Life in Airhead City

Raoul Pascual — Sat, 26 Jun 2021 01:48:37 +0000

Raoul’s Two Cents: June 25, 2021

Color Blind

Someone called me a racist the other day. I was shocked that someone would call me that just because I was critical about the violent activity of some people who just happened to be of a certain culture. I don’t think I became defensive … no use debating someone whose mind was already made up … I just took the insult in and pondered about it.

Yesterday I got a very uplifting compliment from one of the Mexican handymen I work with. Fernando said he has worked with many people but there was something about me that was different. “You are the nicest person” he said. And then he hugged me. That was a Kodak moment — a heavyset, stocky short Mexican hugging a lean, aging, 6 foot Asian. We laughed.

The other day, a Hindu friend, was sharing what life is like without his wife. Raj is planning on a European cruise but what’s a cruise without someone to share the adventure with? He asked me if I knew someone who’d like to go with him. I’m working on it.

Last week, a friend from Tanzania asked me for advice as he was purchasing a lot of computers for his homeland. Whenever Kunta calls, he laughs. He says he loves to hear my smiling voice. He wants to get into some kind of business with me. We dream about importing and exporting stuff — copper, emerald, coffee beans, leather goods, pistacio nuts … African stuff. We even have a jungle junket in mind. Even if nothing comes out of these talks, we just enjoy brainstorming about our global enterprise.

Some of my best friends are not of the same skin color as me … not the same age as me. They may have different religious and political ideologies, different sexual preferences, but that’s fine with me. We’re all part of the human race.

I believe people (even those with good intentions) who harp at our differences play a losing game. For them, there’s always an abuser and a victim (and they’re never the abuser). I was in a meeting led by a Guatemalan American. Out of nowhere, Gertrude told him she empathized with his being South American. She practically said “you should feel bad because of your dark skin.” The teacher was visibly shaken. He probably never considered himself anything but American … even I had never looked at him through colored lenses … heck! his skin was even lighter than mine. Gertrude brought the mirror into the room. How did that help?

When someone has a pimple on his nose, do you point it out? I grew up with a someone who stuttered. We were told not to mind it. The stuttering went away.

So when someone calls you a racist, chances are, it isn’t because they really know you. Maybe it’s because they are trying to force you into their worldview. Who needs to fit into a world shaped by bitterness and self importance?

But this is just me. TGIF people!

Raoul

“Your journey to peace starts when you stop debating the uninformed, reasoning with the unreasonable, and bantering with fools.” –— Anonymous

Thanks to Mel of Washington, D.C.

Artwork by Raoul Pascual

Videos of the Week

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C, for this elevator prank.

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for this inspirational video

Parting Shots

Thanks to Kathy of Bend, Oregon

Thanks to Cheryl of Temple City, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA

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Airhead Flies to Miami

Raoul Pascual — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:02:26 +0000

Raoul’s 2 Cents

Old Friends

I got a call from an old friend last Monday. Even though we had not seen each other in almost 20 years I knew her immediately. Dorothy (her real name) is now 87 years young. She travels with a walker, She can only hear from her right ear. Her husband passed away 5 years ago. The arthritis in her hands stole her joy of writing. You would think she’d be all gloomy but no. She sounded as spritely as the day I last saw her. And her memory and sense of humor are still intact. We must have spoken for an hour.

After her call I thought about my other old friends and realized I have so many older friends. Lee, another old friend sent me a few of his mug shots. When he read I did caricatures of some nurses 2 weeks back, he was emboldened to ask for his own caricature. Only real friends would dare ask that kind of favor. I did a quickie and he said he loved it. Now he wants to have dinner with me and my wife when isolation is no longer a fad.

Lois, another older friend who I collaborated with in her book (Tom the Mouse), is moving way out North to be closer to her grown up daughter. I intend to help her blow her 90th birthday candle before she moves away. I will miss seeing her.

John, my business partner is pushing 80 as well and I enjoy talking about our business and about social issues since he’s also a history professor.

Tom, Mike, Ed, Mel, Chuck, Don, Heather, John … good friends … old friends. They replete with wisdom. They have so much to share. Although their bodies slow them down, their minds are still alert and active. Why do I love chats with old people? Could it be that I’m “old people” too?

Dorothy said our phone conversation made her day. I’m sorry to disagree because it was she that made mine.

Be safe, be healthy, and remember, if you are blessed with an old friend, wisdom is there for the picking. TGIF people!

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. — Proverbs 19:20

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Cheryl of Arcadia, CA for sharing this joke.

Video: Dance Time

Thanks to Nani of the City of San Juan, Philippines
Clever young ventriloquist with a voice that is out of this world.

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who sent this pun.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.

One more from Don

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA

The post Airhead Flies to Miami appeared first on Traveling Archive.

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