i am being eroded daily. i truly wanted to help our society become more caring and inclusive.
in jr. high i had a friend named keith lee. he was black(i am not) and poor as a chruchmouse. his shoes flapped open at the bottom like little mouths, so he called them his "walkie talkies". some of the students would throw pennies towards him, laughing evilly as he scrambled to pick up those tiny bits of currency.
i had little more than he did, working in the dishwashing area running the huge industrial washer for free lunches.
but i shared with keith. every day. we both had a hot lunch as long as i had a hot lunch. it was not a racial thing, a looking down thing.....keith was a human being, and i had but one little rabbit in my hat. so every day he and i shared lunch together.
i was in a terrible place emotionally, due to family problems in a very small town, but i refused to look away. especially when keith tried so very very hard just to go to school. if i am even a little bit sane today, i have keith and his "walkies talkies" to thank. what we gave each other then was purpose. we cared about each other, daily, regardless of public opinion.
i will always remember keith. he got me out of myself. and if you are out there my friend, i bid thee long life and much happiness.