By Ricey Wild
The outdoors has transformed into glorious greenery and I’m waiting for lilac season, which only lasts for up to a week. Transient fragile beauty that has the power to heal souls. My Sun and I would take ‘Lilac Walks’ and I would bury my face in the fragrant bushes in the city. I miss that but there are lilacs in and around Rezberry, I just need to get a ride.
My Purrday lands on Memorial Day every so many years. My FB friends made me feel just good wishing me “Mino Dibishkaan” Happy Birthday in Ojibwe and all who cared enough to post on my timeline, chii miigwech (Big Thank You!) However, when I woke up and looked in the mirror I saw Quasimodo staring back at me, just pitiful!!!
Last year I had cataracts removed and was given an option to see near or far, I chose far because I’m all nosy like that. Gotta see who’s driving by or pulled up in my driveway, yanno? Now I have to wear magnifying glasses that I bought online just to be able to see closer! The older I get the more dorkish I look. No more glam for this older woman. Sigh!
So my left eye has swollen up three times now, my Purrday being the most recent and I’m glad that I had nowhere to go and celebrate. I did get one visitor and he went to the Rezberry Gas & Grocery. It has another section in it named ‘Anang’which means Star in Ojibwe.I ordered a chocolate cupcake and it was enough. Again, all the well-wishes soothed my heart.
What stung was my poor eye and all the surgeon said about it was probably ‘just’ allergies. (Mild muffled cursing.) I hope yooz are sitting down for this. I’ma share my latest health diagnoses and it’s a doozy! I’m still trying to process it and it turns out I have Michael Jackson Disease! That’s what I called it when I could not remember, it’s actually vitiligo.
Yes my relations, I have patches of (Sob!!!) white skin on my body…!!! The de-caramelization of my sassy self is devastating to me and there is no cure. I am proud to be born brown; no one except nature can take it from me. Ya, I feel karmic betrayal in that I’ve spent a lot of my life writing, ranting and raving about the pink ones who stole our homelands. Well, I’m not turning pink nor will anyone mistake me for one of them, but…but… Aghh!!!
Laugh if you must, I do, and break down in disbelief over this absurd disease that is also auto-immune. Literally there is nothing I can do about it so if I make it any longer, I will go around collecting pink privilege just for the experience and write about it. Nayy!!!
I have a cousin who used to introduce herself as ‘French-Canadian’ and she was darker than I was. She also dyed her black hair blonde which turned out to be orangutan orange because she was ashamed of being Indian. Plz my relations don’t be like her. Be you. Loud and proud!
This description sounds like the current imposter squatter in the White House. Why does he cake on his makeup to look darker and tan? Why do any of them do it? Then they look down on those who naturally inherited our melanin from our ancestors. I say it’s envy, self-hate and insecurity. My opinion.
AND…drum roll plz! It’s PRIDE MONTH! In Minneapolis I used to have many friends in their community. I would go dancing to the gay clubs with my dear, caustic and witty friend. One year he came over to my place to borrow clothes and makeup to be Ginger Spice. Then he nagged me to go out for Halloween with him. I had just gotten home after taking my Sun out trick or treating.
I had every excuse in the book but I relented and dressed up as a gypsy (with all that I already owned), haha! Anyhoo, at one of the clubs I was sitting outside when a young man looked at me and offered me his size 12 pumps. I accepted them and gave them to my friend. Then I thought later, did that guy think I was a dude? LOL!
Another time I heard a marching band, it was the PRIDE parade. I got my Sun and nephew and went outside to watch them pass by right on my street. I waved and hugged a few people and the boys were collecting candy being tossed out by gorgeous people on a float. Nephew looked puzzled and he asked, Auntie, are those men? No, my boy, those are human beings.
Love to All!
