I work on Saturdays. Yeah, I know but it is what it is. Anyway, I usually go out for lunch on Saturdays, as most of the leftovers are already gone. Today I only had a four dollars and a hankering for some pretend Mexican food so there was only one solution. Jack In The Box tacos. Two for a buck, baby!
So I drove to the restaur...um..place, and ordered in the drive through. The transaction was brief and I began scarfing down the greasy goodness (stay with me vegans, there's a point coming) as I drove back to work. We only get a half hour for lunch and you do what you gotta. As I drove through the neighborhood streets I noticed a red truck following. I didn't think much about it as these were main connector streets between two heavily congested main ones, and anyone who is familiar with the area would take the same route. Always know your shortcuts people.
Anyway, when I got back to Olive Blvd. and got in the right turn lane, the truck pulled up next to me and honked. I turned my head to see two young men half my age holding up their half eaten Jack In The Box tacos, in a gesture of brotherhood. I returned their salute with my own half eaten taco as if to say "Well played young men, your taste is impeccable and I approve." Then the light changed and we went our separate ways. But for that one moment, we made a connection. We three were united. We were Taco Bros.
And that's the point of this little story. Over the love of fast food, I made a real, albeit brief, connection with random strangers. Clearly we were divided by age, experience, opinions and musical tastes, but it didn't matter. It was a goofy little moment that brightened my day.
Think about this. Doesn't it seem like we are all divided with each other much more than we are united? We are divided by the old chestnuts of politics and religion. We are divided by social class, heritage, and upbringing. Major arguments are caused by differences in how we parent, what we eat,
how we talk, the list goes on. I don't know about you, but sometimes I get too caught up in it all. I can be quite stubborn about my opinions and have trouble seeing or even acknowledging the other side.
But, you know what? Sometimes it gets to be a little much. It can feel like you're the only person in the world who makes any sense. You can feel isolated, angry, and alone. Or, you can feel superior and empowered to the point of devaluing other human beings. I have been on both sides. Neither one is much fun.
So next time you're complaining about the other side, stop for a moment and think about the human side. I'm not saying you need to change your strongly held beliefs or become a doormat to the opposition. I just think that maybe we should start thinking about the ways in which we are similar, and look at other people as people, not a dissenting voice on the Internet or an object to be despised and ridiculed. Before we are Democrats or Republicans, Religious or Atheist, Gay or Straight, Black or White, Blue and Black or White and Gold, or whatever our differences, we are people. FIRST, we are people.
Maybe if we start from that one common place, maybe we can start to value each other more. Maybe we can find the compromise. Maybe if we connect on a base level, a personal level, we can begin to get some good back into this world.
Maybe one day...we'll all be Taco Bros.
