subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Fri, Nov 20 2009 

Published: January 21, 2008 05:21 pm    print this story  

WHITE-WALKER: Weighty words

By Karen White-Walker
Niagara Gazette

Okay, so you weren’t born into the greatest family, you’ve had to struggle for every earned fifty cents, and when you get up in the morning, the first words out of your vulgar tasting mouth are, “If I’m part of some Divine Plan, God sure must have some sense of humor.” So laugh, He does.

Don’t think we all aren’t carrying around enough emotional baggage to sink the Bismarck. How can we not be when most of our family members and friends are smarter, cuter and more successful then we are, but really, that shouldn’t over-shadow our uniqueness.

Have you ever met two people who are exactly alike? Of course not, and that’s why everybody has the potential of becoming terribly interesting. But just try telling them that and they eye you suspiciously.

“I’ve never met anybody quite like you before,” you’ll excitedly confess.

“Just what the hell does that mean? You tryin’ to tell me I don’t fit in?”

“I…I did … didn’t mean that at all,” you’ll stutter, but the damage has already been done. Speaking of damage, it’s no secret that our family constantly reinforces our attributes and downplays our flaws. That’s a very heady feeling, but if you think it has always been that way, you’re crazy. Now see, I’ll probably lose half of my faithful following because I’ve called you all crazy. Believe me, when I was growing-up hearing that would have been considered a real compliment.

As a teenager I had such a horrific complexion that people actually thought I had smallpox, not just acne, but smallpox. I never quite figured out why the boys would invite me to the school dances, but they did.

“It’s so dark in there so they really can’t see you — thank God. ” my sister Mary Paula was so quick to point out.

When we verbally sparred she’d yell out, “ Pimple face. ” and I’d shout back, “Cat eyes. ’ We ‘hated’ each other, but for years and years now, we’ve adored one another. That’s what happens when you don’t dwell on all the past hurts and put-downs. But can you believe that my wonderful mother once said something worse than pimple face? That’s right, hard to fathom when you figure what an incredible person she is.

“Is this how you don’t dwell?” she wearily asked. “Must you remember everything?”

“Mother, I think when one can share their hurts with others, real healing can be realized.”

“Here we go — another darn column. How many times do I have to tell you that mothers never quite fully recover after giving birth? You weighed two and a half pounds when you were born, stayed in an incubator for over three months, and when you survived it was a miracle — a miracle. Your father and I walked every day to the hospital, because we didn’t own a car. We cried when you were born, cried when we almost lost you, cried for our sore throbbing feet, and cried when we brought you home.”

“Well, when I was five I cried when you threw up in an argument, “You’re nothing but such a nosey little thing, couldn’t even wait the full nine months to come into this world.”

Pimple face and nosey, try living your whole life with that. But I’ve forgiven my mom and sister for saying such rubbish, and they’ve forgiven me for sharing such stuff. That’s only possible, you know, when you don’t dwell on all the past hurts and put-downs.

Weighty Words

Okay, so you weren’t born into the greatest family, you’ve had to struggle for every earned fifty cents, and when you get up in the morning, the first words out of your vulgar tasting mouth are, “If I’m part of some Divine Plan, God sure must have some sense of humor.” So laugh, He does.

Don’t think we all aren’t carrying around enough emotional baggage to sink the Bismarck. How can we not be when most of our family members and friends are smarter, cuter and more successful then we are, but really, that shouldn’t over-shadow our uniqueness.

Have you ever met two people who are exactly alike? Of course not, and that’s why everybody has the potential of becoming terribly interesting. But just try telling them that and they eye you suspiciously.

“I’ve never met anybody quite like you before,” you’ll excitedly confess.

“Just what the hell does that mean? You tryin’ to tell me I don’t fit in?”

“I…I did … didn’t mean that at all,” you’ll stutter, but the damage has already been done. Speaking of damage, it’s no secret that our family constantly reinforces our attributes and downplays our flaws. That’s a very heady feeling, but if you think it has always been that way, you’re crazy. Now see, I’ll probably lose half of my faithful following because I’ve called you all crazy. Believe me, when I was growing-up hearing that would have been considered a real compliment.

As a teenager I had such a horrific complexion that people actually thought I had smallpox, not just acne, but smallpox. I never quite figured out why the boys would invite me to the school dances, but they did.

“It’s so dark in there so they really can’t see you — thank God. ” my sister Mary Paula was so quick to point out.

When we verbally sparred she’d yell out, “Pimple face.” and I’d shout back, “Cat eyes. ’ We ‘hated’ each other, but for years and years now, we’ve adored one another. That’s what happens when you don’t dwell on all the past hurts and put-downs. But can you believe that my wonderful mother once said something worse than pimple face? That’s right, hard to fathom when you figure what an incredible person she is.

“Is this how you don’t dwell?” she wearily asked. “Must you remember everything?”

“Mother, I think when one can share their hurts with others, real healing can be realized.”

“Here we go — another darn column. How many times do I have to tell you that mothers never quite fully recover after giving birth? You weighed two and a half pounds when you were born, stayed in an incubator for over three months, and when you survived it was a miracle — a miracle. Your father and I walked every day to the hospital, because we didn’t own a car. We cried when you were born, cried when we almost lost you, cried for our sore throbbing feet, and cried when we brought you home.”

“Well, when I was five I cried when you threw up in an argument, “You’re nothing but such a nosey little thing, couldn’t even wait the full nine months to come into this world.”

Pimple face and nosey, try living your whole life with that. But I’ve forgiven my mom and sister for saying such rubbish, and they’ve forgiven me for sharing such stuff. That’s only possible, you know, when you don’t dwell on all the past hurts and put-downs.

Karen White-Walker is a Wilson resident. Her column appears every Tuesday.

print this story  



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Featured Jobs

Information Technology
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - Niagara County Community College is seeking a Director of User and Administrative Technology Se...>MORE

Maintenance Technician
MAINTENANCE Technician, FT, exp. needed in electrical, plumbing, heating & cooling, Apply in person bet. 9 & 5 at 6751 ...>MORE

BILINGUAL PHONE INTERVIEWER
Bilingual Telephone interviewer. Surveys for insurance policy review. Spanish/English a Must. ft/pt & Sat. No sales/coll...>MORE

PHONE SALES
PHONE sales, great pay, exp. a plus, nice NT office, FT/PT, hrly. +, Pete or Mike, 694-1251...>MORE

Senior Citizen Program Coordinator
SENIOR CITIZEN PROGRAM COORDINATOR
City of Niagara Falls
Full-time position involves coord., developing & revi
...>MORE

Retail Manager
RETAIL Manager needed, exp needed, full time. Fax resumes to Hyde Park Laundry 285-8677....>MORE

Health Care
Health Care. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES/LAUNDRY SUPERVISORS. Excellent full-time day and evening opportunities. Experienced,...>MORE

Junior Accountant
Auto Detailer full time, exp. pref. Apply at David Chevy Buick Pontiac, 10225 Nia Falls Blvd. or 298-9700 ask for Frank....>MORE

Physical Therapy Assistant
PHYSICAL THERAPY
ASSISTANT (PTA)

Looking for a self-motivated PTA to provide PT services for premier lo
...>MORE

Cook
COOK full time.
Apply in person only,
Augie’s Diner,
2470 Military Rd.
...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

Chevy 1995 Pickup
CHEVY 1995 Pickup truck, 4WD, 5 speed, must see, never had plow on it, $2800 bo, 804-5579...>MORE

Nissan 1993 4x4
NISSAN 1993 4x4, extended cab, bedliner cap, $1200 or best offer, 715-2450...>MORE

1999 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1999 Caravan, 33, V6, auto, A/C, 99k miles, good cond., runs great. $1950. 525-7796...>MORE

Chevy 1994 High Topper Van
CHEVY 1994 High topper van, high road miles, mechanically sound, $900 or bo, 716-510-8105...>MORE

1996 Ford Escort
FORD 1996 Escort 4 cyl, 2 dr, exc cond in & out, no rust, 1 owner, only 61k orig mi, $2195. 523-7102...>MORE

1984 Cadillac Eldorado
CADILLAC Eldorado 1984, runs, inspected, $500. 283-3552....>MORE

Ford 2001 Taurus
Ford 2001 Taurus Station wagon, well maintained, 112,000 miles Siver ext. 4 dr, auto, asking $2800/BO. 716-772-2454....>MORE

Monte Carlo Z24 1998
MONTE CARLO Z24, 1998, runs good, average miles, excellent shape, $1800 , 990-2303...>MORE

Buick 2005 LeSabre
BUICK 2005 Lesabre Custom, excellent condition, fully loaded, $6700 or best offer, 754-4540...>MORE

VW 2001 Beetle
VW 2001 Beetle, loaded, GLX turbo, exc. cond, all service records, fun to drive, blue bk $5600, take best offer, 990-06...>MORE

See all ads





 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index