Pep Talks, Music, and Racist Tendencies

I haven't written in a while, and I think that's okay. I think its okay to change up patterns and to take a break from the typical. And in addition, I just wasn't feeling inspired. I'm actually still not feeling all that inspired. However there is a story that I just cannot keep to myself. Its a funny story, but then it got me thinking. anyways. here goes.

Last night I went to my oh so wonderful, barely over minimum, frustrating as heck lifeguard job at the YMCA. I got myself through the shift first with my weekly pep talk that went something like.....

"Krista, you're actually such a great person. There are probably a lot of children that owe you their lives because you taught them how not to drown. And there are also a lot of parents out there that owe you for teaching their children discipline. And there are also a lot of ESL students that owe you for teaching them basic English verbs like 'swim, jump, and shut up'. Even though you're getting paid almost half of what you make when working from your pool in the summer, you are doing the right thing by going to work, because this is about the kids, and you are going to put on a happy face and get in there and be the person you're supposed to be."

....Ooor something like that. Anyways, with the combination of the pep talk and my promise to myself that I would hit up the mall after work, I made it through another Wednesday night. So after work I drove to the mall. I'm generally not that into shopping, I mean I love new clothes and I have fun moments sometimes, but I'd rather someone with really good taste and a bottomless bank account just shop for me. However, the exception to this shopping rule is when I'm shopping for music. Sunrise Records should give me a plaque and HMV should probably make me the poster girl for their advertisements. The best part about yesterday was that I actually had planned on spending money on music, unlike normal when I run away from my friends while they're in changerooms and come back with $200 worth of musical merchandise in my hands before they notice I left. I intended to spend money yesterday because I'm going to a concert in a few weeks for a band that I formerly only sort-of liked. Formerly, because once I heard their new stuff, I was a born again fan. But there is nothing worse, (in my opinion), then going to a concert and not being able to sing along to a respectable amount of the set list. Soo I bought the new CD, aaaaaaaand while I was at it, I picked up 3 more albums that caught my eye, (It happens, its fine, i won't eat this week, so worth it). Anyways, we're not even at the real story yet......

The real story starts after I leave the mall. I got to the mall around 8:15, and I left around 8:45, the mall closes at 9. So the mall, and the parking lot were pretty dead when I got there, and even deader when I left. So as I walk across the empty parking lot towards my car, I hear a male voice behind me say "Excuse me". But I keep on walking because obviously this unknown male has no reason to be talking to me. WRONG. I hear the "excuse me" again, and so this time I turn around, and see a reasonably sized black guy walking towards me. He says "Hey!". At this point, most people would probably have some sort of red flag alarm go off in their head......I can't say that happened to me. So I answer back, "hey". Now this guy is within an arms length away from me and the conversation goes as follows....

Him: Do you like Hip hop?
Me: umm, ya sure, I like hip hop, I like music
Him: Ya I saw the hmv bag. Do you want to buy my Hip hop album?
Me: I dunno, how much is it?
Him: 5 bucks
(Blonde girl, alone in a deserted parking lot, at night, proceeds to whip out her wallet next to stranger. Any red flags yet? nope)
Me: well I actually don't have $5, I paid for all my music on debit.
Him: Do you have any loonies or twoonies?
Me: ummmmmm...
(As I search for change, he proceeds to ask my about myself, where I'm from, school, etc. and we have a nice little chat)
Me: I only have 1.83 cents, and I'm sure your music is worth more than that
Him: No, I will take it, its not about the money its--
Me: --its about the music?
Him: Ya!
Me: Okay
(I give him $1.83, he gives me the Cd and we part ways)

It is not until I get into my car, that a bunch of red flags go off. Apparently my alarm system is delayed. Goooood, that's very useful. Everyone who I've told that story to tells me just how lucky I am, and how badly that could have went. And I know that, and believe it or not, I'm actually fairly street smart, and not quite as naive as this story makes me out to be. So I recognize how risky that situation was. However, I'm also kind of loving the fact that it happened for several reasons.....

1. I don't really do random risky things very often so it was a bit of a rush when I replayed the scenario

2. I love black people. So much. Probably more than politically correct amount to love them. So is that like a reverse different kind of racism? maybe. But the fact that the guy was black actually made me trust him more, and motivated me further to stop and chat. Is that weird? Possibly.

3. Most people he talked to that evening probably shut him down, or ignored him. So the fact that I didn't behave the way he probably expected me to, makes me rather pleased with myself.

So on the whole, did I enjoy my adventure? Yes. Am I going to get into the habit of talking to male strangers, alone, at night, in empty back parking lots? No. That would be pushing my luck a bit I think. I would like to think that I'm actually just super perceptive and I could tell that there was no danger and that's why no red flags went off, but that might be a little presumptuous. So I'm not too sure what to do with my internal alarm system. It'll probably be difficult to test it out again without putting myself in troublesome situations, but I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, I will continue to get enjoyment out of the memory of my little Wednesday night encounter. And the Cd I got for $1.83? Well I think Big Frost "Ask the Authorities" is feeling quite at home on my Cd shelf in between Boston and Celine Dion.