Aya

Greetings from Florida, people.  Before folks around here lose their minds about Gustav, I wanted to wish you a blessed month of hunger and gratitude for all our riches.  Remember, we’re supposed to eat less and give more.  Kinda reminding myself as I spend the better part of my working days daydreaming about food.

Why do the things that we crave in life trap us so deeply?

Why do some people become so vicious when they become well off?  A friend married into wealth and, nowadays, she seeks our company simply to gloat.  It’s tedious, a little pathetic, and wholly depressing.  I don’t know if she is having trouble dealing with her new life, and perhaps misplacing her frustration and anxiety.

Why do grocery stores in poorer areas raise prices on the same items sold in more privileged areas and don’t bother with simple cleanliness?

Why do some intersections deny you a left turn between 3 and 5 and force you to take a detour, drive into a narrow ass lane, make an 11 point turn, almost run over a little old dude in a scooter, only to show up at the same intersection 3 minutes later?

Why do they think that we care about 2 candidates who are spending so much of other people’s money on their presidential campaigns?

Why do women display such pride at sons who may have never boiled an egg for them?

Are ethically bankrupt people naturally attracted to dentistry as a profession or do normal people become de-ethicized (my word) while in dental school?  There must be a logical, plausible reason for every dentist I’ve run into being scum of the earth.

Why is Denzel Washington so damn fine despite being chronologically wounded?

I woke up this morning to the death of Bernie Mac at only 50 years, and I felt very sad.  I had a rare opportunity to see him perform in Atlanta a few years ago.  After a hilarious hour, a good friend who knew some people got us backstage passes to meet him.  Bernie Mac was gracious, funny, and kind.  He spoke about his wife and daughter, boasting proudly that she is going to become a psychologist.

His routines were usually filled with colourful language and explicit content, but I was struck by his decency and warm nature.  He would not let us leave and insisted that we break bread with him and the crew.  Some wonderful Southern food was brought in and time in his company felt like a moment.

I gather much of my respect for him comes also from his long term marriage and the commitment and love he showed his family.  His beginnings were humble, and it took him a great while to reach the success he craved.

Funny that the death of a person I’ve met only once can affect me so much.  I pray for peace and forgiveness for him.