A New Beginning

“Much as we may wish to make a new beginning, some part of us resists doing so as though we were making the first step toward disaster.” ~ William Bridges

Black Courtesy

It all started with my parents when I was a kid.

“Do you know him?” I would ask. Usually the answer would be “no”.

Then, a little while later, it would happen again; this time we’d be in the car going to the store or someplace.

“Do you know him?”

“No.”

And that’s how I grew up. My folks waving or speaking to random black folks throughout the day.

I carried that with me as I grew up. It was almost a subconcious thing. I’d be walking down the street, come across another Black, and seemingly on cue, we would both greet each other. It was usually done with a curt nod or a “hey” or “whassup”.

It wasn’t until years later, and an ocean away that this phenomenon was verbally documented by my girlfriend (now wifey). What made it even more surprising is that she is Hawaiian/Japanese.

“Do you know him?” she asked.

“Nope, just speakin’”

“Ah, Black Courtesy again.”

I was definitely surprised by her comment. I had never thought to put a name to it. In fact, I never gave it more than a moment’s thought. It was just the natural order of things. Black folks pass each other, exchange greetings and keep on walking.

Since then, I’ve become much more concious of “Black Courtesy” and I try to never miss an opportunity to extend it.

misterdubs ~ StumbleUpon

Memories of Bill Withers

I’m blogging my own SU site about Bill Withers. A nice little piece…

Halloween

I just finished with Halloween over at my mother-in-law’s. Watching the children run around with bags of candy made me wonder,

“how many mothers and fathers are checking the candy?”

When I was little, after an evening of “Trick or Treat”, Mom and Dad took us home, and we had to pour out all our candy onto the table for inspection.

After paying “mommy tax” and “daddy tax”, all the various pieces of candy was inspected. Basically, if it wasn’t sealed at the factory, it did not get eaten.

That included all candy/caramel apples, popcorn balls, and other specialty items.

I didn’t see much of that tonight, of course I wasn’t all up in those people’s homes, either. But I am willing to bet that not many folks are doing that nowadays.

My folks have always been kinda old fashioned, and did things as they saw fit. That didn’t always jibe with what society saw as being proper. Now that I see things through the eyes of an adult, I think they did a pretty good job.

I wish to thank MyDreamWatch for finding the spooky pics!