How to respond to hate?

I was just at Wegmans getting salad fixings for dinner. It's a beautiful sunny 84°F. I was dressed as I often am for these warm days; a button front camp shirt and fitted flat front shorts.

As I reached for a cart, I noticed two very rough looking women in their mid-late twenties. I had never seen them before. Their demeanor, unkempt hair and clothing were odd for this Wegmans location. People don't go to Wegmans looking like crap regardless of socio-economic status, and they looked really bad.

Our eyes met for a split second. The taller and meaner of the two then declared while gesturing towards me "See that! I can't stand that! I hate fucking faggots! I'd slice that motherfucker up in a second."

I didn't respond. I just pretended that it didn't happen. I imagine that if I had said anything at all, I would have been physically attacked. They continued on their way mumbling hate. I entered the store and immediately found Hydroponic Boston Big lettuce.

There is a part of me that says "You don't know where those people came from, what their lives have been or are... They obviously are in pain, and it's not really about you." There is a greater part of me that says "To hell with that theoretical liberal Bullshit! I don't want anyone that filled with hate anywhere near me, or anyone that I care about." People so basic that they verbally fantasize about harm another person just because they are presented differently than themselves may not be worth anyone's time?

It is interesting that many who are liberal or conservative may have definite opinions here, but have never had experiences that I have too many to count. One side wants to save the A-social, and the other wants a gated community from them. The best response probably lies somewhere in the middle. Having experiences like these makes me both afraid and a little ashamed by my response. I really shouldn't be lead to either emotion shopping for dinner.

All In A Weekend

Friday Early Afternoon:
For years I have seen a gent in his mid-80's riding a mountain bike about town. Our paths finally crossed just now. What a delightful man. He told me of how decades ago he fell twenty feet, broke several vertebra, and was told that he would never walk again. He said that he didn't accept the diagnosis, pulled himself together, and purchased his first bicycle.

"God is good. I've been riding every day since. Most days at least 20 miles."

Never give up! ❤

Saturday:
Stayed in and hid from the 100°F heat, exercised vigorously out of boredom.

Friday Late Afternoon:
For an hour and a half I have been walking about with my fly down. Dang, people, see somethin', say somethin'! 🙄

Sunday Early Afternoon:
I forgot to bring water on my walk in this 90°F heat. I stopped at a gas station for a bottle. Embarrassingly, the two one dollar bills that I gave the cashier were damp. "Ewwww, are you a dancer, he asked?" "Flatterer," I responded.

It went right over his head. 😛

Sunday Late Afternoon:
On my walk home, three different strangers offered me cold water, and gentle warnings about the heat. There is far more goodness than hate in this country regardless of what They want us to believe.

Sunday 8:00p.m.:
It's still 92° and I am afraid if I move I will catch fire. Not really, but it is a great excuse to not do laundry. 😛

Just a thought...

Yesterday, as I was leaving the pharmacy and heading to the grocery store next door, a woman stopped me and asked for a dollar. She was; tall, at least sixty pounds overweight, her hair was a fright, clothing dirty... She didn't look homeless, maybe depressed or permanently angry?

As she asked for the money, she looked me up and down with a squinting disapproval. I probably presented the exact opposite of her.

I walked away thinking "That's Syracuse alright! A person who hasn't washed or changed clothes in a couple three days, judging someone else's appearance, while begging for money." As I walked, I reconsidered those thoughts. She didn't hurt me, she pushed herself further away from where she needs to be. Sad really.

Maybe, he is smarter?

It's little nephew's birthday. Someone gave him some sort of game which requires assembly...

LN: Uncle Lester, I got this for my birthday. Please help me put it together.

ME: (Looks at huge box) 100 parts? What the f***?

LN: Oooou, Uncle Lester said a curse word.

ME: Yes, yes, I did.

* I stare at the box for ten minutes

LN: Maybe, if you looked at the instructions? Here.

ME: Oh, great idea!

LN: Uncle Lester, how about you just watch? I am probably smarter than you are.

Me: LOL. If you say so.
(I sit back wondering, who gave him this crap?)

Fifteen minutes past.

LN: All done Uncle Lester.

ME: Great, but I think this part goes over here?

LN: No, it doesn't.

ME: 😐

Peace

I had a lovely chat with a woman at the bottom of my hill. I hadn't seen her for almost a year. She loves to garden, and has a beautiful property. I was admiring her meticulous work, when I heard her say hello from her enclosed porch. She sounded different, like a person with hearing difficult.

She slowly formulated words to tell me that eight months ago she had as the result of medical error, two strokes in one day.

As you might suspect, her road to recovery hasn't been easy. However, her rode to enlightenment has been amazing. She has learned to appreciate life, and peace, and joy. After a life changing event four years ago, she fell into a despair that until now she didn't realize she was even in. Her strokes have served as moments of clarity. She now sees that things come together when we find peace, and not the other way around.

Our paths crossed today for a reason, to share. Don't ignore your opportunities. ❤

No good deed

I fell asleep two hours ago, and now I am awake. 🙁

So, here's a weird tale from my day.

The elderly woman in front of me in the grocery store line was twenty cents short. She seemed nervous and flustered by her miscalculation. I had a couple dimes in my pocket, which I handed to the cashier. The woman was very grateful. She smiled broadly "You are such a kind gentleman."

Seemingly, out of nowhere, a 30-ish, unkempt, racially ambiguous dude appeared at my side. He half smiled and said, "You will be blessed for this." No, this wasn't a "Touched by an Angel" episode. He stood uncomfortably close to me. I could feel his hot breath on my face and neck. There was a wall to my right, so there was nowhere for me to go. I looked him in the eye as if to question his violation of my personal space. Smiling, he added, "It's always good to help people out. You agree with that don't you?" "Sometimes," I answered, still wondering why he was so close.

"Yeah, I was homeless once, and I'm not doing so well now, he shared. I gave him a sympathetic look and nodded as if I hadn't stopped listening.

This was one of those bag-it-yourself stores, and I moved to the bagging counter, then placed my crackers in my bag. I could feel him staring at me as he was being waited on. I took my phone out and read emails, as I waited for him to leave. I had walked the mile over from campus, and I didn't want to be followed. Perhaps, I seem paranoid, but I have endured the type before; any act of kindness is interpreted as a sucker waiting to be had.

He waited outside the door and to the right.

A Birthday Song

I have to share this...
Yesterday, I walked the two miles down to the Dollar Tree. When finished there, I went next door to the thrift store. As I was leaving a cute chubby 8 year old walked up to me, and joyfully sang the birthday song. (Although, highly functioning, I suspect he was somewhere on the Autism Spectrum ) Taken a little aback in that I had never seen him in my life before, I asked if it was his birthday?

"No, Sir, my birthday is July 16th," he offered. "Well, my birthday is tomorrow!" He seemed overjoyed with this news, and started over with the best rendition of the Happy Birthday song that I have ever heard.

Ain't the universe grand!