Today Pegman is visiting Peleliu.
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For guidelines and rules for the What Pegman Saw weekly writing prompt, visit the home page.
Many thanks to Karen Rawson and her highly significant other J Hardy Carroll
My choice from the Pegman Buffet
After spending two hours watching videos about Palau’s history, politics and current world status I ended up writing about a former coworker. This is the story that wouldn’t leave. I write about her in the past tense only because I’m gleefully retired from cake decorating. The story is mostly true. 😉
Genre: Anecdote
Word Count: 150
ETHNOLOGIC
Ivonne was one of the most exasperating decorators I worked with during my off-and-on bakery career. While creative and talented, she would be quick one day and move with glacial speed the next with nothing in between.
This is not to say I didn’t like her. I did. She had a keen sense of humor and an easy smile. With kinky hair and dark skin, I assumed the obvious, until the day her mother came to the shop to visit her—a diminutive lady with almond eyes and straight black hair.
“What’s her nationality?” I asked Ivonne. “If you don’t mind my asking.”
“Nah. I’m used to it.” She tilted her head and stared off in the distance. “Dad was stationed in Palau. I was never black enough or Micronesian enough. Now I have two children who are all that and half Caucasian. What race does that make them?”
“Human.”
Original Artwork © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Interesting. That sounds similar to the same racial mixture of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. It sure hasn’t held him back. It seems people who are classified as “all white” may be a vanishing bunch. Good writing as always, Rochelle. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I sort of stand in the middle as to opinion. I hate to see people lose their ethnic identities. At the same time I love seeing the racial barriers shattered. I don’t think my friend’s children will have the same issues growing up…at least I hope they don’t. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I don’t think your friend’s children will have the same issues at all. Today’s world is so blended but I know what you mean about standing in the middle. All our differences make us interesting.
Fabulous anecdote, mon amie!
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Dear Dale,
You should see this girl’s son. He’s exquisite. I haven’t seen her daughter for s’time though. 😉 (I couldn’t resist). Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for coming by. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I can well imagine!
Aaasrgh!!!
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Excellent perspective. I love that nobody is writing about the battle, the first thing that comes up on Wiki. It’s all about the people.
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Dear Josh,
What can I say? As soon as I saw Palau I thought of the one person I knew who is half Palauan. I really feel for the people. As I watched how they’ve been pushed around and colonized against their will, it made me angry. When did white come to mean superior?
Anyway…thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Enjoyed your little memoir and had to smile at your last comment, Rochelle. Easy-peasy. White came to mean superior because Caucasians invented guns first. 😉
IMO, if you go back in history you’ll find that the ones who had the greatest military strength or firepower always felt superior no matter what their ethnic or racial origins. The English defeated the Scots because guns worked better than Claymores. Which made the English feel superior to all other whites at that time. Etc.
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Dear Christine,
Unfortunately that explains a lot and makes me sad. We have so much to learn from each other.
Thank you for reading, enjoying and leaving such an enlightening comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I do find it strange and quite quite inexplicable but even Indians have a white fixation. So many of our Gods are dark and yet there is a deep rooted yearning for fair skin, with as you can imagine with devastating effects for many girls. And apparently boys too arent immune.
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Dear Dahlia,
I’m not sure I get the advantage of white skin. We burn easier in the sun and are more prone to skin cancer. That being said, I think bronze skin and dark eyes are beautiful. Every race has its merit. I just wish more of us could realize that we are the same underneath. Okay, I’ll come down from my soap box now and thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I enjoyed your description of how Ivonne worked. That would be crazy-making for sure. Another wonderful story, my dear. Cheers! Lish
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Dear Lish,
I didn’t have enough word leeway to mention that she was always at least ten minutes late to work. She did and, I’m sure still does, have a great talent for fondant and flowers. In any case, I’m pleased you liked my story. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, yes, I did like the story very much. Sometimes on Facebook people post pictures of “Racial Blends” beautiful people, indeed.
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Lovely story!
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Thank you, Hilary! 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I love that. Human. Your story says it all, without getting heavy about it: that all of us are human, whatever the colour of our skin.
Well done 🙂
All best wishes,
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
If we could only see our differences as a the facets of a diamond, perhaps there would be peace. Thank you for reading and commenting. I always love seeing you on my purple page. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Merriam-Webster,
I pretty sure you’re making up words. I’ve had my suspicions for months, but now it’s all starting to add up. This little tete-a-tete between you and your co-worker set the stage nicely for your clever but contrived title. I’m keeping an eye on you.
Detective Lowry
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Dear Detective Lowry,
I found the word ‘ethnologic’ on dictionary.com. However, if it does happen to be a bit of a double entendre…😇
Thank you for your astute reading prowess and definition of characters.
Shalom,
Merriam Webster Wisoff-Fields
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Great story with a marvelous punchline. My own family (immediate and extended) is a melting pot and I’m glad to be in the stew. Culture is a moving target. We’re constantly reinventing it. It’s part of what makes life fun and makes us human. 🙂
Love your artwork and got a giggle out of your inlinks avatar this week!
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Dear Karen,
I detect a bit of your melting pot from your inlinkz avatar. Love it. I’m glad you liked my story. When I saw Palau my mind immediately went to my young coworker and the muse wouldn’t let me go anywhere else. As fr my avatar…that mixer was an arm vibrating monster. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
What a wonderful story about human blending and bonding. Colour me purple, you are so brilliant with these anecdotal tales.
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Dear Neel,
I think I’ll leave you the lovely shade of brown that I see in your photo. I wish we, the human race, could put aside our differences and accept each other. There’s so much we can learn from one another. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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