Do you spend more time cleaning out your email than you used to?
The other morning I found myself clicking “delete” for more than an hour. My right hand was killing me. My brand new wireless mouse is worn out. Delete… delete… delete… I am now down to 500 remaining emails that I no longer have the energy to delete. They’ll have to sit there in my in-box for awhile longer I suppose.
And to think that I consider 500 emails “manageable.”
When I first started working I only had office email and the “World Wide Web” was only available on one computer which no one used, because management would think you were slacking off and should be sitting at your cube... looking busy. I remember being told by an IT guy that I was sending too many interoffice emails—and the inference was I wasn’t doing my job!
At the time, I may be sent 100 emails in a week. Who would’ve thought more than a decade later, that society would be using iphones, blackberries, laptops the size of books so that we could all keep up with the vast amounts of needless information that we all think will change our lives?
I can promise you I wouldn’t have believed it if you had told me one day I’d be cleaning out more than 1,000 emails on my Yahoo account. I would’ve told you that you were crazy.
As it turns out, I’m the one who’s crazy. Why? Because I’m cleaning out my email when I could be out enjoying that day or actually “talking” to a friend I haven’t talked to in awhile …you know ... on the phone!
Need to Know vs. Nice to Know
I remember when cleaning out my email meant mostly deleting old jokes passed along from friends that provided a good laugh at the time. Now I find myself deleting email, links, coupons I’ll never use and Facebook updates from friends of friends that I’ve never even met.
I’ll admit I may have given my email address to a store for coupons, or signed up for a particular blog or listserv hoping to “better” my life only to find myself inundated with useless information that will have no affect on my life, my family, my dog... or my dog’s happiness. (Example: Dog.com sent me an email last month suggesting I send her a “Valentine” Really? All she wants is the occasional belly rub and the chance to chase a squirrel once in a while.)
So I delete and delete and delete, thinking once I hit delete I’m done with it. Or, so I thought…
Subscribing to Unsubscribe
Have you ever tried to unsubscribe to a email message/list? Seriously, it's like you have to have to had a perfect SAT score to get off some of these lists! Not only do you have to scroll down to the bottom of the message, you then have to read the 2-point type in order to figure out where to find the “unsubscribe” button.
Once you click—-they send you ANOTHER email hoping that you’ve changed your mind! And if you don’t confirm that you do want to unsubscribe in that email, guess what? You’ll immediately get another email from "Company X" telling you to buy "Product X" that guaranteed to make you beautiful, successful and happy…if you buy it before Midnight tonight.
Who am I, Cinderella?
When I take a step back and look at my life, I’m amazed at how inundated I am with absolutely useless information. It’s everywhere. Radio… TV… Internet. I’m getting to the point where, if you consider yourself a good friend, family member, or colleague and need to get my attention about something important (like life or death) do not email me. Call me.
Maybe I’ll answer.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Dancing for Dough?
So the big news this news cycle isn’t the earthquakes in Haiti or Chile. It isn’t about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The headlines are about Kate Gosselin joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars.
Really, people?
I was talking to a friend of mine about it tonight and I instantly got “Kate” (as her single moniker is now known) confused with the “Octomom.” I guess I just can’t keep my reality TV stars straight (ummm... my bad… I guess).
A Big Brood… So What?
Now, I grew up surrounded around Irish Catholic families and they were breeders, let me tell you. We were surrounded by multiple “Mc’s…” and “Murphy’s” and “O’[insert remaining name here—]. Kids were literally coming out of the woodwork (and apparently their mother’s vaginas every 11 months or so).
There was no reality TV show. There were no book tours. There were no gossip newsstand headlines. There were just a lot of kids. Tons of them. In every grade. On every playground.
So, I don’t understand how these shows like ”Jon & Kate Plus Eight,” “19 Kids and Counting” (what are they up to by the way now…20? 21?) are so popular? When did watching these kids run around, learn to eat, poop and cry become rating bonanzas?
I’m sorry, but if I had 18 Kids … I would go AWOL just to save my sanity. I'm pretty sure my mother would’ve headed for the hills too—just to save her sanity. The woman was barely sane raising three kids—especially with what we put her through!
Dancing for Dough?
Now I understand “Kate” needs to put all those kids through college. I understand if she wanted her own reality show. Ok, at least she’d around her kids while they would be filming. But she went on TV and said she would be “commuting” from eastern Pennsylvania to LA in order to compete on the show.
That’s not commuting. That’s insanity.
She made the decision to leave her kids to build her ego. To cash in on her reality fame. She says she wants to be a role model for her kids. Seriously? Then why don't you try staying home and raising them?
But then I thought, if “Jon” were to do it, would there be as much of a backlash? Absolutely not.
Maybe “Jon” will actually stay home to raise his kids alone. Now that would be a reality TV show I’d watch.
Really, people?
I was talking to a friend of mine about it tonight and I instantly got “Kate” (as her single moniker is now known) confused with the “Octomom.” I guess I just can’t keep my reality TV stars straight (ummm... my bad… I guess).
A Big Brood… So What?
Now, I grew up surrounded around Irish Catholic families and they were breeders, let me tell you. We were surrounded by multiple “Mc’s…” and “Murphy’s” and “O’[insert remaining name here—]. Kids were literally coming out of the woodwork (and apparently their mother’s vaginas every 11 months or so).
There was no reality TV show. There were no book tours. There were no gossip newsstand headlines. There were just a lot of kids. Tons of them. In every grade. On every playground.
So, I don’t understand how these shows like ”Jon & Kate Plus Eight,” “19 Kids and Counting” (what are they up to by the way now…20? 21?) are so popular? When did watching these kids run around, learn to eat, poop and cry become rating bonanzas?
I’m sorry, but if I had 18 Kids … I would go AWOL just to save my sanity. I'm pretty sure my mother would’ve headed for the hills too—just to save her sanity. The woman was barely sane raising three kids—especially with what we put her through!
Dancing for Dough?
Now I understand “Kate” needs to put all those kids through college. I understand if she wanted her own reality show. Ok, at least she’d around her kids while they would be filming. But she went on TV and said she would be “commuting” from eastern Pennsylvania to LA in order to compete on the show.
That’s not commuting. That’s insanity.
She made the decision to leave her kids to build her ego. To cash in on her reality fame. She says she wants to be a role model for her kids. Seriously? Then why don't you try staying home and raising them?
But then I thought, if “Jon” were to do it, would there be as much of a backlash? Absolutely not.
Maybe “Jon” will actually stay home to raise his kids alone. Now that would be a reality TV show I’d watch.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Did Tiger Show His Real Stripes?
I’m not a golf fan.
I can’t even name the top five golfers in the U.S. or even in the world. See, watching men and women hit a little white ball multiple times with the end goal of trying to land it in a tin cup just doesn’t have the same appeal of watching say … a hockey game. Personally, I rather watch guys slam each other into the Plexiglas than high five their overpaid caddy on the neatly trimmed fairways of Augusta.
So as I found myself watching Tiger Woods’ “apology/statement” this morning on TV, I found myself wondering what all the hype is about. So the guy cheated on his wife with strippers, or more specifically, stripper wannabees (Have you seen some of those women? Half of them look like the cast of MTV’s Jersey Shore!)
Then I got sucked in.
In the Eye of the Tiger
I even felt myself “throwing up a little in my mouth” (to use a great quote from the movie “Dodgeball”) when he spoke of his wife’s great poise throughout this ordeal. What is she supposed to do? Swing at him with a golf club as parodied on Saturday Night Live (here’s the clip---very funny). All the woman is trying to do is hide from the media storm caused by her husband who apparently can’t keep his junk zipped up until he got home from the country club.
His overblown ego still came oozing through my T.V. I’m wondering how his MOTHER is sitting in the front row listening to all this. What did he tell her when all of these women were coming out of the wood work? Now that would be some good reality TV…
Back to Reality
I don’t care about Tiger Woods.
The man does not live in a normal, everyday reality like his fans who pay good money to watch him swing at a little white ball. He’s never had to deal with losing a job. Ok, so he lost some endorsements. But it hasn’t affected him at all. (In fact, he just bought a new yacht, the “Privacy II”). He doesn't live on the same playing field as the rest of us who have to worry about paying the bills, or say, taking care of a family member who is sick. He hires people to do that.
Maybe if he had to "man up" and take care of his family he’d recognize the blessings in his life and be grateful for being "Tiger Woods".
So, did Tiger show his true stripes this morning like his handlers had hoped? Absolutely not. His ego is still overinflated. I just hope Elin peels them off one by one in divorce court.
I can’t even name the top five golfers in the U.S. or even in the world. See, watching men and women hit a little white ball multiple times with the end goal of trying to land it in a tin cup just doesn’t have the same appeal of watching say … a hockey game. Personally, I rather watch guys slam each other into the Plexiglas than high five their overpaid caddy on the neatly trimmed fairways of Augusta.
So as I found myself watching Tiger Woods’ “apology/statement” this morning on TV, I found myself wondering what all the hype is about. So the guy cheated on his wife with strippers, or more specifically, stripper wannabees (Have you seen some of those women? Half of them look like the cast of MTV’s Jersey Shore!)
Then I got sucked in.
In the Eye of the Tiger
I even felt myself “throwing up a little in my mouth” (to use a great quote from the movie “Dodgeball”) when he spoke of his wife’s great poise throughout this ordeal. What is she supposed to do? Swing at him with a golf club as parodied on Saturday Night Live (here’s the clip---very funny). All the woman is trying to do is hide from the media storm caused by her husband who apparently can’t keep his junk zipped up until he got home from the country club.
His overblown ego still came oozing through my T.V. I’m wondering how his MOTHER is sitting in the front row listening to all this. What did he tell her when all of these women were coming out of the wood work? Now that would be some good reality TV…
Back to Reality
I don’t care about Tiger Woods.
The man does not live in a normal, everyday reality like his fans who pay good money to watch him swing at a little white ball. He’s never had to deal with losing a job. Ok, so he lost some endorsements. But it hasn’t affected him at all. (In fact, he just bought a new yacht, the “Privacy II”). He doesn't live on the same playing field as the rest of us who have to worry about paying the bills, or say, taking care of a family member who is sick. He hires people to do that.
Maybe if he had to "man up" and take care of his family he’d recognize the blessings in his life and be grateful for being "Tiger Woods".
So, did Tiger show his true stripes this morning like his handlers had hoped? Absolutely not. His ego is still overinflated. I just hope Elin peels them off one by one in divorce court.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Whatever Happened to Professionalism in the Workplace?
As I write this I am staring at my email astounded at some of the responses I've gotten from simply posting my resume on Monster.com.
Hooters wants to hire me. (Now that's a whole new take on being a "Senior Communications Professional" don't you think?)
Several recruiters have emailed me with what they consider "... the perfect job for you!" which usually means one of three things:
1) They are trying to meet their month-end quota
2) They are trying to fill a job in telemarketing or claims processing
-or-
3) It's just one big scam.
Case-in-Point
Last week, I was emailed by a recuiter from Aflac (you know--the duck people...) telling me that they are very interested in what I have to offer their company and to please call them to set up an interview.
Ok, I thought to myself. What do I have to lose? So I did.
I called this recruiter (who, by the way, didn't have an Aflac email address but a Gmail one, hmm...I thought to myself...). She in turn wanted to set up an interview for 9:00 a.m. the next morning in Glen Burnie, MD (which is about an hour away from where I live). I was kind of taken a back that she wanted to set up the interview so quickly when in fact, she hadn't yet told me what the position entailed. I had absolutelty no information regarding a job title, job description and salary information. I wasn't even sure where the position would be located.
Sketchy at best, I thought to myself.
When I asked her point-blank which position I would be interviewing for, she replied with the fact that Aflac is a Fortune 200 Company and I should be for lack of a better term, "honored" that they were interested in my resume in the first place.
Ummm, ok? I thought.
She then continues to give me the sales pitch (yes, we've moved on to on red flag #2 now ...) and I was thinking to myself, "Why the hell not, I'll check it out..." and set up a time to interview. I had a persons name, but had no job title or knew what in fact they did for Aflac--I could've been meeting with "Big Foot" for all I know and, to top it off, the "only" time this mysterious person could see me was 6:00 p.m. on a Monday night (yes, we are now at red flag #3).
After we hung up, it bothered me that I still didn't have a job description (ok, maybe I'm not that fast on the uptake). I had no idea what position I was interviewing for, so I thought it would be a good idea to follow up and email her to ask for clarification of the job description. I stated that I was not in sales and that my background is in communications and marketing.
Rude Response #1
Her response: "They are a combination of big ticket marketing, account servicing and claims processing. Our marketing is directed at business owners only. This is probably the only chance you will have to work with a top fortune 200 company."
Ouch, I thought. (Not to nit-pick, but anyone else see the disparity in the voice? They/We...are we a little schizophrenic? Anyone?)
Still, I planned on going to the interview to check them out.
Rude Response #2
So Monday rolls around and it starts to snow in the afternoon. I email her and let her know, that due to the inclement weather, I'm not going to be able to make it to the interview. I emailed her in the afternoon, so she would have plenty of time to contact the appropriate people before 6:00 p.m. A cop-out on my part?
Sure, I'll call it that.
(Please note that I never cancel interviews. I think it does show poor taste and looking back, I should have never accepted the "interview" on the phone in the first place. After all, I've never even met this woman. I didn't go through a pre-screening process. I didn't have a one-on-one interview with her. All which are the usual mandatories when working with respectable recruiters.) Hindsight is 20/20 so they say and whoever "they" are...they're right!
That being said, here is her response:
"There is barely half an inch of snow falling. Would you like to reschedule, or is this your way of saying you are not interested?"
I'm laughing out loud now...
Now, if someone cancels an interview the employer might think that...but you don't email it in your response! I've had people cancel interviews on me directly (not even going through a recruiter) and all I've responded with is:
"If you'd like to reschedule a time, call me and we'll reschedule."
If you don't hear from them, obviosuly, they bailed. On to the next prospective applicant, right?
So at this point, I emailed her back a bitchy response:
"Excuse me? I don't want to reschedule now."
Rude Response #3
She instantly responds:
"I wasn't trying to be rude. I was asking your intentions. I am a professional who has been doing this for quite a long time. My question I asked was professional as I was trying to see what your intentions were as we have many, many, many applicants and I wanted to make sure that an applicant like yourself gets time with the boss. Due to the rude nature of your response, you will be removed from our direct marketing lists."
Damn!
Like I said, I've had job applicants just not show up for an interview. I gave her plenty of notification and at this point, am wondering, why is she so invested in her email responses? Really, time to let it go, right?
So I email her back, "Thank you. No further correspondence is required."
She instantly "corresponds" back to me: "I have already blocked you from all Aflac job-related corresponce."
At this point, I wanted to thank her for her time ... but I thought I'd better let it go! Part of me was afraid to see what she would say!
My Bad
Now, I did bail. My bad. But the reason I'm posting this is because I'm wondering whatever happened to professionalism in the workplace? Even if you have a difficult employee or co-worker that you have to deal with everyday, you would never antagonize them over email. Or would you? Is this standard protocal these days?
And to think I've never even met this woman. Nor do I ever want to...
By the way, a friend of mine sent me this website about working for Aflac:
http://www.indeed.com/forum/cmp/AFLAC/Aflac-is-SCAM-you-pay-them-work/t13238
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=21396
So much for profesionalism in the workplace.
Hooters wants to hire me. (Now that's a whole new take on being a "Senior Communications Professional" don't you think?)
Several recruiters have emailed me with what they consider "... the perfect job for you!" which usually means one of three things:
1) They are trying to meet their month-end quota
2) They are trying to fill a job in telemarketing or claims processing
-or-
3) It's just one big scam.
Case-in-Point
Last week, I was emailed by a recuiter from Aflac (you know--the duck people...) telling me that they are very interested in what I have to offer their company and to please call them to set up an interview.
Ok, I thought to myself. What do I have to lose? So I did.
I called this recruiter (who, by the way, didn't have an Aflac email address but a Gmail one, hmm...I thought to myself...). She in turn wanted to set up an interview for 9:00 a.m. the next morning in Glen Burnie, MD (which is about an hour away from where I live). I was kind of taken a back that she wanted to set up the interview so quickly when in fact, she hadn't yet told me what the position entailed. I had absolutelty no information regarding a job title, job description and salary information. I wasn't even sure where the position would be located.
Sketchy at best, I thought to myself.
When I asked her point-blank which position I would be interviewing for, she replied with the fact that Aflac is a Fortune 200 Company and I should be for lack of a better term, "honored" that they were interested in my resume in the first place.
Ummm, ok? I thought.
She then continues to give me the sales pitch (yes, we've moved on to on red flag #2 now ...) and I was thinking to myself, "Why the hell not, I'll check it out..." and set up a time to interview. I had a persons name, but had no job title or knew what in fact they did for Aflac--I could've been meeting with "Big Foot" for all I know and, to top it off, the "only" time this mysterious person could see me was 6:00 p.m. on a Monday night (yes, we are now at red flag #3).
After we hung up, it bothered me that I still didn't have a job description (ok, maybe I'm not that fast on the uptake). I had no idea what position I was interviewing for, so I thought it would be a good idea to follow up and email her to ask for clarification of the job description. I stated that I was not in sales and that my background is in communications and marketing.
Rude Response #1
Her response: "They are a combination of big ticket marketing, account servicing and claims processing. Our marketing is directed at business owners only. This is probably the only chance you will have to work with a top fortune 200 company."
Ouch, I thought. (Not to nit-pick, but anyone else see the disparity in the voice? They/We...are we a little schizophrenic? Anyone?)
Still, I planned on going to the interview to check them out.
Rude Response #2
So Monday rolls around and it starts to snow in the afternoon. I email her and let her know, that due to the inclement weather, I'm not going to be able to make it to the interview. I emailed her in the afternoon, so she would have plenty of time to contact the appropriate people before 6:00 p.m. A cop-out on my part?
Sure, I'll call it that.
(Please note that I never cancel interviews. I think it does show poor taste and looking back, I should have never accepted the "interview" on the phone in the first place. After all, I've never even met this woman. I didn't go through a pre-screening process. I didn't have a one-on-one interview with her. All which are the usual mandatories when working with respectable recruiters.) Hindsight is 20/20 so they say and whoever "they" are...they're right!
That being said, here is her response:
"There is barely half an inch of snow falling. Would you like to reschedule, or is this your way of saying you are not interested?"
I'm laughing out loud now...
Now, if someone cancels an interview the employer might think that...but you don't email it in your response! I've had people cancel interviews on me directly (not even going through a recruiter) and all I've responded with is:
"If you'd like to reschedule a time, call me and we'll reschedule."
If you don't hear from them, obviosuly, they bailed. On to the next prospective applicant, right?
So at this point, I emailed her back a bitchy response:
"Excuse me? I don't want to reschedule now."
Rude Response #3
She instantly responds:
"I wasn't trying to be rude. I was asking your intentions. I am a professional who has been doing this for quite a long time. My question I asked was professional as I was trying to see what your intentions were as we have many, many, many applicants and I wanted to make sure that an applicant like yourself gets time with the boss. Due to the rude nature of your response, you will be removed from our direct marketing lists."
Damn!
Like I said, I've had job applicants just not show up for an interview. I gave her plenty of notification and at this point, am wondering, why is she so invested in her email responses? Really, time to let it go, right?
So I email her back, "Thank you. No further correspondence is required."
She instantly "corresponds" back to me: "I have already blocked you from all Aflac job-related corresponce."
At this point, I wanted to thank her for her time ... but I thought I'd better let it go! Part of me was afraid to see what she would say!
My Bad
Now, I did bail. My bad. But the reason I'm posting this is because I'm wondering whatever happened to professionalism in the workplace? Even if you have a difficult employee or co-worker that you have to deal with everyday, you would never antagonize them over email. Or would you? Is this standard protocal these days?
And to think I've never even met this woman. Nor do I ever want to...
By the way, a friend of mine sent me this website about working for Aflac:
http://www.indeed.com/forum/cmp/AFLAC/Aflac-is-SCAM-you-pay-them-work/t13238
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=21396
So much for profesionalism in the workplace.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
My Sober Snowpocolypse
Over the past few days I have been forced to eat my words… and I gladly will.
I think I deserve to.
You may have remembered me mocking all of the D.C. yuppies closing down the downtown Whole Foods after the first report of the impending snow last week. Looking back over the past few days, I should have joined them!
Hey, hindsight is 20/20 people.
Not only has the D.C. region almost surpassed the snow fall totals of the frigid tundra of Syracuse, NY,this Winter (ummm...where is global warming when you need it?) I found myself snowed in and without power for two days (or to be more precise, as one of my neighbors reminded me, 41 hours to be exact).
As the temperature in my home quickly dropped down to an incredibly frigid 42 degrees, I was cursing myself for not running to Whole Foods the day before to stock up on what I now consider snowbound necessities: White wine, anything chocolate covered and of course, dog food.
As the snow kept falling and falling (along with the temperature inside) I found myself to be uncharacteristically... sober. And that’s just wrong.
When it’s 42 degrees in your condo you really need a shot of something to warm you up! Yes, the dog was well-fed but her Mommy was going a little stir-crazy especially when the liquor store behind her building was closed for days! Yes, I said days!
Oi vey, people!
Note to self: Next time the weather casters even hint at a 36” snow fall…stock up at Whole Foods… before they shut the doors!
I think I deserve to.
You may have remembered me mocking all of the D.C. yuppies closing down the downtown Whole Foods after the first report of the impending snow last week. Looking back over the past few days, I should have joined them!
Hey, hindsight is 20/20 people.
Not only has the D.C. region almost surpassed the snow fall totals of the frigid tundra of Syracuse, NY,this Winter (ummm...where is global warming when you need it?) I found myself snowed in and without power for two days (or to be more precise, as one of my neighbors reminded me, 41 hours to be exact).
As the temperature in my home quickly dropped down to an incredibly frigid 42 degrees, I was cursing myself for not running to Whole Foods the day before to stock up on what I now consider snowbound necessities: White wine, anything chocolate covered and of course, dog food.
As the snow kept falling and falling (along with the temperature inside) I found myself to be uncharacteristically... sober. And that’s just wrong.
When it’s 42 degrees in your condo you really need a shot of something to warm you up! Yes, the dog was well-fed but her Mommy was going a little stir-crazy especially when the liquor store behind her building was closed for days! Yes, I said days!
Oi vey, people!
Note to self: Next time the weather casters even hint at a 36” snow fall…stock up at Whole Foods… before they shut the doors!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Snow-Apocalypse!
A friend of mine sent me the funniest (yet very true) email yesterday titled, “Snow-Apocalypse.” You open the email and all it said in 18-point red type is:
“P-A-N-I-C!!!”
And that’s what most people in the D.C.-area have been doing over the past 48 hours. Stores are packed (even a local Whole Foods had to shut its doors last night because of the crowds. What? They ran out of farm-raised Salmon and fair-traded mangoes? So much for a run on TP and milk...). Roads are packed, even my TV is packed with endless irrelevant updates on the impending storm.
It’s just snow people. Little white flurries that eventually melt.
Here’s a news flash for you: In other parts of the country, this happens all Winter long! Schools remain open, employees remain at work and … life goes on. Now, this area has been hit with a lot of snow this year. But there were no storm-related deaths. No one starved.
Sure, we all had to get out and shovel a few inches.But guess what? That’s a common occurrence for most of the country. Those folks shovel out before they go to work…and they still get there on time! No delays, schools closings or snow-related “Apocalypse.”
Now where did I put my shovel??
“P-A-N-I-C!!!”
And that’s what most people in the D.C.-area have been doing over the past 48 hours. Stores are packed (even a local Whole Foods had to shut its doors last night because of the crowds. What? They ran out of farm-raised Salmon and fair-traded mangoes? So much for a run on TP and milk...). Roads are packed, even my TV is packed with endless irrelevant updates on the impending storm.
It’s just snow people. Little white flurries that eventually melt.
Here’s a news flash for you: In other parts of the country, this happens all Winter long! Schools remain open, employees remain at work and … life goes on. Now, this area has been hit with a lot of snow this year. But there were no storm-related deaths. No one starved.
Sure, we all had to get out and shovel a few inches.But guess what? That’s a common occurrence for most of the country. Those folks shovel out before they go to work…and they still get there on time! No delays, schools closings or snow-related “Apocalypse.”
Now where did I put my shovel??
Monday, January 18, 2010
Saint Nick Meets Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I finally got around to taking down my Christmas decorations today. I have to admit, this year I was quite the minimalist; I only hung up a wreath and my Christmas cards, so needless to say the “take-down” took all of five minutes.
I like to read my Christmas cards as I take them down and remind myself of who sent them and how nice it was of the person to think of me during the holiday season in the first place. (And yes, there’s always that twinge of guilt for the person who sent me a card and I forgot to reciprocate—oops, maybe next year, well, that’s what I keep telling myself anyway.)
So I’m flipping through my Christmas cards and there he was: A Black Santa.
Yup, a black jolly old Saint Nick smiling up at me and wishing me a “Very Merry Christmas!”
I stopped and shook my head. Why hadn’t I noticed that I had a black Santa hanging up in my living room for the past month?
I was trying to think back to when I opened the card. Did I, in fact, notice that the traditional image of Santa got … umm… much, much … darker?
I usually have a lot of people over and I know many of them read my Christmas cards. Did they notice? No one said anything to me about the black Santa hanging up in my living room.
Then I thought to myself: Is that a good … or a bad thing?
If I didn’t notice, does that make me a racist? Or am I just color blind?
It’s a hard question to answer. All I know is that “life” or the “universe” (or whatever you want to call it) has a not-so-subtle way of making you take a moment to stop and reflect. Maybe it’s not so ironic that I stopped to stare at my little black Santa on this Martin Luther King Day and be forced to reflect on my own racial awareness.
Today, let’s all take a moment to remember how far this country has come in the historic fight for racial equality and acknowledge all the work that still needs to be done.
I also want to thank the couple who sent me my little black Saint Nick...I’m going to keep him up all year long!
I like to read my Christmas cards as I take them down and remind myself of who sent them and how nice it was of the person to think of me during the holiday season in the first place. (And yes, there’s always that twinge of guilt for the person who sent me a card and I forgot to reciprocate—oops, maybe next year, well, that’s what I keep telling myself anyway.)
So I’m flipping through my Christmas cards and there he was: A Black Santa.
Yup, a black jolly old Saint Nick smiling up at me and wishing me a “Very Merry Christmas!”
I stopped and shook my head. Why hadn’t I noticed that I had a black Santa hanging up in my living room for the past month?
I was trying to think back to when I opened the card. Did I, in fact, notice that the traditional image of Santa got … umm… much, much … darker?
I usually have a lot of people over and I know many of them read my Christmas cards. Did they notice? No one said anything to me about the black Santa hanging up in my living room.
Then I thought to myself: Is that a good … or a bad thing?
If I didn’t notice, does that make me a racist? Or am I just color blind?
It’s a hard question to answer. All I know is that “life” or the “universe” (or whatever you want to call it) has a not-so-subtle way of making you take a moment to stop and reflect. Maybe it’s not so ironic that I stopped to stare at my little black Santa on this Martin Luther King Day and be forced to reflect on my own racial awareness.
Today, let’s all take a moment to remember how far this country has come in the historic fight for racial equality and acknowledge all the work that still needs to be done.
I also want to thank the couple who sent me my little black Saint Nick...I’m going to keep him up all year long!
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