Hungry

This blog isn't about writing, it isn't about books, it isn't about authors or publishing or anything remotely close.  It  is about a young man I've recently taken the time to know.  I've actually known this child for the last eight years, but I never gave him the time of day.  I never took the time to know him.  He has been a weekend guest at our house, more so recently.  I've known he doesn't come from money and I will admit he is the darkest skinned boy I've ever met.  I don't have any issues with black people, and was proud when my daughter couldn't tell the difference of skin color.  My son has always been best friends with African American boys.  I've never thought much about it.  The boys come over on weekends and mix music and record.  Everyone calls me 'Ma'am' and have amazing respect for us and our home.  The boys aren't out drinking (they are all seniors in high school) or doing drugs - it is Friday night and they are at my house, laughing and eating and having a good time.  When I hear a cuss word I remind them where they are, and they all apologize profusely.  Where am I going with this story?  Good question.

My son was talking to me and he said how much his friend likes coming over.  I couldn't imagine why it is any fun, I figure we are boring.  My son told me he likes it because he gets to eat.  Huh?  What?  He isn't petite by any means.  I ask what that means.  He told me he lives with his dad and they can only afford Ramen Noodles and that is what they eat.  Now let me back up two days ago.  I told my son... "No one over tonight, I'm not feeding anyone, I want silence."  Now I feel horrible.  It isn't about how I feel though.  I turned my back on a child, he is 17 but he is still a child and I turned him away for dinner.  I turned around and told him that his friend is welcome over to eat with us ANY time.

It is a shame that in our own backyard a boy should only be able to have noodles for dinner.  I don't know the father, I don't know where they live, well I know it isn't in the best neighborhood.  I know nothing at all.  A boy I've known for 8 years and this is the first time I took the chance to know him - for 8 years he could have eaten at my table.  I didn't know.  Why would I write this out?  Actually, I don't know.  I guess I want everyone to take the time to get to know that kid you might not know very well.  Don't judge a person by the color of their skin.  Trust me, I know plenty of white trashy kids and plenty that have been disrespectful in my house.

I don't have anything funny to say - but the holiday season is coming up, maybe someone could use some help.

How to annoy a book seller

Something about me you might not know.... I work at a large bookstore chain once a week.  I was so excited to start working there; I thought it would be full of intelligent articulate customers... I was grossly wrong. I thought that working for such a large corporation they would be concerned about their image.... again I was wrong.  I thought they could afford to pay a cleaning crew to clean the bathrooms and the store... leaving me to put away books and straighten up for another day of book hunting for customers.  Wrong.  I've come up with a few rules that you should keep in mind when you go into a book store.

1.  Know the name of the book.  Don't walk into a book store and 'think' the name of the book is something.  If you don't know the title of the book, know the author's name. We are not working for psychic hotline, we don't know the name of the book, we didn't watch Dr. Phil that day, we didn't hear the radio show you did and we don't know your aunt or what series she is reading.
2.  Put your book away in the RIGHT place.  If you put it in the wrong spot, you make it impossible for us to find it for the next customer.  Do you think we magically know that you put a business book in the fiction section?  Now the computer shows us it is in the store and another person needs the book, you make it impossible for us to find.  People are jerks when they want a book and the computer says we have it and they are running late.  They take it out on us.  Just so you know.
3.  If you get a magazine and take it to the men's bathroom with you to do whatever it is you are doing with that naked girl mag... don't put it under the trash bag.... go ahead and just put it in the trash can... I don't want to touch it.  (This happens more often than you'd think).
4.  If you have children, teach them how to put away a book.  If your child is a raging lunatic screaming freak, leave your little darling at home.  Some people come to a bookstore to study or read.
5.  Don't set your sniffling sneezing germ ridden child out to run the store like a wild zebra.
6.  If you insist on eating your food throughout the store.... throw away your trash.  I'm not your mother and I don't enjoy picking up your nasty chicken bones up off the floor.
7.  Keep in mind that we are citizens in your town, and we have blogs and we just might talk about you in a blog.... so don't act like you're above us.  I'm honestly not interested if you are a mega millionaire.... we breath the same air.

I could probably keep going...... so, now that you're totally disenchanted with book stores... and some of you are wondering where I work..... just know that it is happening in your bookstore too.