Yesterday, I had to go to the food bank. That's what happens when you are poor and unemployed and, ya know, out of food. Originally, I detested going to the food bank, and I even cried the first few times I traveled there, I guess out of guilt and shame and feelings of general worthlessness.
Sadly, my trips to the food bank (while rare these days) are no longer seen by the eternal soul of Shiz to be "a bad thing". Not eating would be a bad thing. I am down with eating, and I support it. :)
I usually keep to myself while at the food bank but, yesterday, I met June*. (*Totally not her real name.)
I know the employees of this Boulder County food bank by name, if not by face, so I feel comfortable there. Two years ago, I sold my car so I could pay the rent and, as such, I've had to get used to bus schedules and (quite literally) determine how much crap I could carry home. I have to say that it makes me feel rather Jesus of Nazareth at times.
Needless to say, I carry an umbrella with me everywhere I go. Everywhere I go. There's nothing worse than being caught in a wicked Colorado snowstorm/thunderstorm completely unawares, and anyone who has lived here for more than a year can tell you an indisputable fact regarding Colorado weather:
Wait five minutes and it'll change.
In the past 5 days alone, we have had 2 killer snowstorms, buoyed by days afterward that look like something out of a Norman Rockwell, picture-perfect painting. It's because of this sullied evidence that I simply don't pay attention to Colorado weather reports, because all the meteorologists are wrong at least 50% of the time.
I wish I was joking. From what I'm told, it has something to do with the mountains. Whatever. They need to get new fucking equipment then, Kathy Sabine!
And yesterday, I got caught up in a rainstorm/snowstorm of epic proportion, and highly unanticipated from the chick who never checks weather reports. So I asked June for a ride home and, thankfully, she was more than happy to oblige.
Probably because of the economy, the food bank was unduly busy. It was so busy that we had to wait nearly two hours for our turn (we arrived there at the same time). So June and I talked, to pass the time. We talked a lot. And she seemed really nice and friendly, honestly, although not overtly so.
June has 3 kids, and her oldest is 18. June's eldest daughter just got married and, uhm, she completely approves of this marriage. Even though her new son-in-law does not want her daughter to work outside the home.
She indicated that her son-in-law is Hispanic/Latino, and June seemed very proud of him. She also told me that her husband is currently obtaining a bachelors degree in "Church Music Ministry". June was all too eager to relate to me that she is a Christian, and a frequent reader of the Left Behind series. I guess they even have a Left Behind video game, in which she can't win, because, "They keep beating the shit out of me!"
While at the food bank, we didn't discuss politics at all, because I had a feeling that I might vomit directly into June's lap if we had. I managed to avoid discussing politics with her for two hours. Go me!
But, even though I received a "teabagger" vibe from her, June was fine with giving me a ride home. And I started to reflect on that. How nice is she? She probably doesn't care if I'm every color of the rainbow, and she'd still give me a ride. I told her about my ex-partner, a woman, and June didn't seem to even bat an eyelash.
Everything was great! Until ...
On the way home, I broached the subject of politics. I told her about my liberalness and, while she didn't scoff, I asked her point-blank, "You don't think Obama is a Muslim, do you?"
June replied, "If he is, then he shouldn't be the president."
Uh oh.
I suppose part of me waiting until we were on our way home was self-preservation (I truly did need the ride, although I'm sure I could have gotten my wish from another person), but part of it was also a test to see what she'd say. And, sadly, June did not disappoint.
She asked me if I'd seen the movie 2012.
I responded that I had, indeed, seen it.
June replied, with force, "The president in that movie is black. And our current president is black. Ya know? Do you see? In the Left Behind series, we're not supposed to be waiting for this. It's already here! Maybe December 21, 2012 is the day we're all going to die, and maybe Obama is a sign."
So, yeah.
I think I'm going to start checking the weather reports again and keeping to myself at the food bank. :)