Or is that... Tales of the Homeless at the Laundromat??
I'm starting to think I'm a bigot: everyone at the laundromat seems homeless to me. Although today's guy again had a shopping cart, a 40 oz. beer, and... of all things: a new jacket and a CD player. He couldn't get the CD player to work and I ended up giving it a thorough once-over with my trouble-shootin' eye. Perfection.
You know... it always amazes me what these people without homes, have in their little carts. Like a shaving kit and freshly washed clothes. A little house-on-wheels. Their priorities to buy (I'm guessing he bought it) CD players and batteries... Tunes, but no home to play them in.
Poverty makes me sick. People who are not employable and living out on the street makes me sick. What The Hell Happened in Sacramento, to MAKE THEM CLOSE ALL OF THE RESCUE MISSIONS???? It's not the fault every homeless person that they are on the street. Some are mentall ill. Some are addicts.
For a state of liberals, I have to say: SHAME ON YOU FOR LETTING THIS BE THE STATUS QUO.
FYI: I'm not taking responsibility yet, because I've only been in the state for a few months. But Dot ain't gonna take this lying down.
Peace, and Happy New Year.
Dot.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Gasp!
Ginger was taller than Fred. Can you believe it? I never knew. Must've watched them 100 times together and never noticed.
M.W. and I dance together every time we're in the same house. We move together so perfectly, and I started thinking we might look foolish if on a dance floor. But no.... if Ginger can be taller than Fred, Dorothy can be taller than M.W.
Grin.
M.W. and I dance together every time we're in the same house. We move together so perfectly, and I started thinking we might look foolish if on a dance floor. But no.... if Ginger can be taller than Fred, Dorothy can be taller than M.W.
Grin.
New Roses on the Square, and Life in Black and White
New Roses:
Walking through Chavez Square yesterday, I noticed new roses on the vine! They're dark and beautiful, and blooming any day. Year-round roses here? Guess so. Life is so full of wonderment and renewal!
(thanks, Jesus, for duckies!)
Life in Black and White:
Few people have the luxury to live this way. Namely children and the unbroken, the naive, the innocent. My folks are wonderful people, but they have purposely chosen a life of naivete' so as to remain as pure as humanly possible. But they have a great deal of compassion for those of us who, by choice or by force, have ended up "in the world".
As a little kid, I thought my folks were simps. In other words... I thought they didn't know any better... that they were too inept to realize that there was a whole cool world out there. Now I've gone off on this grand adventure (yeah, right), I've seen a lot of the world. Family and friends have this image of "Dorothy" that is irrepressable, successful, and apparently I'm the town darling. And yet I'm still lonely here, I'm still confused about the future. Making the conscious decision to not be an "innocent" one was a lot more criticle than I ever knew. But it wasn't light -- I've always known that my life would be different.
Honestly, for those of you who identify with me: now that you know better and are trying to be better in life... don't you feel like since you made the bad choices and were put in unfornuate circumstances... don't you feel like it's now your job to help others get out of that place? Cause I sure do. And also, God loves each and every one of us. He has never betrayed us as we do Him.
Lil' Kim is an adult who lives in black and white. She harshly judges those who do not stand up to her morals. I used to do that. Now I understand. But she's an "innocent" and probably always will be. She is precious in every light and has the sweetest heart ever.
... just wish she'd give up the death-grip on everyone doing everything the "right" way.
Peace for the New Year.
Dot.
Walking through Chavez Square yesterday, I noticed new roses on the vine! They're dark and beautiful, and blooming any day. Year-round roses here? Guess so. Life is so full of wonderment and renewal!
(thanks, Jesus, for duckies!)
Life in Black and White:
Few people have the luxury to live this way. Namely children and the unbroken, the naive, the innocent. My folks are wonderful people, but they have purposely chosen a life of naivete' so as to remain as pure as humanly possible. But they have a great deal of compassion for those of us who, by choice or by force, have ended up "in the world".
As a little kid, I thought my folks were simps. In other words... I thought they didn't know any better... that they were too inept to realize that there was a whole cool world out there. Now I've gone off on this grand adventure (yeah, right), I've seen a lot of the world. Family and friends have this image of "Dorothy" that is irrepressable, successful, and apparently I'm the town darling. And yet I'm still lonely here, I'm still confused about the future. Making the conscious decision to not be an "innocent" one was a lot more criticle than I ever knew. But it wasn't light -- I've always known that my life would be different.
Honestly, for those of you who identify with me: now that you know better and are trying to be better in life... don't you feel like since you made the bad choices and were put in unfornuate circumstances... don't you feel like it's now your job to help others get out of that place? Cause I sure do. And also, God loves each and every one of us. He has never betrayed us as we do Him.
Lil' Kim is an adult who lives in black and white. She harshly judges those who do not stand up to her morals. I used to do that. Now I understand. But she's an "innocent" and probably always will be. She is precious in every light and has the sweetest heart ever.
... just wish she'd give up the death-grip on everyone doing everything the "right" way.
Peace for the New Year.
Dot.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
"You's People Too": Laundromat Adventures Part II
This happened a few weeks ago, but I'm just remembering it now. Again, set in the local Fluff-n-Fold, again, with a homeless or near-homeless man who approached me.
Now I'm not uppity, upper or middle or whatever class. And I'm not suffering from a superiority or inferiority complex, or what-have-you. Just callin' it like I see it. And here's the way I see it:
Ton's of people do suffer from feeling inferior. They spend their whole lives being sorry for who they are, what they are, and even eating, walking, and talking apologetically. Take my former M-i-L, Listless Landra.
Listless Landra had a good heart but a rat-bastard of a husband, my former F-i-L, Jerky Jerome. He was overbearing. He totally exploited her goodness to his end: the Almighty Buck. She had hopes, goals, dreams in life. When I met her -- mid 40's, I noticed that everyone treated her terribly, including my ex. Her shoulders were shrugged, she secretly ate chocolates and cupcakes and chips at all hours of the day and night. Getting fatter by the day, she started to lash out at all of us. Then, somewhere along the line, she was broken. She started to cover her mouth when she ate, like a teenager wearing braces. Only she didn't have braces... she just let life defeat her.
So back to our homeless (or nearly so) guy at the Fluff-n-Fold... he was polite to everyone, making conversation about the weather and sports and so on. Sometimes it breaks my heart that God chose to make some people smarter or more gifted than others. All of the missed and wasted opportunities and that they don't know Vivaldi's Four Seasons or have tasted shrimp cocktail and Champagne. Or that they haven't read John Grisham or Kurt Vonnegut, or they don't know who Coldplay or Train is. Perhaps, just perhaps, they may use grammar better than me. Grin.
I chatted briefly with this man as I put clothes in the wash. Listened to him make general conversation with others, and then walked the wet clothes over to the dryer. Apparently I was in his way, because he stood about 3 feet to the right of me. I looked up and said "Sorry." It makes me feel bad to inconvenience people. Even when I'm doing something I have to do.
The man gave me a "some-r" teeth smile and said "You's People Too..'
The Grace that he was capable of giving to me was more than I was capable of that day. And I'm the one who's been given all this other Grace and gifts and Mercy. Hardly deserving!
I've been wondering why, and wondering what to do about that. And it just occurred to me that it's my signal to get off my fat butt and do some good for my fellow man, rather than sit here and feel unworthy about it.
From the book Skeleton Man by Tony Hillerman, a Native American tells this to the sheriff, about "white people" wearing and owning diamonds, or anything else of excess: "They collect these things to prove that they are better at being greedy than their friends." Ain't that the truth.
Kinda makes me want to live off the land, on a hillside in a grass hut.
Now I'm not uppity, upper or middle or whatever class. And I'm not suffering from a superiority or inferiority complex, or what-have-you. Just callin' it like I see it. And here's the way I see it:
Ton's of people do suffer from feeling inferior. They spend their whole lives being sorry for who they are, what they are, and even eating, walking, and talking apologetically. Take my former M-i-L, Listless Landra.
Listless Landra had a good heart but a rat-bastard of a husband, my former F-i-L, Jerky Jerome. He was overbearing. He totally exploited her goodness to his end: the Almighty Buck. She had hopes, goals, dreams in life. When I met her -- mid 40's, I noticed that everyone treated her terribly, including my ex. Her shoulders were shrugged, she secretly ate chocolates and cupcakes and chips at all hours of the day and night. Getting fatter by the day, she started to lash out at all of us. Then, somewhere along the line, she was broken. She started to cover her mouth when she ate, like a teenager wearing braces. Only she didn't have braces... she just let life defeat her.
So back to our homeless (or nearly so) guy at the Fluff-n-Fold... he was polite to everyone, making conversation about the weather and sports and so on. Sometimes it breaks my heart that God chose to make some people smarter or more gifted than others. All of the missed and wasted opportunities and that they don't know Vivaldi's Four Seasons or have tasted shrimp cocktail and Champagne. Or that they haven't read John Grisham or Kurt Vonnegut, or they don't know who Coldplay or Train is. Perhaps, just perhaps, they may use grammar better than me. Grin.
I chatted briefly with this man as I put clothes in the wash. Listened to him make general conversation with others, and then walked the wet clothes over to the dryer. Apparently I was in his way, because he stood about 3 feet to the right of me. I looked up and said "Sorry." It makes me feel bad to inconvenience people. Even when I'm doing something I have to do.
The man gave me a "some-r" teeth smile and said "You's People Too..'
The Grace that he was capable of giving to me was more than I was capable of that day. And I'm the one who's been given all this other Grace and gifts and Mercy. Hardly deserving!
I've been wondering why, and wondering what to do about that. And it just occurred to me that it's my signal to get off my fat butt and do some good for my fellow man, rather than sit here and feel unworthy about it.
From the book Skeleton Man by Tony Hillerman, a Native American tells this to the sheriff, about "white people" wearing and owning diamonds, or anything else of excess: "They collect these things to prove that they are better at being greedy than their friends." Ain't that the truth.
Kinda makes me want to live off the land, on a hillside in a grass hut.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Roses still Bloom in Chavez Square...
Okay okay... the roses in Chavez Square were finally gone last week. But folks... if you're in a place that winter lives... you totally understand my utter amazement vis a vis acceptance that it rains in California rather than snow -- there's roses and camilla in bloom rather than ice-icles (sp?). The hills have turned green again (from brown in July through November). Sigh. I still love it here.
Christmas night was wonderful: bottles of Champagne', bottles of Wine, and roast goose. Family, friends and loved ones. Presents thoughtful and extravigant.
Am I the only one who feels unworthy?
Alright... okay. I'm convinced that I the only thing I need on Christmas is my family. Frankly, I have a good job and can pretty much buy everything I want. (Even though some things are saved for Boyfriend, because I ain't buyin' myself diamonds -- that's his job!). Boyfriend and I talked about not exchanging gifts next year... because we really do feel bad that everyone goes off and spends and spends... and there are so many people who actually Need stuff and we know that we don't.
Next year, we're going to Costa Rica and work at a Mission for Spring break. Then, to build houses in Mexico and not exchange gifts with one-another at Christmas. But lil K has already announced that she will buy us gifts, because that's what she wants to do for the holidays.
Kiss kiss. Hug Hug!
Happy Holidays.
Dot.
Christmas night was wonderful: bottles of Champagne', bottles of Wine, and roast goose. Family, friends and loved ones. Presents thoughtful and extravigant.
Am I the only one who feels unworthy?
Alright... okay. I'm convinced that I the only thing I need on Christmas is my family. Frankly, I have a good job and can pretty much buy everything I want. (Even though some things are saved for Boyfriend, because I ain't buyin' myself diamonds -- that's his job!). Boyfriend and I talked about not exchanging gifts next year... because we really do feel bad that everyone goes off and spends and spends... and there are so many people who actually Need stuff and we know that we don't.
Next year, we're going to Costa Rica and work at a Mission for Spring break. Then, to build houses in Mexico and not exchange gifts with one-another at Christmas. But lil K has already announced that she will buy us gifts, because that's what she wants to do for the holidays.
Kiss kiss. Hug Hug!
Happy Holidays.
Dot.
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