"Really?..."

Life as we live it...

“Really?…”

 

     “Who wants to hear a story of Love, Lust, the fickleness of Luck, innocence and torture, with dramatic license AND willful intent?” momma asked… as she ladled “chicken” stew into my bowl from the tin pot on the stove.

 

     “ME!  ME!” I shouted as 6 year-old me jumped up and down and bumped the table!  My three year old sister wiggled and giggled.

 

     Mom looked right into my eyes as she set the melamine bowl on the table.  Paused, slowly shook her head …then said, “Boy, this ain’t chicken.”

 

…But I already knew that… ya know?

 

…and I woke up… again.

 

And it hadn’t been chicken back then…

 

 

We do a lot of waking up during our lives, and a lot of “sleeping” as well.

 

     Being hungry, for many isn’t about choosing from what you have - it’s not having anything at all.  And being hungry physically hurts, and THAT really, really isn’t fair when you’re little - especially when you can’t (let alone don’t) understand the whys (or even if you did - understand). 

 

     At least some kids get to eat at schools now for free - but what is EVER free?  Have you ever actually checked out the breakfasts or lunches?  I mean the actual food NOT the “menu”.  Visit while it is “served” if you can.  Would YOU eat it?  Kids LEARN their personal worth and societal place early on at schools.  And yes I know how many have to scrimp and count pennies so THEIR kid(s) can buy their lunch and not have to brown bag or whatever it is now.  I won’t bore you with my memories of what I had (or hadn’t) - times have changed and the public trough became politically charged as well as correct.  BUT - choosing from what you CAN buy is different than what you normally get “free” - especially from a child’s perspective.  And may God forbid your kid’s lunch account ever be in the “minus” - there IS no shame like politically-mandated public and peer shaming for a kid to have to face because a parent didn’t or more likely couldn’t come up with the ransom payment on or in time.

 

     For us adults - seems a lot of “Charity” comes with a meanness - it’s like ya get shamed into giving somethin’ - ya know?  Whether it’s people on street corners or all those give-give-give “drives” - be it church, office, school, public driven, Red Cross, Food, et al - you know the ones I’m talking about - we ALL been there!  So maybe you give a buck or two or you give the old cans of stuff you wouldn’t eat yourself - from the back of the cupboards …or the cheapest cans of whatever from the grocery store.  We give, yeah, but it’s what and HOW we give I’m talking about here - and the ‘TUDE!  “Charity” often needs to come with a conscience.  As a teenager I made a promise - that I still keep: I will help if, when, and as I can and as for food, I give only what I would eat - and include quality concerns, name brand, appearance, and size and as fresh as I can get it.

 

     Most adults I know would not choose to use a Food Pantry.  And a kid?!? - God forbid a peer MIGHT see them!  But life has this badass habit of happening.  It seems like the hardest damn journey we might ever have to face and it don’t get easier even if you do.   See yourself on the other end of that line - how many of US are one (or just two) paycheck(s) or even just a downsizing away themselves.

 

     One final word - if you HAVE neighbors KNOW how they are doing - be aware of and towards them.  Not sayin’ be nosy or a busybody/gossip - just be aware of how they are making do and especially if it seems for some reason that they aren’t - making do anymore.  Just sayin’…

 

Chris

Author's Note

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Reviews

[olla]

this is so timely.. my little seaside community was over run with street people.. and since it is such a small town I get to see all the various responses.. but one stands alone for me.. my Friend.. who took it upon herself to "feed my Sheep" I have learned so much from her about just what you speak of here.. being with her will change you.. thank you..