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A Banana, a Hip Hop Video, and a Flat Tire



Happy hump day! Or better described as "umph," day for me. I work a double today at my restaurant (my feet are already screaming at me). I have to admit, I am prematurely writing this post, which makes this Tuesday night. But, I won't be posting it until the morning. Working in the hospitality industry has taught me to be proactive. To be completely honest, I am sitting down watching 'The Hills' and asking myself, how in the world are all of these girls so flawlessly beautiful? And how in the hell do some of them still speak to each other after throwing the 'B' word the night before.. "Aurdrina, you're a bitch!" ... Next morning, "Wanna get coffee?" But as I was saying (warned you I fall off track) I'm watching this reality show, which reminded me of a time recently where I threw some not-so-nice words too quickly (once again, proactive) and a stereotype backdrop.

My left front tire has been giving me a hard time lately and goes flat every two weeks or so. I walk out to my car and notice it could use some air, drive to 7-11 across the street, and pull up to a couple of men who look as though they could be in a hip-hop video, vacuuming out their lowrider. Instantly I realize that the vacuum pump is attached to the air pipe. In my mind I'm thinking, "as soon as I get out of my car and walk inside to get change for a dollar, they're going to shout out rude comments and I'll have to act as if I don't hear them." I have to admit, their scrunched brow-line and full mouth of gold teeth was a little intimidating.

With a sour look on my face I walk my way inside, buy a banana (she couldn't open the register without a purchase) get a dollar in change, and turn to stroll out the door. As I closer approach my car, I'm completely speechless. The man from the hip hop video took it upon himself to put his own change (obviously didn't haven't to purchase a banana) in the air machine and proceeded to put air in my tire while I was inside... Wow, my heart melted. Either that or it kicked me in the ass and pointed in my face with that grade school saying "never judge a book by its cover." I cleared my throat and tried to say everything I felt, but could only mumble a, "Thanks man." He gave me a crooked smile, asked if I needed air in any of the others, then capped the air valve.

The thing is, he didn't even expect the 'thank you.' He was just doing what came natural to him, poor image or not(societies image, which I fell prey to). All the nonsense details aside, the point is, after watching 'The Hills,' and recollecting my experience, I recognized that we create a full description in our minds on a persons appearance (I had an entire conversation with myself in my head on my way to get my banana and quarters) and are sometimes never proved wrong and carry on with our opinion without being shown otherwise. But, every once in a while we, and a flat tire, hip hop video, and the purchasing of a banana later, get a poke in the face accompanied by that grade school saying. So occasionally (not always) the clothes, the car, and the material things don't make up for what's under it all.. I mean, sometimes I walk out of the house with hair that looks like 10 birds just flew threw it, two different colored socks, and my shirt inside out. But, that doesn't make me crazy...
Or does it? :P

Comments

  1. April ELISEJune 16, 2010 at 12:06 PM

    Bringing inspiration to yet another one of my days Leah Christine

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJune 16, 2010 at 7:27 PM

    I love what you write! WOW Can't wait for the next one...

    ReplyDelete

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