Today was Vaccination #2 and it was kind of déjà vu with yet again the pouring rain. However, the actual “event” differed because it was at a new location and it wasn’t quite as swift-quick-fast as the first time. Instead of lining up like waiting for a ferry, it was a continuous snaking line of cars (kind of like the lines at Disneyland, except with vehicles) and all of the stop-and-crawl, stop-and-crawl reminded me too much of Seattle commuter traffic. It took a while longer than last time, and yet, it was fine. And everyone was so nice. I loved it when we drove into the vaccination tent (two rows of three vehicles) and all of the vaccinators were DANCING! It was awesome! I absolutely felt nothing when I was given my shot—I worried that it had even happened. It was hardly noticeable the first time, but this time it felt like NOTHING. And, hours later, neither of us are feeling any effects. I’ve been wondering about that, since both Nate and Sandra had some nasty side effects for a day. So far so good!
And oh man. Does it ever feel good to be fully vaccinated. Yeah, I know we have 10 days before we can bang our pots and pans, but I’m stoked.
In light of the massacre of six Asian women in Atlanta, Georgia a couple of nights ago, and today’s congressional hearing on anti-Asian discrimination, it brought this disgusting incident to the forefront of my mind and it just feels like the right time to finally talk about it. Plus, I’m pissed off.
A year ago, when trump and his acolytes began their crusade to sneer the terms “Chinese Virus” or “Kungflu,” and it was obvious to anybody with a brain that it was intended to vilify people of Chinese—or any Asian descent, frankly—somebody that I know well (like, my entire life...) posted this on Facebook:
“Off to go camping to get away from the Chinese Flu!”
I’d already heard that Asian people were being assaulted and harassed as a result of trump’s insistence of repeating those snide abuses, and it was very early in the pandemic. Seeing that post made me sick. Typical cruel, mean-spirited Trumpism. I replied:
“Seriously?”
That’s all. Just that. And then I went on with my life. Until a few hours later when this missile landed in my email inbox from the spouse of this person I know well:
“Quit acting like an ignorant racist fool.”
I remember blinking a few times and kind of snorting a chuckle. So, replying an exasperated “Seriously?” to an obviously racist Facebook comment made me an “ignorant racist fool”? (Seriously?) I replied:
“Gaslighting much?”
Because that was the classic definition of gaslighting. Psychology 101. But wait! There’s more! The spouse lit a match and converted those gaslights into full-fledged Molotov cocktails and flung them:
“You vomit hate day after day. [Name] sends one status and you think you can talk shit to […]? No. Sincerely you are THE most bigoted person I have ever met. You talk shit to [name] and we have a problem.”
Honestly, all I could do was laugh. It was the most loony tunes, batshit crazy diatribe I’d ever seen, ever. And so I replied:
“LOL!”
I was really confused (and shocked, to be honest). And then it occurred to me that it must be that their perception of MY “racism” was because I didn’t support the White race enough. Talk about a blow to the gut. That is truly the only explanation I can come up with.
Needless to say, the person I know well (throughout my entire life) promptly unfriended me on Facebook and we haven’t spoken in a year.
I have to wonder if said known person ever saw exactly what Spouse emailed me. (I copied and pasted it verbatim from the emails).
So, if you didn’t know, now you know.
I love this video, taken the end of February. Nate is now on his underway and my gut knows that he’s far away, out to sea. I miss him! Sandra posted this via Messenger and it’s very cool!
