[list=1][*]I heard on the radio yesterday afternoon that
whites are no longer the majority in Texas. First time since 1800s that this has happened. The change in demographics was primarily Hispanic. I called my mother to tell her that her gringa reign has come to an end (though to be fair, she was imported to the state by my Hispanic dad and she’s been outnumbered 5-1 in the family since my youngest sister was born). I
knew if we waited long enough, the pendulum would start to swing back. I’d give it another twenty years, and we’ll be back on top of everyone else in the state.
[*]This got me to thinking about people like me whose parents aren’t of the same ethnicity. When I do think about it, I self-identify as Hispanic, though I will point out that my mom is of non-Hispanic Polish-Italian ancestry whenever the subject comes up. A lot of it has to do with how I grew up. I didn’t speak English until I was three, we lived closer to our dad’s family than our mom’s family, and my dad was always instilling a sense of Hispanic pride in us when we were kids. Anyone else self-identify with one parent’s ethnicity over the other?
[*]One of the road construction crew guys who has been working in front of my house for the last five months finally got up the nerve to talk to me. This morning, after my workout, I asked him where was the best place to park my car given the big earth mover in front of the house.
Me:
¿Dónde puedo poner mi coche?
Him:
Puedo mover el tractor. Espere un momentito.
He called someone from down the block to move the earth mover.
Me:
No, no. Está bien. Puedo ponerlo en el otro lado de la calle.
I parked my car across the street and then went into my house to shower, change and play with the dogs.
An hour or so later, I emerged from my house, dressed for work. He came up to me as I was getting into the car.
Him:
¿Habla usted español?
Me:
Un porquito. Puedo entender mejor.
He blushed and shuffled.
Him:
Usted es muy bonita.
Me:
¡Muchas gracias!
I drove off ridiculously pleased that a construction worker told me that I was pretty. I must be desperate.
[*]
Los Lobos was interviewed on NPR today about their new album The Ride, and their 30 year history together. I’ve seen them in concert countless times, from small clubs to medium clubs to Indian casinos in the middle of New Mexico to ACL last year. I love them, in part because they all look like my cousins. It is possible that I started singing along when they gave a small performance of
Volver, Volver.[/list=1]
