Friends of Dorothy

[Gene]

Thanks for your post DKB'. My father was a secular Jew and didn't want anyone to know it. He taught me never to say anything and the fact we had a name that didn't sound Jewish, he saw as a benefit. For him, the Hitler era was scary and my parents made sure I was baptized in a Christian church in 1940. In the 1950's, there were Jewish quotas at colleges. When I went to Lehigh U. in 1958, there where exactly 10% Jews. They didn't know about my mongrel past. That 10% was no accident and all the well known colleges in the northeast had quotas. I heard plenty of derogatory comments at college too. When I moved out west and told people I had grown up in NYC, some assumed I was Jewish because everyone is NYC is, they thought. I really didn't know what to feel or think—my mother was a secular Lutheran. When I suggested her mother came from a part of Prussia that had been a few miles from where Poland was in the 19th century and that she might be Polish and not pure German, my mother didn't like that thought. Prejudice is found in many places.

I had my own closet with me and finally accepted I was me and none of these old rules applied to me. I had to acknowledge that I was a blend of cultures and that was an enriched way to be. That means, among more important things, I can appreciate good bagels and Mexican food. I came to Colorado and eventually met my wife who came from a Hispanic background with German and maybe Indian blood. She looks Spanish and is tall—the German genes. We found that her mother's family were probably crypto-Jews—Jews forced to convert to Catholicism in 1492 (lots happened in 1492) who eventually came to the southwest and eventually became Protestants. An aunt went to Spain and found very old records and some members of the family had some problems with this knowledge, but eventually accepted it.

Maybe this makes the cat Spanish/German/Latvian/Indian/Jewish/Lutheran/Presbyterian since that is our only offspring.

Acceptance is gradual and incremental. That has a bit of reassurance in it, a lot of sadness, frustration and hope. We all have something about us someone else does not like and we can do nothing about. One of the nice things (there really aren't too many) about being old is that I have learned not to give a damn what others think and be happy with who I am. Those that are not accepting of themselves are, I believe, the people most likely to hate others, or at the least, experience unconscious prejudice.

I feel a bit like I'm intruding on this thread, but I wanted you to know there are 2 more of us (I didn't ask the cat) who are supporters and who also have known prejudice of various kinds. We have a friend who has an antique business in a small Colorado city. He painted a rainbow painted around the building and it seems the locals have some problems with that. But his business is good and tourists don't care. It gets better little by little.

Controversial is in the eyes of the beholder.

Gene

[blmitch5]

Very nicely said Gene. Thanks for the the post and your not intruding, you are very welcome here.

[RellikJM]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Thanks for your comments, both here and in the now-closed thread that got more attention than it really merited. I considered making a bit more noise about whether or not that was really contentious, but I felt I'd expressed my opinion and the mods were really just uncomfortable with any sort of controversy.

The rainbow sticker thread was closed at my request, it wasn't that blmitch5 was uncomfortable with the controversy. I didn't care for the direction the thread was heading and agree that the thread received way more attention than deserved.

I wanted the thread to stay positive but that wasn't possible as people wanted to question my reasoning for a rainbow sticker not the placement thereof.

[Jklep65]

I am so proud of NY showing equality is the right way to go!! Now on to the rest of our country!!!

[TBRich]

Originally Posted by Jklep65

I am so proud of NY showing equality is the right way to go!! Now on to the rest of our country!!!

Amen to that!

[WILDRTEXAS]

Looking for the queen of my Airstream trailer. Oh wait... maybe "queen" is not the correct term. Looking for another like minded, FOD with interest in Airstreams.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by WILDRTEXAS

Looking for the queen of my Airstream trailer. Oh wait... maybe "queen" is not the correct term. Looking for another like minded, FOD with interest in Airstreams.

Greetings, and welcome to our little sub-forum!

I can't help you with the queen thing, I'm not that kinda guy. I see that you're just down the road a bit, though... we're in Fort Worth. I'm happy to see that Texas is pretty well-represented with Airstreaming FoD forum members!

I don't know if you've noticed the thread or not, but there's an FoD rally in Eureka Springs on the weekend of 5 August. I don't know if there are still spaces at the campground, but as far as I know as long as there's space in the campground there's space in the rally. In fact, I know one couple recently had to cancel because one of them won't be ambulatory in time. Brad (blmitch5) is the organizer, but I'm sure he'll welcome you as well if you want to join us.

[captmatt]

It took me a while to figure out what Friends of Dorothy was. While not members, the wife & I are so glad to see this is an 'everybody friendly' site. Another reason to love Airstreaming!

Matt & Stacey

[cameront120]

Originally Posted by captmatt

It took me a while to figure out what Friends of Dorothy was. While not members, the wife & I are so glad to see this is an 'everybody friendly' site. Another reason to love Airstreaming!

Matt & Stacey

Welcome! My personal philosophy is that being unfriendly is too much work!

[blmitch5]

Originally Posted by WILDRTEXAS

Looking for the queen of my Airstream trailer. Oh wait... maybe "queen" is not the correct term. Looking for another like minded, FOD with interest in Airstreams.

Welcome to the group! There are spaces left for our rally if your interested. Here is the link
http://www.airforums.com/forums/cale...8-5;&e=797&c=1

It looks like we will have a nice group there so if you could make it, I think you will have a great time. Maybe even find your queen in Eureka!

[lcurrie]

Welcome to the group! The Eureka Springs trip should be fun. We'd love to have you join us!

Lynn

[lcurrie]

For the 1st time in over 6 months, we've hitched up the Bambi and are heading out for a little time on the Frio River.

The New Girl is diiiiiiirrrrty. Looks like second stop (after airing up the tires) will be at a truck wash.


Getting Ready to Hit the Road by LToTheYnn, on Flickr

[blmitch5]

She is dirty! Have a fun weekend!

[blmitch5]

Lynn, how was your trip? Were out next weekend to a close lake.

[lcurrie]

The trip was great! It felt good to be in the Airstream and on the road. Here are some pics from the weekend (posted on Flickr).

Lynn

[blmitch5]

Beautiful spot!! It looks like a good time.

[gtc6452]

hi , new here , going to pick up a new 30" international on monday. hope I can find the fod rallies on here.

[TBRich]

Welcome aboard gtc! Glad you've joined in... Oooo! A new 30' 2011. Sweet!

[Myrtle lynn]

Originally Posted by gtc6452

hi , new here , going to pick up a new 30" international on monday. hope I can find the fod rallies on here.

Welcome!! Love to see pics of your new baby.

[GREENovaters]

Originally Posted by lcurrie

The trip was great! It felt good to be in the Airstream and on the road. Here are some pics from the weekend (posted on Flickr).

Lynn

The two of you look happy and hot! That river, I'm sure, was so cool and relaxing you probably didn't want to leave it!