Quite by accident, I’m able to squeeze some alliteration into the title today. My high school English teacher would be proud of me–all those hours of English did count for something, after all.
It snowed in Dallas, TX overnight–our first snow this winter; and here I thought we already were in Spring! I’m not a weatherman, by any stretch of the imagination, but when I walked out to my car this morning, seems about 2 inches had accumulated on the hood and trunk. Just for the record, we are forecast to be in the low 70s next week. Only in TX!
I got an extremely disrespectful caller at work this afternoon. Because she detected my non-American accent she asked whether she had reeeaaally called TX. I wanted to say, “No, this is India!” But it probably would have cost me my job. I was miffed that she asked the question, not only on account of the question, but also because of her tone: the condescension; the rudeness! And suddenly, I couldn’t wait to leave the US. Ah, this time next year! Lord, grant that I may be singing a different song in a different land. Maybe I’ll just be swapping one form of discrimination for another.
Whether I’m from Timbuktu or the USA–what does it matter? She probably wouldn’t receive the same courtesy and level of service I extended to her (even with her rudeness) from one born and raised in the USA. What is it about some people in the West that makes them think they are superior to the rest? Just because there are stories of violence and mayhem, abject poverty and a lack of education in the East and the South doesn’t mean that people who were born and raised there are savages, brute beasts, unworthy, inferior. I won’t go off on that tangent…venting only exacerbates the situation.
On a different note, I just learned of Otieno Amisi today, only to find out he died on the eve of the now infamous Kenyan Election. A bright candle, snuffed out before its time. I would have liked to know him personally. His death is a poignant reminder of the many literary events and opportunities I’ve missed all these years I’ve been away from Kenya. But this is no time for regrets. I hope to make my contribution to the Kenyan literary scene in due season, and to have a chance to interact with others in that sphere. Everything has its time.
And now it’s time for me to sign off.
“..I hope to make my contribution to the Kenyan literary scene in due season, and to have a chance to interact with others in that sphere. Everything has its time…”
I second that a girl.. i’m working my way up and out towards making literary contributions too… Simiyu and Musita would def be proud, don’t you think?
i am saddened by Otieno’s departure. As for that mwenda who called you, maze, just let it slide. Its not her fault that she is ignant, or is it ignorant?.
@ Spieling: keep blazing the trail. Let’s make them proud. Kimani (RIP) was mine and she did an excellent job…I still love Shakespeare!
@rags: thanks, man, for the much needed comic relief.
I get such comments on a regular basis, most on a more friendly footing, and let them slide. But now and again someone comes along who breaks the camel’s back.