Sometimes...

I get "taken over" by things beyond my control! Dragonflyfilly had an entry on Friday that I just caught up with that reminded me of one of those events.

In 1988 I got "bumped" from the Paint Department where I had always worked to the "Chassis" department. I only knew the few paint people who got moved along with me, and we got scattered around the department in short order.

I landed in a team of 10, working over my head shooting brake line bolts and a few screws and hooking a spring underneath the car. As I got to know people the Korean War veteran who was my team leader pointed out to me how proud he was that his team were all veterans, all male, and all white. I was taken aback, but didn't say anything. I, like so many others, tend to hold my tongue in spite of how I seethe inside about things.

Each night as we started up from lunch, a friend from Paint would stop on his way back in from the parking lot to "mooch" a cigarette. I'd happily give him one, and a light, glad to see a familiar face and have a minute of conversation.

After a week or so, my team leader came and asked me "why I let that no good black so and so do that night after night"? I turned and looked him in the eye and said:

"I guess I should tell you that these spots on my face aren't freckles, Norman; one of my parents is black, and Eddie's my half brother!"

No one spoke to me again for about 6 months after he went around the shop with that bit of gossip...

:o)

alan