People don't know what to make out of me. I have been asked if I was Latino, Persian, Arab, Ethiopian, Indian, Native American and you name it, everyone thinks I am from some where afar, all I know is I was born at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington DC to an African American army sergeant father and to a German music teacher mother. Grew up all over the world and we settled back in Washington after my father left the military. We lived in a middle class, nice black neighborhood and my mother was probably the only white person in our zip code. I grew up fighting every kid in the block trying to make fun of my mother's accent.
The reason I am telling you all this is to point out how people you know on every day basis could be as fake as any person you meet for the first time in your life.
Last night I picked up this woman down town and I was driving her to her house in Chevy Chase, I have picked her up before, I remembered her because we had an interesting conversation after I told her I was Persian when she asked the boring "Where are you from?" question. Every now and then I tell my passengers that I am from some where else and see their reaction just for fun. So this woman was telling me that her grandparents were Italian immigrants and we are all immigrants some how, immigrants are hard working people building our nation and how the 12 million undocumented immigrants should get their citizenship step by step and all the progressive concept. Last night she asked me where I am from again with out realizing she has been in my cab before, this time I told her that I am a Washingtonian and spent most of my life around Washington. Her reaction took a sharp turn drastically, she said that she was happy to ride with an American driver for a change and that she is tired of foreigners, they are ruining this country with crime and disease and all the illegals need to be deported and everything else. Wow!
I really wanted to embarrass her by telling her that was not what she said last time she was in my cab but the fucking rain was pouring down like hell, I wanted to focus on my driving. I really don't understand why people bullshit, especially to a person they might not see ever again in their fucking life.
12 comments:
Even worse, they fake it with someone they MIGHT see again!
Maybe she just enjoys telling stories as much as you do. ;)
You must be a bit like me I only have to pick someone up once and thats it I can remember them even two or three years later.and yes I seem to do remember conversations as well. Pity it don't work on other things as well like paying bills or names and birthdays.
Speaking of people making assumptions.... I once picked up a guy at the Vienna metro. Sounded like he had some sort of Scandanavian accent. Then he says, "So what exotic land are you from?"
That really, really irritated me. Why automatically assume a cabdriver is from somewhere else? Some of us are actually 100% native born Americans. So I said to him, "Excuse me? I'm not the one with funny accent." That pretty much shut him up.
Rude? You bet. But he was only going about a mile and a half up the street, so screw him.
I like that lugosi he only went a mile and a half so screw him.
I to remember people I caddie for more then once but they dont remember me. It's weird how one person can remember alot of people and not for get faces and yet some people just cant remember that same person even if they have run into each other a few times before.
I remember all the fares and I even remember where I pick them up. What is really bad though is when they don't remember me. There are less than 5 women drivers in the San Jose area. I think I sure must not have left an impression.
The only time I pretend to be someone else is when I get coffee to go. They say, "What's your name?" and write it on the cup. I know it is wacky but I have been, Abby, Brandy, Chandra, Dinah, Elana...
Locals are a rare thing in this town. I'm a local born at Walter Reed too!
Joann, next time you get coffee try Star, Angel or Mercedes. These are a few fake stripper names I know :)
No wonder you are so smart Red:)
Way to go Lugosi, polite shmolite.
Bob, it's so crazy I even remember what they wore last time I saw them.
Jamy, the diffrence is I tell honest stories, no bullshit like her.
Huh? You told her you were Persian the first time she rode with you--that's not true, is it?
I think your lie was harmless, though. She is total hypocrite and your harmless lie exposed her, which is cool.
Jamy, like I said, I honestly wrote that I lied the first time when she asked me where I am from. I didn't hide that fact and like you said it was a harmless lie.
Can you imagine when you're asked "Where are you from?" thirty to forty times a day? Let alone little harmless lies, you wanna shoot yourself.
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