At A Loss For Words

I got a text a few days ago from a friend I used to pastor a few years back. We’ll call him Rob. Rob was texting to say, “Happy New Year!”

The thing is, it was one of those mass messages that he sent to his entire inner circle. I wasn’t even paying close attention, but before I realized it, I had replied to all ten people in the message feed. A few seconds later, my phone rang. I knew it was someone from the recipient list because it had the same area code and I didn’t recognize it. So out of sheer curiosity, I answered. It was his mother.

She was either inebriated, hung-over, or possibly it’s just this is the result of decades of drug abuse. She was cussin and fussin about nothin. I was at a loss for words. I was forced to sit and decipher this endless barrage of F-bombs, Bs, MFs, and so on and so on. She talked about how she and her girlfriend were looking for someone with a truck to help them move some stuff. Then she talked about how much she hated Rob’s ex-wife. She did mention Rob’s new baby on the way, but that brought her right back to his ex-wife who (judging by the profanity) she doesn’t like at all. I bet if she saw her in the street it’s be on. No questions asked.

It reminded me of the first and only time I spoke to her face to face. It was on Christmas day about five years ago. I dropped by Rob’s house early in the morning. I suppose this could count as a pastoral visit, but it was really just one friend swingin by to holla. He surprised me saying, “Let’s go by my mom’s.” It’s Christmas. Why not? The visit was a lot like the phone conversation only live and in living color. It was kinda awkward too because as soon as we got there Rob went upstairs. And so there I was left to hold the profanity punching bag for her and her girlfriend while they went in. It was your typical Bs, MFs, and F-bombs. She talked about the crazy party they had the night before. Then she asked to borrow ten dollars to get some liquor for the day’s adventure, and so on and so on.

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At a Loss for Words