I'll take an exception to my personal 'rules' and share a story with y'all.

[TahitiNut]

(I'm usually not inclined to exploit the interactions I have with people to entertain others. I have a 'thing' about that. I'll make an exception. I think maybe you'll understand.)

Friday afternoon, I went shopping - something I usually detest - to get a variety of fancy chocolates (Ghirardelli, Godiva, Belgian, Swiss,etc.) and other 'specialty' items at a nearby upscale grocery/deli. (The chocolates are part of a birthday gift ... for a chocoholic, of course.) It's a somewhat tony place ... for affluent folks ... with various specialty items, flowers, fancy produce, a great deli counter, and a good meat and fish section. Pricey stuff.

After I'd found everything I wanted, I went to the checkout. The attractive young (black) woman at the checkout was wearing a button that said "I Can Do It!" It's apparently a business promotion of some kind. Being a gregarious person who loves making slightly provocative or humorous remarks, I kiddingly asked her whether it was an Obama Campaign button and whether the store was promoting Obama. (I was emptying my cart.)

She jokingly said she sure wasn't supporting Hillary, and asked me whether I liked Obama. (I was emptying my cart, she was ringing up the items.) I said I liked him but I liked Michelle, Malia, and Sasha even better. I then admitted being 'owned' by those kids and how they were unbelievably adorable. (She was bagging my stuff.)

I then said Malia and Sasha would have the White House staff wrapped around their little fingers within seconds. She asked if I thought he'd win. (I paid.) I looked at her and took a little risk and said "Well, I think it's sure about time that someone lived there that was the same color as the folks that built it."

Her face lit up - big time. She raised her hand and laughingly said "Gimme five!" Pausing, I looked her straight in the eye and offered her a fist bump instead ... which she returned ... with a broad smile and a slight tearing in her eyes. I gave a thumbs-up. (Maybe I was a bit 'moist' too.) It was a special and personal moment. Fleeting ... only seconds and without spectators. Not a demonstration or anything. Just human.

A fat old male phart as a customer and a pretty young female cashier.

Just family. :shrug:



We can get all angry about a lot of things ... even disappointed. But if such things can happen between people - strangers - as a result of this election ... then it can't be all bad.



Let the snark begin.
:hide:

[blogslut]

1. Sounds like a great moment

I look forward to hearing many more encounters like these from DUers. Maybe I'll have one too. :hi:

[1Hippiechick]

97. THAT kind of connection is to be treasured, Tahiti. Reminds me of "I'm here because of Ashley."

[BlooInBloo]

2. Stop hitting on girls you dirty old man!

Or else there won't be anyone left for me to hit on. :P

[Tatiana]

10. I know, right? Y'all are scandalous. n/t

[BlooInBloo]

14. We can't help ourselves. And I, for one, am just fine with that. (grin)

[TahitiNut]

11. Well, I'm not so old that I didn't notice ...

... the ring on her finger. :evilgrin:

[BlooInBloo]

Stupid rings. :)

[Blue_Roses]

3. awesome story...

and now about the chocolate...:D

[TahitiNut]

7. (grin)

Yes?

Well... I got one of everything that was milk chocolate in the place. $107 worth. Like I say ... it's for a chocoholic. I think she'll like it. I took a wicker basket, put white paper 'straw' in the bottom, wrapped about half of the items in tissue of various colors, piled everything in, put it into a clear cellophane bag, and put a big pink bow in the (twisted) top. Looks nice.

[shadowknows69]

32. My wife wants to know if she can be your friend

[Coexist]

42. did I mention when my birthday was?!

that was a nice story.

[TahitiNut]

46. (grin) I sorta thought other chocoholics would appreciate it.

No pun intended, of course. :silly: :dunce:

Strangely enough, I've always preferred milk chocolate over white chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate. :hide:

[rebel with a cause]

76. I get a reaction to dark chocolate.

Strangely, milk chocolate is okay for me. Supposedly because there is little real chocolate in it. :rofl:

I still consider myself a semi-chocoholic, except when I am depressed, then I am a full chocoholic. :D

[Catherine Vincent]

4. Is that it? nt

[AspenRose]

94. Oh come on, it was a great story.

:D

[tishaLA]

5. I love that story

And I feel the same way about Michelle, Malia, and Sasha.

[Barack_America]

6. Ha ha, you totally went to Westborn Market.

That place freaking rocks. I really miss that place (and the fact that you can buy wine in grocery stores in MI, but I digress).

Awesome story, and as it turns out, when I went shopping last weekend, I got a pound from a little, one-year old boy. It was so cute. I said hello to him, offered him a high-five (which he gave) and then his father told him to give me a fist, so he did. :D

[TahitiNut]

9. Well ... it could be one of about three places. Westborn, Papa Joe's, or Nino Savaggio's.

I decided not to say ... since I might inadvertently embarrass someone. (I wouldn't want to do that.) Heck ... even the Krogers(!) at Woodward and 15 Mile has gotten tony and upscale. They've even got sushi, ferkrissakes. I thought about going to Somerset ... but passed. (Did I say I detest shopping?)



(P.J's.) :silly:

[Barack_America]

13. Curse you that you have that kind of selection.

It's hard for me to get my elite on here in Philly. ;)

Now ethnic grocery stores, on the other hand, are phenomenal here.

And the progressive atmosphere, well, it's worth losing Westborn...almost.

[TahitiNut]

16. Well, I miss my Silicon Valley. (sniff) But ... when I was in 6th and 7th grade ...

... way back in the Ice Age ... I lived on the street (Larkmoor) that they blocked off to put Westborn where it is. There sure wasn't a Westborn when I lived there in Berkley. But that was back in 1954-56 ... and we didn't have grocery stores way back then.
:evilgrin:

[Lisa0825]

8. Sweet story :-)

I love reading about people's interactions regarding the Obama campaign :)

[Catherina]

12. :) Great story Tahiti!

A fat old male phart as a customer and a pretty young female cashier.

Obama's working miracles already :rofl:

:hi:

[gristy]

15. I did not know this

http://www.whitehousehistory.org/05/subs/05_c.html

Construction on the President’s House began in 1792 in Washington, D.C., a new capital situated in sparsely settled region far from a major population center. The decision to place the capital on land ceded by two slave states–Virginia and Maryland–ultimately influenced the acquisition of laborers to construct its public buildings. The D.C. commissioners, charged by Congress with building the new city under the direction of the president, initially planned to import workers from Europe to meet their labor needs. However, response to recruitment was dismal and soon they turned to African Americans – slave and free – to provide the bulk of labor that built the White House, the United States Capitol, and other early government buildings.

[MadMaddie]

63. Hey Gristy this is the kinda stuff that should be in the history books

our kids study but nary a word.

[Bluenorthwest]

65. Here's another one

The rice paddys of the South. Does not sound like such a big deal, but I've heard it said that the projects overall compare to the building of the Pryamids in Egypt. And guess who built them?

[MadMaddie]

95. Surprise, Surprise...when I go to book sales..I deliberately

pick up books about the contributions of blacks to the US. I send them to my sister so she can share the info from my nephew who is now 9. This is not to exclude other historical facts but to enhance his view.

[1Hippiechick]

98. "pick up books about the contributions of blacks to the US." That is awesome! What you are doing is

bittersweet to me. Sweet that you are doing that, but bitter that that information is not in the history books.
We still have SO FAR to go in this country and in the world...and I am getting tired. 60 here, but have loved every minute of seeing the civil rights progression, even though it has come at great costs...if Barack Obama is our next President, I will feel like all the battles have been worthwhile....

[tavalon]

105. Cool idea

It really is sad that a public (and even private school) history education is so lacking. And that's not a change. I was never taught about the contributions of blacks or other minorities to the building and maintaining of the US. As a matter of fact, if I still relied on my lessons from school, I wouldn't know jack about this country's history. But then, even if the textbooks were complete, they were so boring, I only read them when forced. Why did they make school textbooks so boring? I learned a huge amount about the civil war from Ken Burns. Why couldn't they just have the kids watch him?

[rebel with a cause]

77. Oh, but there is not need for Black History Month

because we already have American History taught in school. In other words the only important USA history (white history) is already taught, at least according to some people. :grr:

[K Gardner]

72. I learned this from watching "John Adams", the miniseries :-)

[cui bono]

87. There was a mini-series about the black staff of the WH on TV

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078565/

It's available on DVD. I had it on my queue before I stopped my movie rental account. I never did get it, but would really like to see it.

From the golden age of television miniseries comes this prestigious 1979 production based on Lillian Rogers Parks's memoir, My Thirty Years at the White House, a real-life American Upstairs/Downstairs that chronicles her family's tenure on the White House servant staff through eight presidential administrations. Emmy nominee Oliva Cole stars as Maggie, a proud matriarch with "indomitable spirit and unfailing spunk," and who is determined that her children "are not going to have street ways." She becomes the first colored maid on the presidential family floor, beginning with the William Howard Taft administration. Her polio-stricken daughter, Lillian (portrayed as an adult by Leslie Uggams) eventually joins her during Herbert Hoover's administration and likewise rises through the ranks to to become a trusted confidante of the First Families.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AYELAQ/imdb-adbox/

[sandnsea]

17. Aw Tahiti

You went and made me cry ya' big lug. :hug:

[FrenchieCat]

18. Lovely! truly.

Oh shit. Ok, so I teared up. So sue me! :)

[TahitiNut]

22. Well, there's a reason it took me until tonight to write about it.

(I'm an unrecoverable romantic - a "softie.") It was a SMALL moment in time ... not of earthshaking import ... nothing like FISA or Iraq or whatever. And it's not like I'm some hermit ... or that I don't take the opportunity to interact with people of ALL backgrounds (I'm obsessively interested in people).

But it was genuine. Not plastic. Not 'polite.' It was also quite consistent, I believe, with what a lot of folks are feeling. I think what makes it worth mentioning is that it IS becoming common ... and I. Like. That.

Y'know?

It's a bit like the feeling of spring after a very, very long winter.

[tomg]

73. That's community, and that's when

I know we are still going forward. What you two experienced/created is the kind of thing that keeps me optimistic ( or at least gets my cynical self to be a little more quiet). Thanks.

[1Hippiechick]

99. "But it was genuine. Not plastic. Not 'polite.'" And that is one of those rare moments to treasure

Sorry to repeat myself, but it bears repeating. It absolutely IS about those moments. And I beg to differ about the enormity of that moment that you experienced. It was at that precise moment of connection that you and she "got it." It was that kind of connection at the "spirit level" that transcends mere words. You both connected, and there are not too many people who can say that. IMHO, it definitely was a moment to be treasured. And, by your sharing that poignent story, we are doubly blessed.

[TahitiNut]

114. Yes ... it was a "Namaste" moment.

We're best served, I think, by making such moments as common and ordinary as we can. To borrow a phrase, "We Can Do It."

[tavalon]

106. Yes, I find those moments magnificent.

[Colobo]

19. Good stuff!

[roguevalley]

20. I love this, TahitiNut. What a great thing. You send out goodness and it will find

you back. Thank you for this story.

[FrenchieCat]

21. I've got a thread for you.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6397323

[Colobo]

23. This illustrate what an Obama victory in November will mean

for millions of African-Americans and blacks all over the Americas and the World.

[rebel with a cause]

78. I know it will mean a lot to African American/Black people of the world,

but there is another group that it will mean just as much to and that is people of mixed ethnic heritage. No matter what those heritages are, there are people out there that was touched by Tiger Woods when he refused to identify as only one group and they will also be touched by a president that is accepted as being multi-heritage even though he now identifies as being African American. I know that is one thing that attracted my kids to him as well as his message. This was a man who had over came having to find his own identity and was successful in life due to his intelligence. Yeah, an Obama victory will mean a lot to quite a few people.

[davidpdx]

24. Was the chocolate with nuts or without?

If you say without I'm going to have to put you on ignore?

*kidding*

[TahitiNut]

27. Both. I'm a "big tent" Nut.

:silly:

[bleever]

25. Human is good.

Considering it's the foundation of all good things that community creates and sustains.

:thumbsup:

[Gregorian]

26. Classy.

Quick thinking on your feet made that a great experience. I love it.

And I'd love it if the whole country were that way.

Have another fist bump! Now you've got me doing it.

[Kahuna]

28. You so cool. You certainly did make someone's day.

:loveya:

[hedgehog]

29. You've just given us the perfect come back to the latest

Republican "joke" going around asks if we'll still be able to call it the White House when Obama gets elected.


"Well, I think it's sure about time that someone lived there that was the same color as the folks that built it."

[SaveAmerica]

30. Are you serious? Is the Republican party full of 8 year olds?

I take that back, my kids have never liked it when I say that - "We don't act like that!!" The Republican party is overrun with monkeys.

[Adelante]

31. Aw, Jeez

:cry:

[lojasmo]

33. You made my eyes leak. EOM

[Eurobabe]

34. Aww, Tahiti, I love ya.

:hug: You big softie you. :hug:

We ARE a big family. :hi:

[TahitiNut]

35. Backatcha, luv.

Yeah ... it's kinda like a "family reunion" ... only better. No matter what nits we pick or disappointments we have, we can at least value reconnecting. Good people working together can raise lots of barns ... when we stop raising hell.

[blondeatlast]

36. Savoring the wonderful little moments is what makes the madness survivable.

I love that story and I'm all foggy now!

[Bluerthanblue]

37. I hope you'll break your personal 'rules' more often- this is

such an up-beat post.

About real life interactions.

:yourock:

Thanks TahitiNut-

k&r with happiness.


blu

[TahitiNut]

41. Well ... I resist posting about such things.

First of all, I'm not inclined to use the genuine feelings of others for gossip/entertainment purposes. It just feels 'wrong' to me ... and tends to cheapen some things. Additionally, no matter how careful I am, it comes off as too self-serving and exploitative for my taste. While my goal would be to let the reader place themselves in the position I was in and imagine such a perspective, my writing skills just don't come up to what I'd want to accomplish that. Sometimes, however, the balance of consideration shifts and I take the chance that ethics and integrity are better served by such 'testimony' ... and this was one of those cases. (As always, I could be mistaken.)

[rebel with a cause]

79. don't sell yourself short.

Your writing skills are just fine at accomplishing of painting a picture of your experience and letting others share in it. You did not exploit anyone and it is a happy, touching story. :hi:

[tavalon]

107. I suppose it's my skewed idea of gossip,

but I think of gossip as talking ill of another. And your choice of the word testimony is much more apt, IMO. And besides, that was just effin' awesome!

[goldcanyonaz]

38. papa joes? was that the store?

I miss it since moving out of Michigan, just curious if that was the store you were shopping at

[TahitiNut]

40. Yup ... but it could have been a couple of places.

It was not a completely unusual experience ... merely one of the more describable. There's a "feeling" in the air ... an attitude that I find encouraging. Clearly, I've also encountered the reichbots spouting the same ol' vacuous and specious talking points. Nonetheless, the folks expressing optimism seem far more prevalent.

[mopinko]

39. it's bustin out all over.

going door to door has been like a long slow woodstock or somthin'.

[yellerpup]

43. Gorgeous!

Thanks for sharing that beautiful experience.

[WilliamPitt]

44. "it's sure about time that someone lived there that was the same color as the folks that built it"

Fish.

Barrel.

Boom.

You are now my God.

[TahitiNut]

47. (blush) Thank you, Will.

A more skilled writer could probably do better with the metaphor-within-a-story than I, but it's part of what compelled me to share it. I'm a sucker for the symbolism, I guess. The intertwined themes of "upscale," "chocolate," and "shopping" seemed to be rich with possibility - and the serendipity of it being the literal truth helps, too. It really only occurred to me afterwards that I'd actually lived a very metaphorical experience. (It probably happens more than we realize.)

[tavalon]

108. That makes two of us

Nail, meet head.

[kentuck]

45. Good to share a little humanity, 'Nut.

Good job! :-)

[minnesota_liberal]

48. No Snark

Nice story. I hope all of us are lucky enough to have similar interactions in the months ahead.

[NOLALady]

49. There ya go,

bringing tears to my eyes.:hug:

[NJCher]

50. When we came home from shopping today

A couple of our neighbors were talking in their front yards and as we drove by, they did the knuckie thing. I just laughed, thinking of that moment from Michelle and Obama. I knew the instant it happened that it was a "moment" that was going to have an impact on the entire culture.

Thanks for sharing your story, Tahitinut. Despite your feelings on personal stories, these are some of the best kinds of posts on DU. My opinion.



Cher

[HCE SuiGeneris]

51. You tell a wonderful tale!

:thumbsup:

[babylonsister]

52. Thank you for sharing that personal moment!

I'm sure you made each other's day with it. Very sweet, and the personal stories are the best!

[defendandprotect]

53. There's a great book called "the Debt" by Randall Robinson . . .

It's not really the money --- I just wish that every American understood America's past --

http://www.jcu.edu/pubaff/newsandevents/randall_robinson.htm

It's a wonderful book from 2001 -- and thought it would make a great movie!

Loved your comment about the White House --

:)

I think this candidacy is a wonderful opportunity to bring all people together ---

[stevedeshazer]

54. I'm stealing that line

Don't try to stop me.

:D

[blayne]

Great story.

I work on the weekends at Banana Republic for some extra money and a nice clothing discount. I know yall don't usually say names of stores much around here, but I don't see the harm in it. Anyhow, every since Obama won the nomination, I have wanted to go up and start talking to every black person that comes in the store and ask them how excited they are about the whole thing. I decided that might be inappropriate, seeing as I am as white as can be, and further, it might be wrong to assume every black person is supporting Obama. So I just keep my mouth shut. I guess I just don't have an outlet to talk about my excitement for Obama. I am going to help with the voter registration drives and other local campaign events, so hopefully that will help.

[TahitiNut]

58. That's a healthy (imho) thing to keep in mind.

I strictly avoid ASSUMING anything about other human beings ... particularly based on their appearance to me. It's just not my 'place' to lay some personal perception on another. I find I'm far more respectful of others when I await the DISCOVERY of who they are, in their own view. A large part of the 'magic' is in embracing that respect, imho, and that was essential to the 'magical moment' I described.


It's a lesson I've had repeated many, many times. Over 35 years ago, I was in Jamaica. I was driving the interior and had lost my way. I came upon an older woman walking along the side of the dusty back road I was on. She was barefoot, thin, wearing a cotton dress, and carrying what looked like laundry. I hesitated to ask her for directions, fearing she wouldn't speak English or understand me. Nonetheless, I stopped and asked. She answered me in the most impeccable British-accented English I'd heard, and cheerfully offered very clear directions to the stupid American tourist who'd lost his way ... in more ways than one. (Boy, did I feel dumb. Rightfully so.)

[rebel with a cause]

81. I once asked a new Jamaican friend one time

what language was spoken in her Jamaica. Now realize that I could barely understand her and I had just moved to NY from small town USA. She looked at me with such an insulted air, and said "English, of course." I was so embarrassed by my own stupidity. I still do stupid things ever so often, that is why I am better at being a recluse than an outgoing personality. :eyes:

[tavalon]

109. We all do stupid things from time to time

Give yourself a break.

[Cha]

55. I'm more

teared up than you or the pretty young clerk, I bet!

Riveting, Tahiti!

[Blue-Jay]

56. Obama Five!

[ClusterFreak]

57. No snarking here...

That is a wonderful story, good for you and for her.
:toast:

[BattyDem]

59. Great story!

Thanks for sharing. :hi:

[smoogatz]

60. k/r

Great story.

[PoiBoy]

61. I betcha that young lady...

...still has a great big smile on her face everytime she thinks about your conversaton... and I bet she thinks about it often...

Good on you, sir...!

:hi:

[tabatha]

62. This is a picture I bought in South Africa in 1997.

To me, it also symbolizes Obama's campaign.

[Willo]

64. Great story Tahiti

I love that Obama is such a good conversation starter. Just wear a button or display a sign and people reach out to each other...smiling, waving and honking.

[Raster]

66. No snark here, my Friend. None at all...

The coming election is more than just electing a President. It's about beginning to heal the racial wounds that have scared this country for generations. It's about a place at the table FOR ALL AMERICANS, irregardless of color, sex, sexual orientation, race or age. No one is equal unless we all are equal. No one is free unless we all are free. Thank you for your story. It brought tears to my eyes...as did the pictures of RonnyK's wedding. Far too often the "powers that be" have used our differences to divide us and then control us. We have let our fears and prejudices become the weapons used against us. It's time to embrace those differences and show the powers that be that we will not be divided, controlled, used and abused any longer.

Wake up America!:kick:

[puebloknot]

67. May I have this dance? :) Well done! nt

[UrbScotty]

68. I am so proud of her!

She seems to have her head on her shoulders!

[iamahaingttta]

69. Mmmm... Chocolate!

All that candy sounds pretty yummy too...

I've done more "terrorist fist bumps" in the past few weeks than in the previous 20 years. Everybody around here is fist bumping like never before!

Obama is going to win, and that lovely young family is going to live in that big house on Pennsylvania Avenue, and REAL Americans will be able to hold their heads up high again.

About frikkin' time...

[Redstone]

70. No snarkage from this corner. None whatsoever.

Redstone

[golddigger]

71. Words escape me.

[Robeson]

74. "Well, I think it's sure about time that someone lived there....

...that was the same color as the folks that built it."

Beautiful.

[beac]

75. No snark here-- a sweet story.

Thanks for sharing it! :D

[Mad_Dem_X]

80. What a wonderful story

Thank you for sharing that!

"It was a special and personal moment. Fleeting ... only seconds and without spectators. Not a demonstration or anything. Just human."

AMEN to that.

[loyalsister]

82. What a cool story!

Thanks for sharing!
I was on the bus the other day and there was a family with twin boys. They were fraternal twins so they looked slightly different from each other. One was very gregarious and active. The other was very quite almost brooding. Both had their hair cropped short like Obama and they both were lanky. They both also had big ears.
I had to share with their mother that they looked kind of like him, especially the quiet one.

She thought it was pretty funny.
No fist bump but it was a moment I enjoyed.
I will probably run into them again on the bus.

[Olney Blue]

83. Thank you for this!

[GenDem]

84. That's a great story!

I love these human interaction moments with strangers. And this years election seems to be generating a lot of these moments.

Thanks!

[Blondiegrrl]

85. Wow, that's an amazing story. I'm in awe of how this election

is bringing people together. It's as though the little folks are finally rising up to take back America. Hooray for us!

[asdjrocky]

86. Damn good story.

Loved your response and I hope you don't mind, but I plan to use it.

[The Backlash Cometh]

88. Oh, you're going to pay for this.

The "normally complacent white Americans," are going to come and get you.

[BlueJac]

89. that sounds fantastic to me

[TahitiNut]

90. Wow! Thank you, all, for the lovely responses to my little story.

It's nice to know others sometimes get leaky eyelids and feel 'family' like this ol' Nut.

Namaste. :hi: :hug:

[tavalon]

110. Hope you don't mind,

but that comment you made is going viral! That is just perfection, shear perfection.

[TahitiNut]

113. I'm flattered. It's with some trepidation that I draw the relationship.

I don't personally believe that race, per se, is itself an attribute worth considering - any more than hair or eye color. On the other hand, I'm inclined to take an individual's life experience into consideration - and I'm not naive regarding the impact of one's race or gender in that regard. Each person faces a path in life that's smooth and even, rugged and strewn with obstacles, or something in between. The degree and manner in which people rise above such impediments must be, to some degree, a relevant consideration to the degree it can be validly assessed.

But that particular observation has less to do with Obama than it does with our national conscience. I think it's important to understand the distinction. It's when we don't that we sink into the "politics of race" and it's my hope that we can keep distancing ourselves from such objectifications of human beings. In THAT sense that "I think it's about time."

[Zhade]

91. Fantastic.

You gave me chills.

And I'm stealing that line.

[Autumn]

92. That is a nice story ,but you are

not quite right on the Whitehouse. From Wiki



Construction of the White House began with the laying of the cornerstone on October 13, 1792, with no formal ceremony.<8> The main residence, as well as foundations of the house, were built largely by (5) enslaved and free African-American laborers, as well as employed Europeans.<9> Much of the other work on the house was performed by immigrants, many not yet with citizenship. The sandstone walls were erected by Scottish immigrants, employed by Hoban,<10> as were the high relief rose and garland decorations above the north entrance and the "fish scale" pattern beneath the pediments of the window hoods. Much of the brick and plaster work was produced by Irish and Italian immigrants. The initial construction took place over a period of eight years, at a reported cost of $232,371.83 ($2.4 million in 2005 dollars). Although not yet completed, the White House was ready for occupancy on or circa November 1, 1800.<11>

Shortages, including material and labor, forced alterations to the earlier plan developed by French engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant for a "palace" that was five times larger than the house that was eventually built.<10> The finished home would contain only two main floors instead of the planned three, and a less costly brick served as a lining for the stone façades. When construction was finished the porous sandstone walls were coated with a mixture of lime, rice glue, casein, and lead, giving the house its familiar color and name.<10>

Being a famed structure in America, many replicas have been constructed in its image.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House#Construction

[TahitiNut]

93. The article you cite actually conforms with what I said.

"The main residence, as well as foundations of the house, were built largely by enslaved and free African-American laborers, as well as employed Europeans."

That's perfectly consistent with my remark. :shrug: I don't know why anyone would quibble.

[papapi]

96. Great story. I think those two kids are adorable too.

Thanks!

[KoKo]

100. That's a wonderful and inspiring post...TN... Thanks!

I wonder often why we all don't talk to each other in stores and wherever, anymore. We used to ...when America was a different place.

What you say...says maybe we can all start dialogs with each other once again..over the things that seem "small" but matter so much in our vanishing society.

[TahitiNut]

117. I'm constantly "breaking the ice" when I shop. (It keeps me sane while shopping - which I hate.)

Southeast Michigan is a far more reticent community than most others I've lived in. It seems to be a cultural habit here to keep a serious/scowl look on one's face and avoid eye contact. Folks only nervously and fleetingly acknowledge one another in checkout lines and cruising the aisles of grocery stores. I've 'collected' some lame one-liners and stay alert to chances to say something humorous or provocative. It's fun to see the 'armor' drop and a warm human being appear. It's almost guaranteed to see smiles and increased comfort whenever I do it. I suppose I'm taking advantage of my appearance - white male, 6'2" and linebacker-sized, but clearly retired and causally-dressed in shorts, cotton polo shirt, Birkenstocks, and a crush hat. I'm hard to ignore but obviously not in the "rat race" anymore. So, I leverage that and it seems to work.

[KoKo]

119. Interesting...when I moved back to the South after many years living in NE...

I found folks much friendlier here...sort of like it was when I grew up. That has changed though since the SouthEast attracted all the transplants, immigrants and retirees. People are so wary of each other these days. It's like when I left New Jersey around Clinton's Inauguration...

I thought I'd moved back to a friendly place...but it all changed.

People seem to be very "into themselves and their church." If you aren't in their church they don't bother, anymore. When I moved here people "smiled and nodded" at you for no reason.

It's interesting what changed during Clinton II and through Bush II and III. America did change but it was moving all the time as the "new Centurians" replace the "old guard."

Whatever.. Glad I had a few years of some kind of "human greetings" before it all went to hell.

[Vadem]

101. That was beautiful!!! Thank you, TahitiNut!!!! n/t

[bluedawg12]

102. Great story--I feel it all around too, people are getting along

in ways we have not before. It's a start- a big start.

[Tillseptember]

103. kick n/t

[Raine]

104. Very special

THANKS for sharing it! :-)

[genna]

111. I believe moments of connection ARE what being politically astute means.

I agree with you too. If Michelle, Sasha, and Malia took a back seat, I'd like Obama less. The wife and the children softens Obama's political calculations. They make him human, humble and accessible.

The less he talks. The more they speak for him. It works.

[ellisonz]

112. "Error: you can only recommend threads which were started in the past 24 hours"

[helderheid]

115. Error: you can only recommend threads which were started in the past 24 hours

[TahitiNut]

118. Better late than never.

:evilgrin:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

116. Dear Tahitinut

I really like you a lot. You and I have had a friendly banter going for a while and I always look for your OPs. You are insightful and thoughtful. The grocery store sounds like a place I used to shop at when I lived in Corona Del Mar next to Newport Beach CA - Gilsons. I loved that market. It made shopping for groceries a Tiffany kind of experience.

How could anyone snark at this OP? We all need to have human moments and be able to share them.

xoxo:pals:

from a fat old female phart
Gilligan