Why do we care to be ‘normal’? Is there such a thing? Are you normal? I’m not; that’s the only thing I’m sure about in this world.
I don’t know that I ever wanted to be. Even when I was a kid.
I was a little Indian girl in an all-white school. I was born abnormal.
I was born in America, then went to India when I was like 3 for like a couple of years, and then I came back to America. I had no idea where I was, I imagine.
I probably didn’t know if I was Indian or American, or some kind of alien being. I started speaking Punjabi in India, then came to the US and tried to speak Punjabi to the white people at daycare.
It’s no wonder I’m not normal.
I might have a writing degree, but my grammar is atrocious. Grammarly is my friend.
I basically use AI for grammar and to ask it who I am offending and how badly I’m offending them. It helps to get the facts right.
I’m not, like, super good at remembering facts. I tend not to remember things correctly. Thank god for ChatGPT.
I know, I know, it’s going to end the world.
I have a cousin who works in AI, and he told me we don’t understand its power; it's out of control. Apparently, I’ve read that it can be used in warfare in a way that is beyond what humans can do.
I used to think humans were the worst. Apparently, robots are worse.
Although I wouldn’t mind a robot with AI doing my laundry. For some reason, I don’t do my laundry until I run out of underwear. I have actually bought new underwear because I don’t want to do my laundry.
I am currently on almost my last pair of clean panties.
I have gone commando because I didn’t want to do my laundry. How absurd is that?
Photo courtesy of Vanessa Brown via Scopio
I mean, I have a washer and dryer; it’s not like we are in a village in India and washing our clothes in a river by beating them on rocks. I don’t have to go to a laundromat. It’s ridiculous how easy laundry is to do.
And yet here I am.
I told you I’m not normal.
Anyways, there are other ways in which I am not normal. I am an extremist. My place where I live is either immaculately clean or looks like I just threw a frat party. The frat party mess is only when I’m depressed. I mean, there will be cans and bottles and takeout containers everywhere, and let’s not forget clothes- so many clothes.
Photo courtesy of VALERIA JARAMILLO via Scopio
Luckily, when it is a mess, nobody comes down here because I don’t invite anyone over, and my mother only comes to the basement twice a year. The cleaning lady, however, has seen my dark side.
In my thirties, my car was so messy that I think I got fired from a job literally because my boss saw the state of my car and was like, "This woman is too much of a mess." I mean, it’s a long story.
Now my car is perfectly clean.
I eat and drink in my car, but I control the mess.
So either I am sooo clean or sooo messy. It’s out of control. Now that my mood is under control, I have become clean.
I’m a perfectionist and the most relaxed person you will ever meet. I’m a workaholic or the laziest person you will ever meet. The workaholic part is only when I’m writing. I don’t love jobs, never have, and am not very good at them.
But that is neither here nor there.
So there we have me.
Abnormal in a complex way.
So who is deciding that I am OK or not? Normal or not?
Who the fuck is this almighty person? Who are they to judge?
I mean, if god were judging me, he might not be interested in talking to me.
Are you silently judging me?
Maybe you are, maybe you are not.
I think that says more about you than it does about me.
Does being weird make me a bad person? Does being clean or dirty make me a good or bad person?
No dude.
We need to stop judging each other.
nina
Image courtesy of Fractal Enlightenment via Facebook
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A couple of friends and I started a podcast called 2 Curries and a Ranch. Listen here: https://2curriesandaranch.riverside.com/ or wherever you get your podcasts.
Imagine two loud, dramatic, hilarious Indian women explaining to a white man what it's like to grow up and live in America. Join us for laughter, deep thoughts, and witty banter about life, love, and culture. We tell it like it is, with honest, bold, and funny stories, discussions, and arguments. We explore boundaries and challenge norms. Join us for a good talk.
We have a new episode out: How To Make A Podcast
Jeff (solo) walks through everything him and the two curries learned about podcasting.