Tissue & Me

My intent is not to have your job, that’s why your name is not important. What’s important is how you treat people regardless of how you are dressed and your title.

Let me explain.

Today started out beautifully. I felt good. Looked good. My family was happy and the day itself was sunny and cool. We collectively had our phones set to receive text messages from Delta Airlines for a specific flight. As soon as we got the boarding notification, my family and I were immediately on the way the the passenger terminal of the Valdosta Regional Airport to get a relative. The car ride there was jubilantly amazing. We were so excited to see our relative. By the time we reached the intersection of Perimeter Road and Lakeland Highway, we received the text that the plane landed at 1:04 pm. It was early and we were about 9 miles away. Anyone who has flown from Atlanta to Valdosta knows that the flight could be 20 minutes or less. Anyhoo… When we arrive to the airport, I park on the curb where you can pick up passengers. I immediately jumped out of the car (because we’re late) to get our loved one’s luggage. The car was not unoccupied; there were three individuals in the car waiting. While in the airport, I became very antsy because I didn’t see my relative. I’m looking at all of the passengers come in. Gee golly she must have been sitting in the last seat. My phone rings and I head back to the car. A Valdosta City police officer or a Lowndes County deputy (it doesn’t matter which entity, they are there to serve and protect) told me that I had to move the vehicle. I nodded my head and proceeded to the driver’s side. You all who know me, know that I am a person of very few words, so a nod to me is a thousand words. As I am in step, I hear an angry, gruff voice, “DIDN’T YOU HEAR ME TALKING TO YOU!” Also, those of you who know me know that my quiet demeanor does not make me a pushover. So I straighten my posture, cock my head to the side and look him square in the face.

The interaction went something like this:

Law Person: *Rudely* DIDN’T YOU HEAR ME! I CAN GET YOUR LICENSE RIGHT NOW AND CHARGE YOU A $5,000 TICKET. UH, UH (he starts stammering because I didn’t flinch or slink away) $1,500 TICKET FOR PARKING HERE!

Me: *With an attitude, because I can match the energy that you give, officer of the law or not*I did not use this as a parking spot. I went in to retrieve my elderly relatives’ suit case so she wouldn’t have to carry it.

Law Person: YOU CAN’T LEAVE A VEHICLE HERE UNATTENDED!

Me: THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNATTENDED. THERE’S AN ENTIRE FAMILY SITTING IN IT!

I can be all kinds of slick out of the mouth without saying a single curse word, so be careful how you approach me and others who have done nothing wrong. Say what you mean. If an empty driver’s seat means unattended, you better say that and have all of the signs in the loading area changed to reflect that.

He calms.

I guess he didn’t realize that others were in the vehicle.

He then speaks to me calmly like I am a human and tells me about the cameras and Homeland Security and how he doesn’t want to get into trouble for a parked, unattended vehicle. I told him that I completely understand that he has a job to do. We smile and I grudgingly part ways.

If you ever read this, I have some questions for you:

• Was I not complying when YOU SAW ME GOING to the driver’s door?
• Is a nod not acknowledging your request?
• Was your pride hurt because I didn’t cower and cry like a typical woman would when you approached me because I nodded instead of giving you a verbal answer because you didn’t address me respectfully while I was in the process of complying to your request?

Let me provide you with a few details about this black woman:

1. You threatened me with a $5,000 ticket? lol, I can pay it in cash multiplied a few times.
2. You threatened me with a $1,500 ticket? lol, that’s just pennies to me.
3. I receive NO assistance from the government, family, nor friends so every nickel and dime you threatened to take from me came from me working HONESTLY with the FOUR college degrees that I EARNED. I am not ignorant. I am not dumb. I am well-educated and I know how to extend grace to people and I know how to talk people because I dare not be that one who drives someone over the edge.

I just want you to know that you broke me. You have no idea what me or any living being on this earth is going through. I don’t wear my personal problems on my sleeve so you nor anyone else would know my burdens. Your unnecessary tone and threats could make the strongest person jump from the Alapaha because YOU unraveled their last thread. Thank you for confirming that I have no worth because being nice was not on your agenda today.

Hot doggit, I probably could have lost my life today if the law man felt froggy because I talked back to him. Isn’t that how the story usually ends?

I needed a tissue today, and it wasn’t for my nose.