And I don’t mean physiologically; that is easily researched. I mean in practical terms. For us women, early mornings are for going
over the day’s chores, trying to stay warm a little bit longer and for
squeezing out that last ounce of sleep.
But as I ponder that dilemma, it dawned on me that there are so
many other things in life that I will probably never figure out in my lifetime.
Beginning with this question that the kids constantly ask: “Where do homeless people get markers?” It sounds simple enough, but I have never
been able to give them an answer. Think
about it – homeless people can always grab a piece of cardboard off the side of
the street, but the markers? And for
some reason, their signs are usually boldly written. I live in a house, and many times I take a
marker from the drawer, and it is dry.
Yet, homeless people are able to produce thick, black markers for their
signs. What gives?
While I ponder that one for eternity, I still cannot grasp how people
can owe their friends and family money, are not in the process of paying it back
any time soon, but have no problem splurging on themselves. It’s not like the lenders cannot see the borrowers
wearing fine clothes, going on trips, driving fancy cars and eating out, while
the lenders are still pinching that penny.
I often wonder if it’s not easier to just repay the loan and as we say
back home ‘suck salt’ for a while until one is back on one’s feet. Hey, maybe it’s just me!
And speaking of family and friends……..Why is it so difficult to
get their support in an endeavor?
Meanwhile, they are the first to promote some rich and famous celebrity’s
latest work to you? You know the
ones – they are on facebook exclaiming how you should support some celebrity’s
movie, music, artwork, book or event while they have no time to boost their
friends, relatives, neighbors, countrymen, or own people. Where is the love?
Which brings me to an issue that I keep seeing on facebook: People taking the liberty of trying to run other
people’s lives. Now if an individual
chooses to put a photo on facebook and others do not approve, does that really
give them the right to say anything?
Facebook has a Like button
under a post or a photo. The only time
the Unlike button pops up is if someone
decided that he no longer likes someone else’s post or photo. Facebook NEVER gives the option to Unlike someone’s post or photo
initially. Sure it asks for your
comments, but if you have nothing good to say, just don’t say anything. It’s really not that difficult. As a people, we choose to possess things. For instance, we have many shoes, lots of
clothes, few children, plenty friends, cars, you name it. However, and no matter how much we would like,
we only get ONE life to live.
So, a woman feels like shaving her head…it’s her business. She feels like wearing short shorts in
public…..if she can brave it, give her her props. A man feels like wearing a muscle shirt
without any speck of muscles…more power to him.
Somebody wants to give advice….allow him. I’m not saying that we can’t find someone’s
photo funny. Come on! You know I’m anything but hypocritical, but
it takes some real cahonas to personal message somebody and give them unwanted
advice. The same photo that you are
looking at, they can see it too; so if it’s okay with them, then it should be
okay with you. Now messaging someone to
tell her that lipstick is on her teeth, or that her makeup is off, that you
should do!
And what is the deal with parents making their kids’ lives better,
to the detriment of their own? The other
day, I saw a 66 year old grandmother taking the trash to the curb, with the
assistance of her walking stick. Don’t ask
me how I know her age. You have your
stalking tendencies – I have mine! Anyway,
it truly broke my heart because her 34 year old son and 32 year old daughter-in-law
live in the house along with their twelve and nine year old children. It was bad enough when she used to put the garbage
on the bonnet of her car and escort it up the driveway, but why is it that
taking out the trash is her sole duty when there are FOUR other people quite capable of handling the task?
Speaking of crazy kids, why do they lock the bathroom door when
they are inside, but have no problem barging in, sometimes even unlocking the door,
when it’s their parents’ turn? Just size-wise
alone (in most cases), don’t we have more to hide?
I’m still bewildered that people still have this thought – it’s
not going to happen to me.
Where do people get off thinking that if they speed, they can avoid
accidents, whereas others might not? How
come people still believe that they can experiment with drugs and alcohol and
not get hooked? People practice unsafe
sex and have the nerve to be surprised when they get pregnant or contract a
sexually transmitted disease. And as
grown as some of them are, they are still surprised by death. Of course it is usually a shock, but to still
think that it only happens to other people is beyond naïve. Yes, we are all special; but nobody is that
special!
But you know what I will never be able to wrap my head around? It’s people who expect you to have the same exact
beliefs as they do. And for some reason,
they are so sure that theirs make more sense than yours or that you are totally
wrong. As unique as we are as
individuals, we WILL have varying
thoughts on religion, politics, sexual mores, child rearing, and schooling,
just to name a few.
And don’t get me started with this next topic! The other day, I was reading a book set in
the United States and written by a British author. And like most novels, when a new character
comes on stage, we are given a brief description. It always helps to visualize the character. Unfortunately, I noticed that a couple token Blacks
were thrown in, but I could have done without the gesture because their
descriptions were just too vague. There
was a handsome African-American man. Are
we talking Boris Kodjoe handsome or Morris Chestnut handsome? Then there was a tall African-American
woman. Did the author have Big Bertha in
mind or Naomi Campbell? But as bad that
those two examples were, I still cannot get over Dr. Singh. She was female. However, the White characters were grumpy,
nice, had intense blue eyes, red hair, brown hair and other characteristics
that give a vivid picture of who they were.
You know, recently when Raven-Symoné said that she doesn’t
consider herself African-American, although she is aware that she is Black,
people got all upset with her. Africa is
a continent - not a country. You don’t
hear people calling themselves European-Americans. First off, people should be free to identify
themselves as they see please. Secondly,
the issue I have with the term African-American is that it is just too broad. I’m Antiguan and an American citizen, so how
does that make me African-American? Just
because I’m Black? Yes, my ancestors
came from Africa, but because my legacy was stolen, I have no idea which
African country they originated. Yes, I
could speculate, but I’d rather not. Sometimes
when you lose something, you just have to accept the fact that it will never ever
be returned to you. I could assume I’m of
Nigerian descent and accept the culture as my own, but what if my ancestors
were from Sierra Leone? If you think
that’s okay, then call any random West Indian a Jamaican! You won’t find a European American adopting
the culture of Norway, Ireland or Finland, if he’s not sure which country his
ancestors originated.
There are 47 countries in Africa.
It is just laziness to group all Black people as African-Americans
because with 50 countries in Europe, White people are not called European
Americans. And since the ancestors of
the North African people were not generally enslaved in America, are they
considered African-Americans too?
Especially since they don’t look ‘African’. Maybe it’s me, but things would be so much
easier if American citizens were just called Americans.
And lastly, speaking of Black people, I’m still fascinated by the
color of our skin, mainly the variety of shades. It is so amazing that family members with the
same genetic makeup can have such varying shades, especially among
siblings. So the complexion I love, and it
will always intrigue me, but perspectively speaking, why the hell does it take forever
to fix the hair?
