The Strangers to Shoppers You Meet at the Supermarket 

Familiar strangers we meet in a fairy tale 

Strange familiar people we meet in supermarkets 

The Strangers (poem)

I was doing my dishes I think I was
When from my front room I heard a buzz
I went to inspect as one normally does
There was a man face covered with fuzz
-
I make the shoe
Then I make two
He needs a few
I�ll make a slew
-
I asked the man What are you doing here
How on earth did you get in I need to hear
Do you understand Am I making myself clear
He just keeps making shoes He doesn�t veer

-
Well I said Hi
Why no reply
He must be shy
Weird little guy
-
I�m not trying to be rude please understand
I have to run
I appreciate the shoes They�re really all so grand
These shoes should stun
We both have to admit their number�s out of hand
He now has ton
To go to bed �bout now is more of what I�d planned
Rest now we�re done
-
Have a good night
I hope that all your dreams are equally as bright 

Communication is just one problem when a man finds a stranger in his house making him shoes in this poem. We have two characters.  One a 10 beat character (the owner of the house). The other is a 4 beat character (the stranger). The two seem to have problems communicating. In the fifth stanza, the two combine. Each keeping their own rhyme. We may notice that the longer beat character has become irregular. The poem ends with the two rhyming and 4 beats followed by 9 beats. This poem is more than a fairy tale. 

People are different was something that was apparent to me from my first days of school. There were some kids I liked more than others. I live in San Francisco. The chances of my school being one race or culture was pretty slim. I was  unaware of such things. I didn't find out about racism until I met the most influential person in my life, Mr Johnny Land. Mr. Land was my music teacher. He was Black. My mother was brought up in Nazi Germany. There was was no way a black man was teaching her son. There was only one "thing" worse (to her) than a black person: a Jewish person. I was lucky the school principle was Mr Horowitz (so my mother couldn't complain about Mr. Land). It was from my mother that I first learned about racism. It was stupid. At least how a mother tried to explain it to a 12 year old. I learned that racism wasn't just a black and white thing. Chinese and blacks were the majority in my high school. They hated each other. Fights between the two races were common. We whites were a minority, right behind the Hindus. When I worked at Chevron, my friend wanted me to go with him to his favorite bar. They asked him that I never come back. My friend was black. It was a black bar. I was the wrong color. When I joined the Masons. my Lodge was way behind the times. They were anti-black, as far as membership. I was part of group, led by my mentor, Jake, who successfully integrated the Lodge. All of a sudden they became anti-Filipino. One big dilemma: Martin's wife was Filipino. The same problem my mother had. My son, Peter. was a pretty amazing kid. My mother was very proud of him. His skin color seemed to disappear, to her.  One day my mother went off on one of her racist rants in front of him. It was one of the most amazing moments in my life. Peter, a 12 year old boy, said to her, "What about me G-Ma?"

It is very hard for me to say. We San Franciscans are extremely tolerant. I believe racism is coming to an end. The media headlines of whites acting racist against blacks sells more, draws more attention than what's happening in our Native American or Latin American communities. I believe equal rights and new generations will put an end to racism.  I see a new enemy rearing its ugly head. Classism. This is were a person is judged by how much they make, their education level and their social class. It it is already subtly working its way into our lives. So subtly. many of us us don't notice it ...yet. But we humans are wonders. I have (and you have too) seen the wonder we can and do accomplish. We are, together moving and working toward a better day. Believe in ourselves, our sisters and our brothers and Enjoy.

To go with the poem try this delight: Petula Clark "The Little Shoemaker" 

Been shopping lately 

Here are five weird things some people Share in common. 

1. Continually check the fridge to see if any food has magically appeared.
2. Pull out your phone to check the time, only to realize you have to do it again because you forgot to look at the clock.
3. Have a full-on conversations with yourself.
4. Asking "what?" even though you heard what the person said.
5. Start reading the menu from the middle.

If you thought that was weird, have you seen these characters at your supermarket? (Put together by Meir Kay.) "19 Types of Shoppers You Meet at the Supermarket" 

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Steve Case