Extremes But We Relate

So I had a thought today... Well actually I have lots of thoughts everyday, most of the time way too many. Anyway, a good friend of mine just wrote a blog about her experience with discrimination and it just got me thinking... Aren't we all minorities in our own way? There are a rare few who could fit in anywhere in this world. I thought my friend was one of them. She's a beautiful half black, half white girl who gets mistaken for being everything from  Jamaican to Swedish. She's currently studying in India where she is a minority. I'm a blond haired, blue eyed, 75% German, some random percentage Jewish girl who lives in California. Yeah, based on my looks I fit in here. During the summer I can get an awesome tan and the more the sun shines on me, the lighter my hair gets. I am in no way exotic to California. BUT I've been all over the world and people know that I'm not from there. In South Africa that was an obvious one, in Italy they knew I was from California, in Germany they thought I was from there, and in the Philippines they just assumed I was American (rightfully so). Each place in this world has their ideas of what the "majority" should look like and what the "standard" appearance should be. But if looks were eliminated there wouldn't be a need for the words "minority" and "majority" in reference to society. I've learned that each person has hurts, each person knows how to laugh, each person has weird things about them. If I was alive during WWII think about how controversial I would be, I look like I fit into the Arian race, but I am Jewish, so which side would have won? Most likely my appearance, right? At least that's what I'd like to think... They'd take one look at me and ASSUME I was acceptable based on my appearance. 

One of the things that bugs me most about people is our ability to generalize and assume and categorize. I know that in America we're considered, by law, to be "free", but socially we are far from being free. Even a blond haired, blue eyed, 75% German, and some random percentage Jewish girl living in Southern California has assumptions made about her. They might not be as direct as a half black, half white girl living in India, but they're there. 

My Utopia: I wish that every person we saw was immediately stripped of their outward appearance. All we got was words and feelings from others. Once we got to know us then we got to see us. That way we'd see us for what we really are.

Let's make it happen.

And that's my rant today, in response to yours.

Love you!

My New Favorite Blog

Here's a man that knows his sarcasm, satire, and he's straight up sexual.

http:// www.johnmayer.com/blog

...

I've got no words right now...

and for some reason, I'm perfectly fine with that.

Hey Johnny

Little tin soldier

you finally found your drum

you don't have a uniform

but you look more eloquent that way.

I looked out my window today

and I saw Johnny Appleseed

walking barefooted 

without a pot on his head.

That part's just a myth

but I could see streams of floating colors

following him where ever he went.

I don't know if they were visible to everyone

but they were vibrant to me.

I went down to ask him what they were

but when I got there I realized 

I had them too.

I breathed him in

and let it be.

When in doubt...

... put on your roommates huge head phones and dance and sing as loud as you can.

... do the previous statement for your roommate who's in a bad mood.

... laugh.

... eat.

... don't shower.

... point your toes.

... complain irrationally.

... look at bumper stickers on facebook.

... do what feels good.

... draw.

... write.

... make fun of someone else.

... play with your cat.

... swim naked.

... look at old pictures.

... listen to Frank Sinatra.

... lay on the ground and stare.

Some Quotes

I've been here and there and everywhere lately. My heart is full of joy in being able to love with my friends these past few days. I think I've spent time with every type of friend I have. The crazy ones (they're all crazy), the artsy ones, the silly ones, the caring ones, the boyfriend ones (or ONE I should say), the random ones. I'm so extremely blessed to have these people in my life. Here are some of the things my friends say:

"If you don't do it Uncle Kramer I'll shit in your gin and tonic." (said in a 7-year-old British accent)

"Is that like a black bra and a white shirt?"

"You just flexed your muscles and I got whip lash from just looking at it."

"I'll come back for you... always and forever."

"Where's Hannah? I just want to see Hannah."

"I had a dream about you..."

It's so comforting to know that in the midst of a huge storm there are gusts of wind that sweep you off your feet and keep you going forward. 

To My Samba Girl

She's got the worlds most contageous smile,

She's got the smoothest brown skin.

She fills my heart with joy and laughter,

Her name is not Jayden, but Lynn.

She reminds me of yellow sunshine

and a bucket of sweets,

She loves to sing and swing

and move to old school beats.

Oh my Lynny girl

off you go

on a beautiful adventure

to discover everything and more.

Go climb trees 

my little Samba girl.

Fly with the birds

and sing with the clouds.

Roll in the mud

and swim naked when you can.

Dance underneath

the Southern Hemisphere's stars.

Shout to the world

know that you're blessed

and when you get back

tell me your stories.

We'll be waiting with smiles

and open arms.