God's Bouquet
By: Jennifer Scott
Topics: bakersfield, music, entertainment, fun
Posted by scottjennifer Fri Mar 28, 2008 09:14:31 PDT
Viewed 1346 times
0 responses 0 comments Location: 3805 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
The year was 1976. Our pregnant mother flew out to California leaving our father to drive my two brothers, ages five and six, from the naval base in Bethesda, Maryland to our family’s home in Delano, California. A lieutenant, who happened to be black, answered our father’s request for help with the long drive. As they drove, they saw beautiful spring flowers of all different colors.
My brothers loved chocolate milk. Whenever they stopped for hamburgers and fries, they always ordered chocolate milk. One day my brothers asked, “Why are you black?” Now this embarrassed our father. The lieutenant was not only a higher ranking naval officer, he was also a friend. The lieutenant looked down at my brothers, smiled, and said, “Well, when I was your age, I drank too much chocolate milk.” My brothers looked up at the lieutenant, looked down at their chocolate milk, looked back up to the lieutenant, and pushed the milk away.
“Boys, look outside. What color are those flowers?”
“Red, purple, orange, white, blue . . .” replied my brothers.
“Now, imagine everything one color. What would that look like?”
“Not as pretty,” they replied.
“Well, we are God’s bouquet. We are beautiful because we are different colors.”
* * *
The story I just told is true. This is an event that occurred in our family a few months before I was born and has since become family lore. Our family was raised to respect and admire all people regardless of race and culture. I was encouraged to travel and to live in other countries like Mexico and Spain. Now that I have my own family, we continue honoring all cultures. We attend cultural festivals like Philippine Weekend, Cinco de Mayo, the Greek Festival, the Indian Pow-Wow, and the Scottish Gathering and Games.
The Scottish Games are on Saturday, April 5th at Stramler Park. The Kern County Scottish Society would love to have God’s Bouquet at our special one-day event. No matter what your nationality, no matter what your race, you are officially proclaimed Scottish for the Day. Come out to the Scottish Games to learn more about this open, welcoming culture. Stare at amazement as big men in kilts throw big things. Watch dancers demonstrate the love of culture and music. Listen to musicians express themselves via bagpipes, fiddles, and bodhrans. Talk to the Kern County Genealogical Society about how to begin researching your own family history.
The Bakersfield Scottish Gathering and Games is a family event open to everyone in God’s Bouquet. Bring your family to Stramler Park and enjoy the day. For more information, please call 393-6765 or visit us at www.kernscot.com.
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