Shopping Day
Up early today, shopping day, and my turn. Yes we still do community shopping, we save gas, and time, and reduce exposure, to all the nasties.
~~~~~~~
So this happened.
Shopping in town. I stoped by an Asian specialty grocery mart I shop at often. Really nice folks, great selection. They like me because I always place a big order. Anyway when I walked in, a large white woman yelling at the young daughter running the register.
WW. "Take off your mask I can't understand what you're saying."
D. "I'm sorry ma'am, I can't, for medical reasons."
WW. "What, that mask is what is making you sick, take it off."
I walk up wearing a fancy respirator. And say "Excuse me, her mask is protecting her, not making her sick."
WW. "Fuck off, you're one of them, aren't you. Those Fauci puppets, trying to kill us white folk." Then stormed out without buying anything.
Dad and mom arrive from the back and everyone is speaking Japanese very fast at the same time. We all have a laugh, but I can feel the tension behind it.
It takes me a while to grab all the stuff I need. And the young daughter is watching me intensely when she is not busy. I get everything rung up and paid for, and daughter insists on helping me carry stuff out to my truck. Gets mom to run register.
We lean together on a bike rack, and she tells me this long story in perfect English. I am not going to repeat it here. But she does have severe medical issues. Along with a big family dispute about treatment. I just let her vent. Gently placing my full attention on her.
When she is done. She bows deeply, and so do I. She bows again. And I bow, but just a tad less deeply as her. This allows her to show respect to me without words.
小さな名誉であり、特権です。
(a small honor, and a privilege.)
Up early today, shopping day, and my turn. Yes we still do community shopping, we save gas, and time, and reduce exposure, to all the nasties.
~~~~~~~
So this happened.
Shopping in town. I stoped by an Asian specialty grocery mart I shop at often. Really nice folks, great selection. They like me because I always place a big order. Anyway when I walked in, a large white woman yelling at the young daughter running the register.
WW. "Take off your mask I can't understand what you're saying."
D. "I'm sorry ma'am, I can't, for medical reasons."
WW. "What, that mask is what is making you sick, take it off."
I walk up wearing a fancy respirator. And say "Excuse me, her mask is protecting her, not making her sick."
WW. "Fuck off, you're one of them, aren't you. Those Fauci puppets, trying to kill us white folk." Then stormed out without buying anything.
Dad and mom arrive from the back and everyone is speaking Japanese very fast at the same time. We all have a laugh, but I can feel the tension behind it.
It takes me a while to grab all the stuff I need. And the young daughter is watching me intensely when she is not busy. I get everything rung up and paid for, and daughter insists on helping me carry stuff out to my truck. Gets mom to run register.
We lean together on a bike rack, and she tells me this long story in perfect English. I am not going to repeat it here. But she does have severe medical issues. Along with a big family dispute about treatment. I just let her vent. Gently placing my full attention on her.
When she is done. She bows deeply, and so do I. She bows again. And I bow, but just a tad less deeply as her. This allows her to show respect to me without words.
小さな名誉であり、特権です。
(a small honor, and a privilege.)