Mjarc
I wish I didn't have to report that similar generalities were made about different races of people at my family gathering, but I do. And it makes me sad, and it makes me realize how wonderful my parents are for raising us all to be open minded and compassionate, and to not care what a person looked like on the outside. Inside we all bleed, breathe, and breed the same. My cousin-in-law said something negative about the "n*****s" on the south side of Kankakee, and how they're "bringing the city to a financial state of chaos". Ignorant statements don't make intelligent conversation.
My two sisters, my brother, my dad, and me all turn to my mom who has is shaking her head and frowning while the other half of the family sits on the other side of the room and chuckles at a racist joke. I know these people love me, and I know that they're good natured inside, but I just can't figure out how they can be so close-minded and sheltered on the outside. My grandpa calls African Americans "black cats". He has as far back as I can remember, and even back then, I always remembering saying, "they're not cats, Papa. They're just darker than we are." To them, I hope that I'm "just lighter", because I honestly don't feel a bit better than anyone on this planet (save the whiners). I come off cocky, and I come of crude, but I know, deep down inside, we're all the same.
Tip a drink tonight to those that are too ignorant to realize how silly their insecurities make them sound. We'll tip one with you.
On a more upbeat, positive note, it was nice to keep the midnight Denny's Christmas Eve tradition alive. It started back in 1996 when myself and one of my greatest female friends, Westphal, decided that we were too lazy to go to Midnight Mass (gulp) with her family. I was simply going along for the ride. We headed for Denny's instead, ended up drawing Christmas cards with colored pencils and crayons on our napkins and leaving our waitress (who is still working there, and was working tonight -- more on her tomorrow, maybe) a gargantuan tip. Spread the cheer, spread the wealth. Why stiff someone that has to work on Christmas Eve? It eventually grew into a full-fledged outing, involving coordination of schedules and lengthy discussions on how to pay the bill. Tonight was no exception, and Tall Ben from Colorado was even able to make it in for the festivities. Tomorrow night is Christmas Night Bowling .. yet another event in the long list of traditions this time of year.
I'm actually quite fearful that this may be the last year for both of these little Christmas activities. People are moving away permanently. People are getting married. People are joining the armed services. Its nice to know that we're all here this year, and that we're all able to spend some QT together at least this one last time. And, no matter what happens down the road, we'll still be able to talk about these nights and those nights and the nights in between and laugh and smile and make fun of each other and get a bit choked up and get some of the memories mixed up and "now who broke up with who" and "oh that's right" and "I love you, Merry Christmas, I'll call you tomorrow night, sugar."
I wish I didn't have to report that similar generalities were made about different races of people at my family gathering, but I do. And it makes me sad, and it makes me realize how wonderful my parents are for raising us all to be open minded and compassionate, and to not care what a person looked like on the outside. Inside we all bleed, breathe, and breed the same. My cousin-in-law said something negative about the "n*****s" on the south side of Kankakee, and how they're "bringing the city to a financial state of chaos". Ignorant statements don't make intelligent conversation.
My two sisters, my brother, my dad, and me all turn to my mom who has is shaking her head and frowning while the other half of the family sits on the other side of the room and chuckles at a racist joke. I know these people love me, and I know that they're good natured inside, but I just can't figure out how they can be so close-minded and sheltered on the outside. My grandpa calls African Americans "black cats". He has as far back as I can remember, and even back then, I always remembering saying, "they're not cats, Papa. They're just darker than we are." To them, I hope that I'm "just lighter", because I honestly don't feel a bit better than anyone on this planet (save the whiners). I come off cocky, and I come of crude, but I know, deep down inside, we're all the same.
Tip a drink tonight to those that are too ignorant to realize how silly their insecurities make them sound. We'll tip one with you.
On a more upbeat, positive note, it was nice to keep the midnight Denny's Christmas Eve tradition alive. It started back in 1996 when myself and one of my greatest female friends, Westphal, decided that we were too lazy to go to Midnight Mass (gulp) with her family. I was simply going along for the ride. We headed for Denny's instead, ended up drawing Christmas cards with colored pencils and crayons on our napkins and leaving our waitress (who is still working there, and was working tonight -- more on her tomorrow, maybe) a gargantuan tip. Spread the cheer, spread the wealth. Why stiff someone that has to work on Christmas Eve? It eventually grew into a full-fledged outing, involving coordination of schedules and lengthy discussions on how to pay the bill. Tonight was no exception, and Tall Ben from Colorado was even able to make it in for the festivities. Tomorrow night is Christmas Night Bowling .. yet another event in the long list of traditions this time of year.
I'm actually quite fearful that this may be the last year for both of these little Christmas activities. People are moving away permanently. People are getting married. People are joining the armed services. Its nice to know that we're all here this year, and that we're all able to spend some QT together at least this one last time. And, no matter what happens down the road, we'll still be able to talk about these nights and those nights and the nights in between and laugh and smile and make fun of each other and get a bit choked up and get some of the memories mixed up and "now who broke up with who" and "oh that's right" and "I love you, Merry Christmas, I'll call you tomorrow night, sugar."
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