I was in the grocery store today. There was an older man. Maybe he was in his 80’s. A Caucasian man — button down shirt and starchily pressed pants. Scars and purple birthmarks on his arms. His hair was mostly white but there were areas with a hint of black. He looked thin and seemed fragile. I observed him taking his time unloading groceries onto the conveyor belt as I was waiting double masked and standing 6 feet away to check out and pay for my groceries. He put three bags of snickers candy on the moving belt. Two cases of water and a few frozen meals. My experiences and conditions have formed my way of thinking to make me to see the world of people in this way. I had a moment when I thought this man is someone’s son, probably someone’s father and maybe a husband or has a partner. This man could be someones grandfather or uncle.
Lately, I’ve noticed and feel the fear of others when I am at the grocery store. I’ve notice wandering eyes above the mask looking at me. After I checked out, and as I got into my car a women getting in the passenger side of her car watched and starred at me. It felt like I was being calculated. I wondered what she was thinking and why the hard prolonged look? I looked in her direction behind the steering wheel and formed a smile, started the car then grabbed some hand sanitizer. She and her friend pulled out of the parking space and drove away.
I wonder what would happen if when we see each other we first think the person we see are just like us. Loved by a family member. Someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle or grandfather or grandmother. If we saw each other in this way would we have more love and respect for each other? Would we realize that we are the same and want the same? How do we change the way we look at the world and each other?
Copyright © 2021 by Allura Eshmun
alluraeshmun@yahoo.com