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Lisa Rosen

Lisa Rosen

Singles – Guilt Trip for Two

My parents have given me so much; it\’s now time to start giving back to them. I\’m referring to guilt in this case. Specifically, guilt about not living up to one\’s potential, about not keeping up with the Joneses\’ children, about not providing ammunition for bragging rights over Shabbat dinner with friends.

A Non-Optional Holiday

Back in 1990, while working as an assistant at a film production company, my daily mail chores acquainted me with the postal worker across the street. One Friday, as we said our goodbyes, I said, \”See you Monday,\” when she corrected me: Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

I didn\’t know if my office would be closed, I said.

Her eyes flashed as she said she would take the holiday even if it weren\’t given to her, because \”it\’s our holiday.\”

In that flash, I saw the different worlds we inhabited in the same country, my skin color having allowed me to forget it. I knew our meant black. I wanted to tell her it was my holiday, too, but I didn\’t know if it was. Back at the office, I learned that it was an optional holiday — whoever wanted to take the day off could, but the office would be open. I told my boss that I would take the holiday. I later learned from a co-worker that the boss was annoyed with me, that in her opinion \”the only person who should have the day off is the receptionist — the only black employee.\”

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