If you give 'em an inch, they'll send you an incredibly racist book.

[thehefner]

Last time I wrote here, I was angsting about what the hell to do about Mom's birthday. On one hand, Henchgirl and many of you here all strongly advocated no more contact whatsoever, because you give someone like Mom an inch, and yadda yadda. On the other hand, GUILT SHAME THIS IS YOUR MOTHER YOU CAN'T JUST DO *NOTHING* ON THE DAY OF HER BIRTH FOR

Comments

[vvalkyri]

Well it is supposed to be in India, and per some of the reviews some editions hav changed the name to "little brave sambo*"; how about changing the names from Black Sambo to Brave Sammy (or some other three syllable thing), cover the illustrations, and when he is old enough, make new illustrations with him? Then you have a book about a kid outsmarting tigers, and with tigers wearing pants and shoeson their ears, which can be used for creative illustration

[vvalkyri]

(There is a version without illustration at the Gutenberg link)

But I missed the "no presents for Hal bit...)

[thehefner]

Even in the text version, the names are still awful. It's a shame, because the story itself is rather nice. I understand there's an adaptation with dogs, which would be okay, but Mom would never have gotten that one. She has specific affection for the old version with the original drawings.

[vvalkyri]

It is work, but whiteout still exists...

[chickenhat]

It's just a book.

Pages can be torn out or covered with tape or stickers.

Paper and even covers can be recycled.

Don't send anything else or respond to her. Stop bending over backwards.

And, yes, get therapy next year.

[vvalkyri]

Yeah I just reread the November entry; had forgotten quite how much the need to protect Hal.

[thehefner]

Yeah, he is the priority, as is Henchgirl. Without them, I probably would have continued to take Mom's shit for years to come, possibly right up to the point that either one of us died.

[thehefner]

Good, straightforward advice. Thank you. I will strive to follow it.

WOW.

[icewolf010]

Stick it in a box someplace, and pull it out when you want to teach Hal about racism. Say nothing to your mother. Ever again. EVER.

Re: WOW.

[thehefner]

That's certainly an idea. I dunno, though, the fact that it's tied to her in any way still doesn't sit well with me, nor does the fact that--according to her--it was one of my favorites when I was his age. Even knowing that I was too young to know any better, it bothers me.

Re: WOW.

[icewolf010]

You were too young to know any better, and now you do. Nothing to be ashamed of. For the record, I had the book, too.

[badmagic]

One of the odder things I've seen in my travels was a book I found at an "Afro-American Festival." I was flipping through a kids book about "Little Mbazo" or somesuch when the story stared to seem familiar...yes, it was "Little Black Sambo"! All they'd changed was the names. Which turns out to make hella difference.

Maybe that's an option. Or do you have an old-school copy, with the you-can't-ignore-that illustrations?

[vvalkyri]

There is always also making new illustrations, and while perhaps some work, changing the names (see the project Gutenberg links above). This of course also supposes that not destroying books is a greater need than not dealing with mother to Hal gifting.

[thehefner]

Really, all you have to do is change the names and have better illustrations, and it's a perfectly nice (albeit bizarre; tigers turn to butter and they get made into pancakes? Wha?) little story.

Honestly, I might have been okay with reading Hal an updated version if Mom hadn't sent me this copy today. Now, whatever residual, guilty, nostalgic childhood affection I may have had for the story has kinda been soured beyond repair.

[vvalkyri]

It was written on a train to entertain a niece during the train ride, so maybe the nonsense end was the first thing that came to mind?

It sounds like modifying it won't really solv any pain.

[jellied]

I'd shred it personally. And this coming from an avid book reader and lover.

I'm sorry that happened to you, and whoa did everyone from LJ resurface again this week?

[thehefner]

Hey you! Long time no anything! I was actually thinking about you a couple weeks back and wondering what you were up to. How're things?

Yeah, I dropped off because most people I knew had already abandoned LJ, but I was and am still keeping up with fanblog, about_faces. Still, I would like to come back here more often. Maybe if therapy can make me less terrified to express myself like I used to be, I'll be better able to keep up here again.

On the off chance that I can't, feel free to follow me on Facebook or Tumblr (about-faces), if you're so inclined!

[jellied]

I'm in a weird downswing at the moment-- which shouldn't surprise anyone as I live in NY and I work in media. I'm contemplating going to back to LJ while I lick my wounds and look for work again.

Some highlights: working at VICE, working at MTV, going to the VMAs, flirting with rockstars. Lowlights: Losing an apartment, getting laid off at both VICE and MTV, working service again. Them's the breaks.

I feel the same way about returning back to LJ as well. I remember it being cathartic thru some rough times. Congrats on getting settled down and on Hal btw!

[thehefner]

Good lord, you've had a life in the years since last we talked! Sorry for the downswing, but belated congrats on all that happening in the first place!

Yeah, LJ was cathartic like nothing else, wasn't it? I honestly think that one reason I've been so goddamned depressed and fucked-up over the past few years is that I've stopped writing about stuff here! In retrospect, it was great therapy for me, and for you too, sounds like.

Thanks for the congrats. Life has been rough here as well, with the Mom situation being a major problem for the past few years, and I'm in a major downswing period that won't change until Hal's at least old enough to go to school and give me some free time, but life's pretty darn good, all things considered.