I remember I was super obsessed with Freddie Mercury from the time I was 12 until around the time I was 18. My obsession had to be put on a back burner when I had my daughters, but it was always lurking in my mind.
I had an AIDS awareness ribbon and the name Freddie put on my high school class ring. Unfortunately I don't know where that ring is now, since Celest sneaked into my closet, took my ring (among other things), and lost it.
One particular memory about my ring still sticks out in my mind. A girl from my grade in high school (that I'd known since first grade) decided to go around telling people that I shoved my ring in her face, showing it off I suppose. She went on to say something like, "Why would someone want a dead fag's name on their class ring?"
For starters, I'm not really one to brag about belongings. And I don't shove things in people's faces. As I recall she asked to see the ring and I showed it to her. Whatever comment she made at that time wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but I'm certain she didn't say anything to my face about fags.
It really pissed me off for several reasons. First, she lied about how she saw my ring and the fact that I was "shoving" it in people's faces. Second, that she called Freddie Mercury was a "dead fag". Third, that she later acted like she didn't say or do anything to me that would call for me being upset with her.
I know I grew up in a pretty close-minded and bigoted area, but thinking back on all of the stupid crap people did and said makes me both sad and sick. I'm not trying to pretend that I didn't say and do my fair share of ignorant, bigoted things. I did. But I've since changed, and I try to be a decent, open-minded person. I see that many people I went to school with haven't changed that much, by the stupid comments they've made and ignorant conversations I've had with them.
Anyway, back to Freddie Mercury. He was an awesome singer and human being. Happy birthday to him, wherever he is.
Happy birthday, Freddie! Yeah, I blame lots on our geography. Below poverty level is a breeding ground for ignorance and mistrust, and our school was proof of that. The difference between us and them is that we learned that that way of thinking was wrong despite being taught the same ignorant things they were. (And I recall having very similar encounters with the sister of the girl you speak of here. They are drama queens to this very day. Avoid.)
ReplyDeleteI just don't understand why people make up stupid crap. So they can gossip about it? If so, she should've made up a much better story than that. : )
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, I've been trying my hand at woodburning. My first project? The picture of Freddie from the Bohemian Rhapsody photo (where the background is all black and you just see his face, hair, and hands). Not too great, but it's my first try. I've since worked on a TV monster image and another Freddie pic. : ) If the TV monster comes out well I was going to give it to you guys.
Living well is the best revenge :) Most of the people we grew up with are still living in that sad little area and remain far removed from reality in their sad little lives. Picking on others is the only way they feel empowered, when in actuality they are just ignorant. They are not even extras in our movies today. I think it is suffice to say that we have had the last laugh.
ReplyDeleteI just hate that people cause one another so much grief over stupid sh*t. The girls and I avoid most of it, but that's partially because we're becoming hermits. :)
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