Billings, MT...This is the Tikkun Olam Train: תִּקּוּן עוֹלָם
Just the other day I was tying up my sneekers to play pickleball where one of my pickleball pals, Sally, (not her real name) came up to me, chuckling. “Wanna hear a great joke?”
“Sure,” I replied, always up for a laugh.
“You’re Jewish? … you’ll like this,” she said … and I squeezed up my shoulders expecting the worst having heard this “you’re Jewish” prelude my whole life, anticipating where it would go. “Know why Jews have long noses?” … and before I could stop her … “Because air is free!”
I play pickleball at the YMCA (Yes, I know how cringeworthy that, in itself, is.) on Friday evenings (Yes, I know it is the Shabbat … but … I like pickleball at my inchoate level.)
Years ago I would have had a violent reaction but I am older and wiser and I really like this woman and her husband, Alex (not his real name). I didn’t laugh.
“You didn’t laugh,” she said, obviously disappointed. “You wear that, what is it, that beanie? I thought you’d laugh.”
I explained that her joke was hate-speech and explained my prepared introduction to anti-semitism, but what really hurt what this her unintended joke was like getting hit in the back of the head with a pickleball paddle. The world is in serious trouble.
I called my cousin out in a similar situation. It was not a joke, but an old 1940s and onward racist comment. She is an uber Christian...supposed to be "nice." It felt powerful to point it out to her. Slamming her in a nice way. She wants to make me her "project." I do not like this cousin so much.
You got me,Liza, LoL 😂 I opened your email and There You Were!! Wasn't expecting, but, Thank You, for sharing this evening, and will reStack ASAP 🙏💯👍🤗
Billings, MT...This is the Tikkun Olam Train: תִּקּוּן עוֹלָם
Just the other day I was tying up my sneekers to play pickleball where one of my pickleball pals, Sally, (not her real name) came up to me, chuckling. “Wanna hear a great joke?”
“Sure,” I replied, always up for a laugh.
“You’re Jewish? … you’ll like this,” she said … and I squeezed up my shoulders expecting the worst having heard this “you’re Jewish” prelude my whole life, anticipating where it would go. “Know why Jews have long noses?” … and before I could stop her … “Because air is free!”
I play pickleball at the YMCA (Yes, I know how cringeworthy that, in itself, is.) on Friday evenings (Yes, I know it is the Shabbat … but … I like pickleball at my inchoate level.)
Years ago I would have had a violent reaction but I am older and wiser and I really like this woman and her husband, Alex (not his real name). I didn’t laugh.
“You didn’t laugh,” she said, obviously disappointed. “You wear that, what is it, that beanie? I thought you’d laugh.”
I explained that her joke was hate-speech and explained my prepared introduction to anti-semitism, but what really hurt what this her unintended joke was like getting hit in the back of the head with a pickleball paddle. The world is in serious trouble.
I called my cousin out in a similar situation. It was not a joke, but an old 1940s and onward racist comment. She is an uber Christian...supposed to be "nice." It felt powerful to point it out to her. Slamming her in a nice way. She wants to make me her "project." I do not like this cousin so much.
Fun is not “mindless.” It’s mindful and heart holding, and essential to life!!
And art is healing. I like "heart holding." Good visual.
Lovely, and so true!
Love watching the process! Very much like writing. A first grader was writing and made an error. Seeing it he said he had to think of another story,
Love the way you draw cats and dogs.
Thanks!