So, I have no picture of this, wish I had a tape recording, but I'm sure you can all imagine it in your mind because you've had similar moments in your life. (My friend Lezlie, actually had a similar moment with my very child in the very same location a few months ago! Lezlie, you should get a kick out of this one, much worse then Rie not liking strangers hair!)
The first wasn't that bad, we were grabbing a quick bite through the drive-through on our way to school, yes we were running a little late and the man at the window was black and Marie is asking in her really soft (that's total sarcasm) voice why his face is all dark. I mean for heaven's sake we live in Arizona, not Utah County, but this man was very dark and it was very interesting to Marie. I'm trying to keep her quiet and act like I don't know what she's yelling for the man to give me my card and our food, and then I told her that it's not really polite to yell about why someone looks a certain way and if she wants to ask something then she needs to ask me in a whisper. I don't think she's ever used a whisper in her life.
But here's the real kicker. That same day after school we went to Sam's Club to pick up some food so we wouldn't have to go through the drive through every morning, noon, and night! We had just passed the cleaning isle and were rounding the corner into the bakery isle and I think I saw the woman first, but it didn't take Marie long to notice the very strict Muslim woman shopping in the store. I have actually never seen this strict of a dressed Muslim woman before, eye wholes cut out of her veil with glasses over, every little bit of her was covered. Well, Marie says, "Hey mom, look she's wearing her Halloween costume." In her very QUIET voice. And yes, she just kept going, "Mom, why is she wearing her Halloween costume." I tried to explain to her quietly and quickly that it wasn't a Halloween costume which she replied very loudly that it was because she had a head thing on and a long dress and it was all black and covered her face. Oh, I just wanted to say something to the woman like we really don't live under a rock, but I didn't want to offend her even more so than my three year old probably had.
So, I guess we'll be learning about different cultures and religion in our home so that it's not such an oddity and novelty and doesn't embarrass the crap out of me when we're in public!
