Before you judge.

Imagine for a moment you’re one of the poor, and you’re a Haitian. Hot, dusty climate where your meal for the day is the biggest challenge. Your dress is tattered and you have no shoes. Eating mud cookies to make your stomach thinks it’s full. Never really satisfying the hunger pains tho the cramps have long gone. Trying to console your young siblings because mama’s milk has dried up from malnutrition. School is not an option and you don’t know how to read and write. You don’t even have an understanding of what it’s like outside of Haiti, or how to survive. You, only out of ignorance, know how to break it down.

Then, the only thing that seemed secure, the land you live on, breaks apart. The shaking has toppled every structure in your city. Two families, eight of you lived on the second floor of a one room concrete hut. Now everything has crumbled, smashing everything in it’s way. It’s dark and you’re in pain. People are screaming, crying out for their families. You hear your little sister but you cannot get to her. Hours go past and some of the crying stops. The eerie silence frightens you more than your parched throat, the heavy concrete trapping your body, your pain. It’s dark and you’re afraid.

You feel like rescue won’t come and more hours pass. Your body and mind become numb and you start to get a bit delusional. You think you see Jesus, and all you ask for is water. More hours go past and you know in time this will be your tomb. You don’t remember but the rescuers heard you singing, and that’s how they found you. After 10 more hours of digging with their hands, they, your people, lifted your limp broken body out of the rubble. You were trapped for 62 long hours and everyone was amazed you had survived. You told them you saw Jesus before you slipped off into subconsciousness.

You wake up in a makeshift tent. Cardboard and twine keeping your broken legs together and a new wave of pain invades your body. Uncle is with you and gives you the sad news that everyone has died and you go numb again. All you want is the comfort of your mama. You can’t imagine living through the trauma you just went through. Afraid the earth is going to shake again swallowing everything up. Another day goes by and you finally get medical help. You’re one of the lucky ones. You didn’t die from your injuries.

 Uncle keeps asking where the help is? Everyone is starving. So very hungry and need water. People are dying everywhere in the streets and being left behind. Have you ever seen a dead person? Can you even imagine your loved ones in the street and you have to leave them. The stench of death can’t be escaped as their bodies begin to bloat and become unrecognizable. Soon, they’ll all be piled in huge pits and unceremoniously buried.

So please people, don’t judge the Haitians when they run for fear of tsunamis.
Don’t judge them when they fight for food. For that will decide life or death to them.
Don’t judge them when they get frustrated help has not arrived for they don’t see it.

They’re not watching CNN like us with our bellies full.
They don’t see all the countries pitching in. The bottle-necked airport. Trucks leaving in fear because of disorder in handing out supplies.

Please don’t judge the Haitians because they were born in a land of poverty and unrest.
Don’t judge them because they lived through the most horrible tragedy of their lives.
Don’t judge them because they are wounded, hungry, grief stricken and homeless.

Just help.

So it's Socal.

We've moved.
To southern California.
Here are things I've observed thus far:
1. Hollywood is only glamorous if you're a star.
2. You can live on a nice street and the next can be sketchy.
3. The weather is glorious.
4. You can be in the mountains or on the beach in an hour or two.
5. There are thousands of yucca trees in the desert!
6. LA freeways aren't so scary.
7. Normal people really live here.
8. Most everyone seems friendly.
9. Job market not too great, but then again, we're in a recession.
10.The corn man ringing his bell at night is quite endearing.
11. They name their ditches.

Dear Theresa

Dear Theresa,
I often wonder where you are. Has the road of days gone by led you to some fair place? Or are you still in the land of childhood memories?
I look for you when I go back, the white pages never seem to turn you up. I hope the social networks find you well, and I keep searching.
Searching for time lost, wanting to recapture some part of me that's gone.
Dear Theresa, has the years treated you well? Remember the Wedgewood days? Quickies, cops, runnin' and pot?
Listening to the best music ever. Bowie, Hendrix, T Rex, always kept our head in the mix.
Hanging out over on Powell, with the cool kids and the foxes. Long hair, hip huggers and halters. You're a fond memory now.
Mum said you called once, but I was too busy doing something,
I wished I hadn't missed your connection, now I fear a lost rejection.
I did get to California, have you? Long lost pact, I got here and had forgotten.
I'm not sure if the road I took was less traveled, but it certainly had it's stops.
I still look for you, trying to recapture some part of me that's lost...


UPDATE: I found HER! 2013~Facebook

pulled in, piled on, pushed out...a corporate prose

You pulled me in, making me think how invaluable I was.
My degree tweaked your interest, my experience impressed your needs.
Like the sprinter in the 60 metre, I reached those rungs with ease.
You piled it on, with long hours and exasperating deadlines.
And I was caught up in a constant corporate whirl.
The more you patted, the higher the rung, and I kept running.
My work was immeasurable, my reputation did precede.
But all zones have their limits and comfort isn't in it.
Your pats finally started to pull me down, and you finally,
pushed me out.

wait staff 101

We had a bad experience in a restaurant today at Pier 39 in Fisherman's Wharf. I felt bad as I really hyped it up for my boyfriend who hadn't gone before. After a brief waiting period we were escorted to our seats. I used to waitress and also manage restaurants, so I'm more aware of what goes on.

I notice the girl who appears to be our server, has the one side section where we're seated and it's kind of busy. She had passed us 3 times without acknowledging us or giving us eye contact. We continued to wait. The busboys came and went, cleaning tables around us, not looking at us. She came again and went. The hostesses were seating people but, oblivious to what was going on around them. I told my boyfriend, wow, this is pretty bad service already, he suggested we wait a bit to see how long it was going to take. I saw a man who I would say was the manager, and he was looking in our direction talking to another employee, but even he, even he didn't come around to help. Wow. We never did get service, by this time, I'm pretty pissed and we decide to leave. We told the hostesses why we were leaving and just left. I didn't even ask to speak to the manager, my words would have fallen on deaf ears.

Seriously, I expect excellent service when going out. I know the drill. You rely on your tips, especially in America. I used to only make $2.13 an hour plus tips (south Texas). That hardly cuts it. It actually MADE me a good waitress. If I go somewhere and the server is grumpy, it really ruins my whole experience. I think the business is a reflection of it's managers, as the employees are.

So, we ended up going to one of our favorite places down the street. Totally different. Our server was on top of his game, personable and smiling. Our experience was pleasant and he fulfilled our every need. I tipped him well. Before leaving, I asked to speak to the manager. I told him I've always had excellent service and food there, but today was exceptional, and Uriel was fantastic. That put a big ol smile on his face. That server reflected him and his establishment.

So people, here are a few tips:

1. Don't wait more than 3 minutes to approach my table-leaving me sit unacknowledged is really annoying.
2. Eye contact always-avoiding our gaze makes me think your well, avoiding us.
3. If you can't make it to the table right away, stop by and tell us you'll be right back to take our order-this will make or break your tip.
4. Real busy, and you can't get to us at all? have a hostess, busboy or manager come, greet and take our drink order-believe me, once we have drinks we're happy.
5. Smile, smile, smile-a lot of us out here are great tippers and we expect a friendly server-that will make or break your tip.
6. Don't overwhelm us with your presence, but be aware of whats going on and stop by at least once during the meal-if I'm drinking coffee, please keep my cup filled.
7. You'll know how much to approach us, a friendly chat now and then will make us think your just the sweetest thing-and we'll want to tip you well.
8. Please take care of us and whatever we need, if it's broke, please fix it-we are paying you for this.
9. When you drop off the bill, please don't say 'this is where you put the tip'-that only makes us very irritable.
10. Please don't go running after us, saying we forgot to leave a tip-there probably was good reason why we didn't.
11. If you give me bad service, I'm going to tell your manager-if you give me good service, I'm going to tell your manager.
12. Remember, don't stereotype anybody -treat everybody the same, always.