No Country for Asian Man

My yoga studio betrayed me. Last week, I was changing in the locker room when a scraggly, homeless looking man came up to me.

"Hey, you look like a violin player."

An explosion went off in my brain, various voices shouting in different directions.

I wish I could say that I responded with brutality and quick wit.  Alas, I was slow to the punch. I couldn’t get myself to start a confrontation in my sullied safe place.

Not to mention, I did not initially understand why my subconscious cursed out this mofo. What was he was getting at? I never played violin. My brother used to. Does he know my brother? Did he mistake me from my brother who used to play violin?

Then I realized the man was attempting to forge a social connection with me through racism. Verbally twisted, I let out an awkward laugh.

"Hah hah, no. Actually, I played piano."

My face darkened when I realized I sold myself out and let this fucker off the hook. Should I have round house kicked his knee cap?

"Sometimes ignorance is better left ignored," I reasoned.

As I walked out the door I thought,"Yea… well the jerk store called. They're running out of you."

The good comebacks never come when you need them.

Lesson learned. Be like water my friend.

Paz y Mucho Amor,

CG