[BlueStreak]

Huge change. I hate to admit it, but, I was more like Mom when I was 18. I had spent my entire life in a town that was close to 100% Caucasian. My time in the Navy, especially on the ship, working, living, eating, basically spending 24/7 around such a diverse crowd and having to trust others with my life changed everything.

Mom was wrong.

"They" aren't all, "just a bunch of filthy loungeabouts". Sure there are cultural differences, every race has its scumbags, and an slight air of unease was always detectable in those days, but for the most part they're just people. I never felt like I was carrying anyone elses weight. Heck, I had more trouble with a white guy that couldn't stop smoking long enough to do his friggin' job than anyone else.

Going back home after that was the weird part, Don. I felt like I was on some bizarre planet where everyone looked the same. The worst part was listening to the bigotry coming from some of those white folk who had NO room at all to talk about anyone else being a lazy, welfare collecting drunk. (Would someone give the loser a mirror, Please?). I go back once every year to visit my brother, and that place has changed very little, except there are less jobs, less people, and it's a lot more run down.
(And there are no blacks there to blame it on, try as they might.)

I left in 1982, returned in 1986. Left again a few months later and will never return.

S.E. Virginia is far more diverse and a much better place to live. That is the truth. That is what I have learned.

Dave