Thursday, September 23, 2010

My How Things Have Changed

They have. 

As I mentioned a couple of weeks back, I was recently on a business trip to Apopka, FL (Orlando area).  There were 7 of us who traveled together, shared rental cars, and bunked at the same hotel.  During the conversation, my son and my blog came up.  I openly mentioned having TS.  The reaction was interesting.

Growing up as the only TS person in my region of rural Louisiana wasn't pleasant.  I was an oddity.  People stared.  Children mimicked, teased, etc. and their parents did nothing about it.  Apparently I had it coming.  It was reminiscent of "Dark Ages" films where people hurl mud, rocks, and rotten veggies at the humpback.  I remain amazed by it still.  Even adults who were more accepting were uncomfortable with me.  I was a curiosity, but definitely wasn't 'one of them'. 

My co-workers' reaction was quite encouraging.  They too had questions, but the attitude was different.  Somewhere along the path in the last 35 years, I evolved from odd to interesting.  Interesting has brought with it acceptance.  My idiosyncrasies actually seemed to have an endearing effect on this group.  I returned with a greater appreciation for those that I knew before the trip and a list of "new friends".  Nice to see entropy lose one for a change.

4 comments:

  1. Absolutely loved getting to know you. The best trip for work to date and I'm sure for a while to come. I think you are an amazing person and am glad to now call you my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm honored beyond words Dana!! You're the kind of folk I love adding to my circle.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Interesting. Perhaps also during the past three decades people have become more informed, more sensitized to being accepting of differences as well. I'm saddened at the way you were treated especially as a child. Those things tend to stick with you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'd be lying if I said it hadn't shaped me. Most of the negative is gone. There are positive aspects to understanding the "outsider's perspective". It brings out a very polar set of responses. Either you look for opportunities to validate your own worth by making outcasts of others, or you vow that no one will ever experience it at your hand.

    ReplyDelete