I just looked in the mirror and I don't recognize myself. Do you know me?

[bigtree]

Whoever was staring back at me isn't the dude I hear when I speak. It surely isn't the dude who writes all of those stuffy posts with the long words and the oh too proper prose. And I'm sure I'm not the dude that folks jumped on for that post of mine last night. Does anyone really know who I am?

Here are the identifying characteristics: (see! there goes that long worded, pompous thing again!)

I'm 6 ft., 165lbs. I've got this long brown hair halfway down my back and brown skin to match. Today I have a weeks worth of beard that's speckeled with white and gray hairs. My clothes are raggedy (by choice, I think), and I'm not wearing any shoes.

I remember a youth in rebellion, just plain bad I was. Smoking, drinking, vandalizing, some thievery. Lots of rock, lots of acoustic music, some funk. And oh yeah, a big Afro for a while. I remember countless protest marches, war, nukes, smoke-ins. Lots of time spent on the streets of D.C. with residents of the sidewalks and parks.

But this guy in the mirror looks washed up. A relic. not the man I remember from the past. Not the figure that I would have expected to see if I was to conjure up an image from my speech and my writings. Not the guy I would envision if I was to conjure up an image from the responses to my (stupid?, ignorant?, offending?) post last night in GD. I wish this dude staring back at me in the mirror would speak up so I could figure out just who he is.

Oh yeah, there's my wife of 25 yrs., and my two kids, in their late '20's. I wonder how they can tell who I am when I speak. It's got to be a trip looking at this grizzled man when he preaches on and on. I've got to get a grip. Can this face in the mirror really be the dude that I hear talking, the dude who wrote all of that technical, political babble? The dude that pissed folks off last night? Just who the hell is this man?

Anyone know just who I am?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Yeah I know you

I read the thread and I think the misunderstanding went both ways since others don't know you.

In every race, there are subcultures that we may not be particularly proud of...for you it was the gangs you aren't proud of...for me it's skinheads...I don't think anyone is knocking all white people when they comment on skinhead attire.

I do think it's big of you to apologize for the misunderstanding.

In my book, you're alright...but if you want a hug or something you gotta go shave that bristle shit off..I hate whisker burn :evilgrin:

[bigtree]

2. My wife says I shouldn't shave the bristle if it keeps the women at bay

Thanks NSMA. I've got to look a bit closer at this mirror dude though. Might take some time.

[BurtWorm]

3. Ouch! I really feel for you.

Having had a few moments of alienation from my fellow DUers over various issues myself now and then, I know how that feels. You evoke that pain very well. Which is why I say, ouch! (I looked at that thread and I don't think you have anything to apologize for. Self-righteous presumption was running a little rampant last night.)

[bigtree]

4. It's cool

I'm starting to recognize my voice again. Still not comfortable with the words though.

Thanks for the understanding.

[BurtWorm]

5. I know how THAT feels too!

Your words are fine, as far as I can tell. More than fine.

[Midlodemocrat]

6. Bigtree

Is that you in your avatar? If so, hubba, hubba. If not, hubba, hubba anyway.

[bigtree]

7. That's me alright

I think this one is over 6 years old. I'm gonna get a new one taken and post it in the gallery when my site's up again.

Hubba? :-)

[Midlodemocrat]

8. Hottie, hottie.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. I second the hubba hubba

guess that makes it hubba hubba hubba hubba

[Blue-Jay]

10. Who are you? You are all of us.

All of us either formerly, currently, or in the future. Every one of us.

[bigtree]

11. I'm back together

Taking a break though . . .

Thanks all-

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

12. don't make it for too long

but understandable...we all need to bak away now and then

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. don't make it for too long

but understandable...we all need to bak away now and then