Yesterday, I decided to take the bus.  The weather was nice, I wanted to spend a little more time in the sun rather than the dark metro tunnel, and I was feeling adventurous.

Upon boarding the bus, it was apparent who the “crazy person” of the bus was.  (Anyone else seen that HIMYM episode?)  It was the black man in the wheelchair.  This fact is relevant.  I wouldn’t mention it, otherwise.

He began trying to talk to a black girl sitting across from him.  She kept her headphones in and ignored him, but he kept talking. In an attempt to bring others into his non-existent conversation (Isupposethat was his motivation?), he decided to pick on little old me.

Apparently, I’m clearly “not from here” and must be “a foreigner” because I don’t have “that American pink coloring like that guy behind her.”  Also, (and I bet you didn’t even know this) he claims the “Jews are taking over.  We got rid of the Klan, but now we got all these other people coming in.”  Where he gets his information, I don’t know.

But said it. With hand gestures. Directed at me.

Look, sir.  Perhaps I can clear the record up for you.

My family has been in Texas (and a few other places) for many many many generations.  I also happen to have some Cherokee blood mixed in there, so I’m pretty sure I beat everyone else on the bus in terms of original “American.”

Also, fun fact: I do, in fact, have “pink coloring.”  I’m a redhead.  Molly Ringwald wasn’t “Pretty in Pink” for no reason.  But what does that have to do with being American? 

Of course, I didn’t say any of this.  I stared out the window, silently regretting my decision to take the bus.  This lovely gentleman decided to pointedly (neck sticking out in my direction) stare at me.  He continued staring even when another man told him it wasn’t nice to stare and that he was being rude.

Lesson learned, I guess.  Not taking the bus again for a while.

What does it matter when someone came to the country?  It doesn’t.  They’re here now. 

I promise, the “damn foreigners” aren’t trying to come after you. 

Really.

Office chores that I actually kinda enjoy doing:

• shredding papers.
• restocking my paper clips.
• sealing envelopes. such a sense of… adventure.
• keeping file folders for each separate project on my desk.
• swiping the coupons from the weekend paper on Monday morning. no one else uses them…
• cleaning off my desk on Fridays to end the week in an organized fashion.
• emptying the hole puncher. confetti party in the trash can!
• showing up to a meeting with a bunch of possibly-important papers.