Some of us neighbors have started going for a walk every morning, for fresh air and exercise. I apologize for talking about race and politics but they are central to the story. We are black and live in a slightly integrated, but mostly black neighborhood. Our walk takes us through another neighborhood, which is more Caucasian but has been known for generations as being one of the most socially and politically progressive areas of the city. This takes place during the turbulent and interminable election season, and the other neighborhood is populated with Biden/Harris signs. It has always been common to see signs on lawns and in windows in support of Black Lives Matter, immigrant rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, etc. Some of the churches have rainbow flags displayed on them. There is not a Trump sign to be seen anywhere.
All of the walking neighbors are pleasant and easy to get along with, but the election season seems to have triggered something in one lady.
Whenever we pass another person we greet them. If they do not respond immediately—and they are Caucasian—she immediately turns to me, points at me and says, “It’s getting too close to the election,” “See? The election,” or just, “See? Trump!” or something like that. Unlike her, I actually look at people when I speak to them, and 99% of the time, they are wearing earbuds and probably didn’t hear us speak. I get sick of this, and whenever she makes one of her ridiculous assumptions, I tell her about the earbuds. Sometimes it gets even more ridiculous, as follows:

Us: Good morning!

Person: (waves)

Neighbor (turns and points at me): See, (my name)? Trump got to her.

Me: Actually, she waved after you turned around. She doesn’t seem happy about that trump comment, though.

Us: Good morning!
Young Man walking dog: (silence)
Neighbor: See, he’s one of those that Trump told not to wear a mask. He put his head down because he sees us together and he doesn’t want to confront both of us. You’re lucky I was here!

Me: He’s watching tv.

Neighbor: What?

Me: He has his headphones on and he’s looking down at his phone and laughing. I usually don’t wear a mask when I walk my dog, either. People don’t get very close to you because the dog is there.

Neighbor: Aw.

This one occurs after some of the election results have been counted. Two ladies are already in conversation and don’t respond to our greeting.

Neighbor: See, the tide is turning! They don’t even like us coming to their neighborhood now! You’re about to see them acting different! We’re going to have to watch out when we walk over here!

Me: They were already in a conversation that we kind of interrupted. Also, every day they come out of that house with the Black Lives Matter, no human is illegal, civil rights are human rights sign in the window. Hey, did you know that 92.8% of this neighborhood voted for Biden? In our neighborhood it was 93.1%! Almost the same!

That seemed to get her off this particular issue but she stayed off the deep end on politics and some other issues. Fortunately for me, it soon got too cold to walk in the morning and now I am free of her insanity.

(It’s the night of Halloween. Due to the current pandemic there’s far less trick-or-treaters than previous years. Before it’s even nightfall, we get a knock on our door from a pair of teenagers in Halloween costumes.)

Teenager #1 and #2: Hi! Trick or treat!

(While mum greets the trick-or-treaters, I go and grab their sweets. My mum likes to be generous on Halloween, and this year is no exception.)

Me: Here you go, Happy Halloween!

(I watch both girls light up as we drop five small chocolate bars each into their bags)

Teenager #1: *Giggling* Th-thank you!

Mum: No problem, have a lovely night.

Teenager #2: We will!

(They leave with huge grins in their face. Seconds later, we hear two very excited screams.)

Me, trying not to laugh: I think we just made their nights.

Some random passenger, late teens, to his friend: So yeah, I only got cr**** (game console) when I was eight. I had to make do with it untill I was twelve and got (popular portable game console). When I was fourteen, I finally got (other game console) and I could start to play for real. And now I bought (expensive computer) to play games. Yeah, I cannot believe my parents made me wait so long for a decent system.

( The young man continues his rant about how his parents sabotaged his gaming and they didn’t get that he deserved a decent, expensive, gaming system).

Me, quietly mumbling: and here I am, extatic at sixteen because of a game named “pong”
(Yeah, showing my age here. For those unfamiliar with the game, it is two white rods, one on each end of the screen, which you can move up and down (simultaneously) while a white square or the “ball” is moving in between. The object of the game is to hit the “ball” and play it back to the other side. When you miss and it goes off screen, you loose. Rather primitive, a far cry from the “decent” games the poor teenager had to do without for so long but that is where it all started).

My coworkers like to joke a lot, so I’m used to weird comments. This one might have been the weirdest so far. I’ve been stuck moving Christmas stems and bushes for a few hours. I go to find my boss to ask a clarifying question about the project and find him with another coworker. It’s December 2020, and I’ve worked at this store for about four years now.

Boss: “Aw, it’s like the [My Name] from a few years ago! She’s got glitter everywhere. It’s in her hair, and her headband, and on her mask…”

(The floral department was mine until about two years ago, when they switched me to a different department. I’ve been taking care of floral again the last few weeks because the current lead has been gone.)

Me: “Yeah, [Teenage Coworker] told me. And I have to go to the grocery store after work.”

Coworker *quietly*: “They’re gonna think you’re a stripper!”

Boss: “[Coworker]! No!”

Me: *laughing* “[Former Coworker] used to call me a fairy.”

Boss: “Awww. See? [Former Coworker]: awesome. [Coworker]: Monster. This is why we miss [Former Coworker].”

Me: “Yeah, I always joke that I should go as a fairy for Halloween.”

Coworker: “Yeah, I like ‘fairy’ better.”

(I use the self checkout at the grocery store, and don’t pay cash, so the glitter wouldn’t have mattered anyway? I did find it kind of funny, and it’s not out of character for this coworker to bring up.)

I’m in middle school, shopping with my mother. When we get to the checkout, the cashier has a beautiful silver Star of David necklace. I’m a pretty sheltered kid in a very Christian community, so anything having to do with other religions automatically has my curiosity and Jewish culture in particular fascinates me.

Me: “I like your necklace!”

Cashier: “Thank you!”

Me: “It’s a Star of David, right?”

Cashier: “I’ve been getting compliments on it all day, but you’re the first person to actually know what it is.”

I still think it’s a little sad that the sheltered kid was the only person who knew what a Star of David was.