....amen,,,amen REV.22:20