Colorblind

My oldest son Blake mentioned something to me , that he noticed during his grandmother's funeral.    As he looked in the family section and throughout the chapel... the people that had gathered to celebrate her life.. were diverse.

Mom saw through skin color and raised me with that same belief system.   She raised me that a man is a man... not a black man... not a white man..  or Asian, etc,..   simply a man.     That man happens to have skin of a different color.

When I was about 9, at times, I was a latch key child.  When mom would work an extra shift, I'd be home alone in the evenings.    We lived in a duplex, next to two nursing students.  Paula and Lana looked after me for her.  Paula and her boyfriend, Larry were a mixed race couple in a time of extreme nonacceptance.    One weekend they wanted to take me to Six Flags.    TO SIX FLAGS!!!   I'd never been anywhere like that.  Ever.    Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease can I go???   Mom didn't think twice about it, she let me go.  She caught so much flack for that.  From family, work friends, friend friends..  of a few races.    (There was racism in the family, I'd been exposed to it, it's just that my mom didn't have that ideology)   Bottom line is, my mom knew Paula and Larry were "good people" and despite urging from others, she let me go to SIX FLAGS!!  (love that phrase.. "good people", she always used it when describing people of good integrity...)

My Blake also mentioned that he noticed how everyone was melted in.  I thought about this and agreed.     A beautiful and desegregated group of people attended the service.   I reminded him that Mom's best friend is Hispanic.  And I was raised with her and going to her family functions.    It just was never an issue..     I really don't recall ever thinking that they were different because they just treated me as one of their own kids.    Only discomfort was when grandma Tony started fussing in Spanish.   lol.. I had no clue what I was in trouble for. 

Please know... this is NOT my " I have a black/Hispanic friend" speech.  Because I genuinely believe if someone has to point that out, they may not be racist, but they are unindifferent to skin color.   To be "aware" of skin color is not the sin, hating someone because of it, is.   It's just a alternate mindset and not really something I or anyone else should judge them for.  

I'm proud when I'm told I'm like my Mom.    I'd like to think I'm the happy-go-lucky, work loyal, colorblind, loving, kid friendly, woman my mom was.  (You'll notice I skipped the "innocent" humor part... my humor isn't near as "innocent" as hers...ha!)  Her work family loved her and she loved them.  (As mine do me, and  I do mine)   But, what am I MOST proud of?   I look at my sons and see they are both colorblind as well.    They can thank their Grandma.

Audrey Lee Willis was a special lady.  Truly.     (Laaaawd, I miss that woman!!!)     I'm exploring the "colorblind" subject because my Blake mentioned how wonderful it was to see such a multicultural group of people gathered for to memorialize his Grandma Audrey.   And how it hit him, that is what his she did.  My mom brought people together.  She was a bright, happy light... and people were drawn to her kind heart and innocent humor.   ALL people.