Tuesday, October 7, 2008

i never promised you an unprejudiced yarn garden

Ladies,
I'd just like to apologize to you all for my lack of updating! So much has happened it's ridiculous!

so, perhaps in the coming days - i will update you on the big stuff, then once osmosis is regained, we can continue with the updating on my actual life.

okay, so i WAS working at that yarn garden place for a while... until, about a month into it i got completely SICK of the fucking racism!

now, we're not talking cross burning white bed-sheet garbed klan members... but something almost in the same wake of.

comments like, "oh, you're laura anne? that's not a very oriental name"

or, "so... what kind of asian ARE you? japanese? chinese?"

or, "hey, you probably know where i can find some really good ______ (insert random oriental food type)"

or my personal favorite, "oh, you're laura anne? we talked on the phone earlier... you don't SOUND oriental" -- WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN!?

at first, i will admit - i found it pretty hilarious that something so ridiculous could happen to me. But is it ridiculous? I started to realize that these old ladies came from such a different era... an era where they lived in FEAR of us slanty-eyed yellow folk. I understand the shell-shocked fathers, grandfathers, and uncles washing the brains and inciting prejudice and chauvinism into their young families. A society sopping with xenophobia and panic over us small-framed, superior minded idealists.

It takes a lot of guts for those old ladies to approach me and talk to me about a subject that clearly interests me in their minds, i'm sure. But after a good amount of time explaining my heritage (which, by the way, has nothing to do with their actual YARN purchase), explaining the reason why my eyes look like this, or why my skin is this jaundice resembling tone, why i am knowledgeable on all the local asian food fare... because clearly, i should, right? after all of the questions that i started to notice were exclusively being directed at me... i decided to take my leave. old ladies pestering me on my life and how beautiful my people are as a whole, really started to bother me... as complimenting as it might seem, and as ironic as it might seem. i was made to feel uncomfortable, NO THANKS LADIES!

and so now, after my rant, i am a free woman! i am free to be shackled to the studio as long as i please. i am free to rip my hair out at every fucked up seam allowance and every misplaced pin.

free at last, free at last, oh lord, free at last.

more to follow in the coming days. i will make a point to post weekly, if not daily.

SOPHIA COME BACK TO MEEEEEEE (through blog form)
also, who saw burn after reading? i know i did.... it was fukcing FANGTASTIC!

5 comments:

Cheryl said...

Hey Laura - I sent you an email in response to this post. Looking forward to your correspondence :)

Beatriz said...

Hi Laura! Nancie showed us pics of her trip to Oregon. Awesome pics! My favorite was the room filled with weaving looms. We sure do miss your happy smiling face around here. So glad you didn't stay at the Yarn Garden. If it didn't feel like a comfort zone, why work there, right? Best wishes.

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm.... That's unbelievable. I'm at a loss for words on all that crap! It's just unbelievable.

Luckily, you have more time to create in your studio. How fortuitous for you and for us to enjoy!! Rock on Baby. Love, Lisa

Laura said...

you ladies are so wonderful in your support! i love you all! while everything i said was true, i ultimately meant for it to be a funny post. i hope i didn't trouble you all with my silliness! lord knows i'm not troubled.

Anonymous said...

GREAT to see you back! I hope you continue to update more :) Bummer about the yarn garden. People can be so stupid with their comments. I can't tell you how many times I have to explain my name. It's irratating when youdon't even know them.

Well, you are back full time in the studio, teaches you to try to work! LOL :D Hope you are coming home for the upcoming holidays.