Judgement

I live in a middle between two people. I'm stuck. Two types of people. It seems that the middle ground I inhabit is sparsely populated wherever I go.
Type one I don't come in direct personal contact with very often, though I see them everywhere. They are everywhere. They seem to not think a lot outside of what to unfreeze for dinner or the size of some type of engine. There are some things that tis type and I have in common. Certain aspects of fashion seem to transcend our differences. We both know about certain things as well. Mostly dealing with football or chainsaws. That really seems to be it though. What separates us is how we see things. They see virtue in things like earning good money, appearing tough, not taking good advise because of who said it. These people can be religious or not. They, by and large, wouldn't deny the existence of a higher power. Horse power, maybe. These people like TV too, a lot. They like things that are funny because the rest of the country (who is just like them more or less) thinks it's funny. They don't mind listening to radio stations that play more commercials than what they consider music. Drive-time talk shows are hilarious. For some, alcohol is ok. Well, as long as it is domestic. Micro-brew beer is unheard-of and doesn't taste very good anyway, and it's just so expensive anyway. The other folks don't like alcohol at all. Drugs? Yea right. These people really like going to the standard American wedding, because they're just so much fun. Prom is important for the kids. So is the mall, which is the epitome of fashion. Looking like everyone else is fine and expected. Cars are important. Mostly because they are the only form of transportation. What's the deal with public transportation and bike lanes anyway? Vacations involve something to the effect of Disneyland or Las Vegas. The illusion of quality and fancy. Women have jobs outside the home for the most part. But they are expected, and expect themselves, to do the womanly things around the house. Men just don't get it, they never will. These folks tend not to live too far from where they grew up. If they do it is still in the same state or a neighboring state. If they live further away it's because the husband got a job offer somewhere else. But they really do miss home and have license plate frames and coozies of their favorite sports teams from home. These people believe that there is an american dream and that if they try hard enough they can achieve it. These are the folks who drive too fast on rural roads and think that by buzzing me on my bike is going to prove something to me. I guess that I need to be driving a car. These people believe what the news says. Why would they lie? These people feel they are being invaded and like to victimize themselves. They think that only if people pulled themselves up by their bootstraps that their lives would be better and need to stop complaining. These people think that telling racist jokes isn't racist if you don't mean it. They have a black friend, don't worry. There people resent people like me. They think people like me ruining this country and should just go to Europe where we belong. These people look at me through the tops of their eyes when I go into gas stations, if they are unfortunate enough to catch my gaze. I'm exactly what these people don't want their children to become, even though they never talk to me.

Type two I encounter be it personally or by proxy. The most important thing about type two is that they are educated. A bachelor's degree is a bare minimum. It isn't to say that there aren't folks who aren't so educated that can't infiltrate this field. These people are a novelty and maybe be treated a such. These people like the supposed finer things in life, but strive for purity in these things. Oh, it has hydroclorofinhainype? Don't you know that causes birth defects and increases rates of thyroid cancer in over 40% of test subjects? These people get really outraged about chemicals in food, so they of course buy organic, when they can. These people don't understand the scam that is corporate organics. These people try to do the right thing, as opposed to doing the right thing. They believe that by knowing what the right thing is pretty is the same as actually doing it. These people overuse phrases like “the most amazing...” or something to the effect of “best/funniest/tastiest/beautifulest ever!” These people have at least 200 people who they call friends, though they may only see/talk to/hear from every few weeks/months/years/decades, and often can't remember their name. Gosh, isn't that weird, I mean we used to be sooo close. These people are rarely amazing themselves, they're just ok. These people like to think they're open minded. These people can tell racist jokes because they have a black friend, it's ok. These people are for the most part left of center. They like to throw around the phrase progressive without realizing where it comes from and what it can mean. These people have ironic semi-political bumper stickers on their cars. These people think that there is a huge difference between republicans and democrats. These people loathe their type one neighbors and try not to talk to them, but then say that they are accepting of everyone. These people claim to hate the consumption of fossil fuels but continue to drive everywhere in cars that aren't as fuel efficient as they think. These people are amazed that you don't know what they do about such a simple topic. Really? you still do/use/see/don't get _____. These people don't try to see from other perspectives, but they think they try to. These people really like themselves. These people have dogs and think that you should like their dog as much as they do. Don't worry, Chance really likes you, that's why he jumped up on you and barked at you so loud, get down chance don't jump, haha. Some of these people have kids. Some don't. These people hold onto things from their college days, which they recollect with a sigh. They still listen to and reference bands that were around for a few of their college years that had a following in their college town, and were so great. These people think right now is ok, but 20 years ago before ____ everything was so much better. Like everyone else these people don't really grow up. They, more than most, try to hold onto their youths in ways that involve moving their bodies and staying active. That may just constitute wearing clothes that make them look like they're ready to go running or for a mountaineering expedition. These people go to semi-dive bars, like the ones they used to frequent in their younger days, or they are still in their younger days. These people like to do all sorts of outdoor activities, or they at least have all of the gear required to do many different kinds of outdoor activities. These people like to consider themselves simple, but they also like to consider themselves above the veld. These people think people like me are interesting, but a little down-home, too rustic even. These people treat people like me with restrained respect and follow conversations like those of a child. People like these think people like me are more like type one than them, though it may be false. These people are a lot more narrow than they think.

So who am I? Who are we? We're not the middle. It's hard to say who we are. We're not on a spiritual or political journey. We don't rely on idols of any sort to get us by. We like each other because we don't have to be perfect. We're not homogeneous. That's why we are who we are. We accept our differences because we like our similarities even more. We come all parts of the world. We like to laugh, especially at ourselves. We all are able to laugh at ourselves because we are able to laugh at the silly world in which we live. We don't strive for perfection. We do what we think is right, and if what we're doing isn't right we tell each other that, but not too strongly. We don't preach. We listen to preachers and come away somewhat flabbergasted. We're not afraid of telling our secrets to groups of people. We greet one another with hugs and sarcastic insults. We're not afraid of one another. We're not too petty. We don't try to change each other, though we change each other everyday. We easily and admittedly see and admit our mistakes. We try not to get too down, though we know that getting down is another way to get up. We try not to take ourselves too seriously, and when we do we call ourselves on it. We use smiles as cures. We are able to make fun of one another freely without consequence. We mock ourselves for the enjoyment of others. We listen to one another because we know it is important. We are only a category because we have one another. That is the one thing that binds us. We are one another, in an odd way. We are full of shit, thankfully.