Jesus, Not Jesús: Finding The Divine In The Space Between Us.
  • Be Kind
  • About this blog
  • About the author
  • Contact
  • Be Kind
  • About this blog
  • About the author
  • Contact

KNOWvember: Day Seven - Yasmeen

11/7/2021

0 Comments

 
​Last year, the pandemic forced me to take a different approach to this social experiment of mine. For example, people knew what I was doing because I had to schedule interviews with them. And those interviews where not in person either. Instead, they were done by video.
 
However I loved doing it this way because it allowed me to meet people from around the world, including two who live just down the road in San Diego and go to the same university my daughter attends. So, this year I went back there, via video to meet Yasmeen. I have met her a few times before, but it was always in large groups and in passing. So, when I heard she wanted to participate in this weir little experiment of mine, I jumped at the chance. 
Picture
Born in Bakersfield, California, Yasmeen is not the type of girl the Beach Boys sang about. Yes, she’s a California Girl, but not the stereotypical one. If California were its own country (and at times I wish it were), then Bakersfield would be Los Angeles' country cousin located about 100 miles northeast of us. I say this because Bakersfield is the home of country legends Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and Dwight Yoakam.

But Yasmeen describes it as “a boring town. There’s nothing to do.”  But, as she also noted, "It does have the largest Dryer's Ice Cream factory in the country."
Growing up with two older sisters, Yasmeen split her time between her mom’s and dad’s house. Her dad still lives up there, while her mom and stepmom live in an RV, closer to her in San Diego where she studies political science. Today, she shares a room with my daughter.

I asked her what’s that like to be the youngest kid in the family living with the oldest kid in her family. Well, let’s just say she gushed so well that it made me wonder if my kid was there telling her what to say.
 
While I am enjoying learning about different people, places and things this KNOWvember, it’s really nice to learn more about people I already had a connection to. Sometimes we "know" people without really knowing them. That's part of the reason why I started this in the first place. 

Case in point, I learned that Yasmeen and I both love creamy peanut butter on our PB&J’s. And we both think soup is not a meal, because it really doesn’t fill you up like a meal ought to. “I only eat soup when I’m sick, because it doesn’t fill you up and make you feel worse.”
 
If she were to eat anything for her last meal it would be an assortment of sushi, followed by her stepmom’s mac and cheese, and strawberry cheesecake for dessert. When I asked her who she could share a meal with, living or dead, she thought about it for a moment then sweetly said, “I’d pick my soul mate. I don’t know who he is yet, but that’s who I’d like to sit at a table and share a meal with.” Come on! That’s the kind of sweetness you get to know when you get to know Yasmeen. And it shows  in her smile and eyes.
 
At 5’10” Yasmeen is still no longer a little girl, but a 20-year-old still transitioning into adulthood – with all the challenges that come with it. She is learning to see the world differently and how to navigate it properly. She doesn't always make the right choices, but she tries to always do the right thing. I could have spent the time advising her and guiding her, but as she is discovering herself blazing your own path (as difficult as it can seem) is the best way.

Yasmeen has a good heart and a good way of looking at the world. When I asked her what a good deed meant to her she said, “It should be an act where you do something that makes someone better no matter how it makes you feel.” I take her for her word because I learned her go-to lie is, “Telling people I’m too busy when I’m not.”
 
When I asked her what she likes to do with her hands, she said without hesitation, “Type on my phone, type on my computer, and crack my knuckles” (which she did immediately following her answer). And when I asked her what time in history she would choose to go back to live in, without hesitating she said “The 80’s. It seemed like a fun time.”
 
Fun as it was, I’m sure wherever Yasmeen is, fun is bound to happen no matter what year it is.  She told me that herself. Answering my question how she hopes to be remembered after leaving a party she said, “I hope they think that person was fun.” Then, for some reason, she just randomly confessed, “I don’t like awkwardness. I get second-hand embarrassment when someone else is feeling awkward. It’s my least favorite thing.”  Okay, that was kind of awkward, but I didn’t tell her because it’s her least favorite thing.
 
Another thing Yasmeen does not like is exercise. Like her roommate, my daughter, she begrudgingly does it from time to time, but no longer likes it. I did find it kind of ironic that the last place Yasmeen intentionally walked to (class no included) was to the gym. “And to Halloween parties.” Both of which my daughter, her roommate, did with her.
 
I’m sure there’s a theme somewhere in all this because the one place that Yasmeen has visited but would never, ever go back to was “The Pillbox hike in Hawaii. I loved Hawaii, but I don’t like hiking. And that hike in particular caused me all sorts of anxiety. It wiped me out for the entire day.” It turns out that hiking makes Yasmeen anxious because she believes she will be “attacked by an animal. Or fall. I’m sure that’s how I will die.”  
 
I think we all can agree that such a death would not be fun. Although between you and me, it would make for a fun, albeit awkward, story. And I guarantee, out of all the people I have met, Yasmeen would still be smiling and having fun while it happened.  Or at least, that’s how I’m going to remember her.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Ian Macdonald

    An ex-copywriter turned punk rock pastor and peacemaker who dedicates his life to making the world a better place for all humanity. 

    "that they all might be one"  ~John 17:21


    “Prius vita quam doctrina.”
    ​~ S
    t. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)​
    * “Life is more important than doctrine.”


    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010

Be Kind

About this blog

About The Author

Contact

Copyright © 2011