Field Trip Notes on my visit to Ivory Moore's House

Today April 1, 2010 at exactly 2.45pm, I left my office with the McNair Director, Ms Veronica Reed to Mr. Moore's house. Before today, Ms Reed had called him on Tuesday to inform him that she was bringing me to his house. When we got there, we met his wife Mrs. Moore who was busy smoking and watching a TV show. She sat on a wheel chair facing Mr. Moore. We exchanged pleasantries with her. When we turned to say hello to Mr. Moore, we discovered that he was sleeping. "Our quests are here Ivory" shouted his Mrs. Moore. He mumbled something that we could not comprehend and we all started laughing. He laughed too but did not raise his head neither did he opened his eyes.

"Hey SPORTY" Ms Reed called him. She went closer to him and tapped his left shoulder "Veronica is here Sporty". She announced herself. Sporty is a pet name that Ms Reed gave Mr. Moore about eleven years ago when he was still visiting TRIO program department. She told me that she gave him that name because he used to be an active sport man with high school upward bound kids in those days. Well, finally, we sat down after shaking hands with both husband and wife.

Mrs. Moore started with the story of when she used to go to school here in East Texas University and later got a job. She told us that when she was a student, she used to go out to movie theaters with her friends and they would eat plenty of food. She told us that she added so much weight. We all laughed and I asked her to tell me how much wait she added. "I used to be 125 pounds and after eating so much fast food, I became 130 pounds". And it was then that Ivory decided to talk still with his eyes closed. "When we were courting...” Mrs. Moore cut him short and told us what happened the first day she took Mr. Moore to introduce to her parents. "When we got to my parents house, Ivory had to bend to enter through the door because he was too tall. When my auntie saw him coming in, she shouted 'oh my God who is this?". We all laughed. "Yes it is true because I can still remember all of that" Mr. Moore responded. "Don’t mind him, most of those things; he does not remember them anymore. I always remind him" Mrs. Moore told us. Mr. Moore finally raised his head and opened his eyes and looked at me and Ms Reed. “Sporty” called Ms Reed again. “Now you are fully awake” She told him.

I noticed that all the time we were there, Mrs. Moore kept lighting one stick of cigarette after another. Our lungs were filled with smoke. But I think she was enjoying what she was doing. Mrs. Moore is a very interesting woman with a sense of humor.

After about one hour into our visit, Ms Reed asked me to tell Mr. Moore the purpose of our visit which I did, and so we decided to fix a date for me to come back which is going to be Saturday April 3 after noon to have a chat with him. But before we fixed the date of my next visit, Mr. Moore asked me to tell him how I got to know about him and if I have ever met him before. I told him that Ms Reed told me about him as the man who helped with the establishment of TRIO programs in Texas A&M University Commerce. I also told him that I had seen his pictures and that of his wife in the TRIO artifacts. Not only that, I reminded him that I met with him during the black history month at the Commerce public library where I took photographs with him. “Were you there that day?” He asked me. “Yes I did” I responded. “I can’t remember seeing you there” He told me. “He doesn’t see well” Shouted his wife with clouds of smoke streaming from her mouth. “You see, he doesn’t tell me things anymore” She said looking at me.

"I learnt Africa is very dark from a comedy play show" He asked me while his wife watched me to probably hear my response. Before I could say anything, Mrs. Moore said "I know it may not be true because even the guy who put up the show never went to Africa". She asserted.

Anyway, we left there at about 4.55pm pm back to the office. I enjoyed my visit, and one thing I discovered is that both husband and wife are very approachable, and I hope to go back there on Saturday to conduct my interview. And I know I am going to have fun because he accepted that he will sign the signature form and told me also that he is ready to work with me. WOW!