I went to work yesterday morning and passed a black mom with her 5ish year old son. They both seemed pleasant enough until the kid pointed at me and announced "honkie". The mother was appropriately mortified so I'm not pissed, but really, what the hell is that all about?
Today (like yesterday and many before) was a very long day, and since I'm going to be in a meeting tomarrow and don't need my bicycle to get to work, I decided to catch a cab home instead of riding. As one pulled over the driver was saying something to me from inside. I figured he was asking me where I was going, but after tossing my smoke and getting in, he repeated himself and turns out, he was saying I didn't need to throw it away. He seemed very pleasant and quickly began changing the radio stations, landing on the "modern rock station", asked me if that was okay and what my favorite station was. I told him it was fine and then he offered me a cigarette (to replace the one I'd tossed). I declined but we chatted happily about business and laughed at the hookers we passed. He appologized when he answered a phone call from his son (using an earpeace!) which lasted at maximum, 10 seconds. When he dropped me off, he charged me that accurate fare (not ripping me off, nor insinuating some 'debt' to him which I could repay in some other manner). I'm just so dizzy from this experiance. I guess I just never thought I'd see the day.