You’re Write, Dear

Right now, in my world, there’s the world Near Detroit (ND) and the World Outside Detroit (WOD)…but that’s not really true. There’s a third world, and how ironic that it’s a “third world” of Connections To Carmakers (CTC.) And there’s more people living in, and impacted by CTC than much of the WOD knows…so please, please get this from someone who is here.

I live in suburban Detroit. My husband and I moved here when his company, which manufactures auto parts, transferred us from another state. You can’t walk around our block on a nice day without running into a neighbor who is CTC.

Please stop listening to the hearings and the executives for a little bit, and know how bankrupting the auto industry will affect millions of people, millions of dollars, and put you into competition with these folks for the jobs that already exist.

There are entire companies devoted to making auto parts, etching the glass with vehicle identification, manufacturing tires, manufacturing the fabrics and metals and plastics and rubber that are put into the cars, transporting materials and parts, distributing them from warehouses.
It trickles deeply down from there: workers in all these industries will have to cut back, or cut completely, from their regular expenses
(a) Everyday expenses like medicines, doctor visits, clinic visits, groceries, and fuel for cars
(b) Services like day care, babysitters, barbers and hairdressers
(c) Entertainment like movie theaters, bowling alleys, sporting venues, community and larger theaters, comedy clubs, bars and pubs, restaurants and nightclubs, tourist attractions and parks

Now, those are what I can think of off the top of my head. Imagine how much more there can be!

My husband works for a company that manufactures auto parts, both original equipment (car manufacturers) and aftermarket (for Sears, Auto Zone, Pep Boys etc.) Because of the recession and financial cutbacks, in autumn the company announced a shutdown for the three work days before Thanksgiving and the two days before Christmas Eve.

At least partially because of the cancellation of orders from the car manufacturers, another change has come. About 10-14 days ago, they announced that there would be another shutdown, and employees must choose between the first and second full weeks of December (Dec. 1-8 or 9-15) to take off without pay. Employees may file for unemployment, or take any vacation days they have left. (Steve will lose 3-4 days’ pay; he had vacation time for the first week.)

We had no way of knowing, or preparing, for the cut in pay. So here are the quick ways in which we are trying to keep our expenses down:
1. Not spending as much at the grocery store
2. No movie theater
3. Cut down services at the hairdresser
4. No breakfast out during the week (I normally go once a week out to breakfast.)
5. Drastically curtailing going to restaurants (something we do 2-6 times a month, now probably going to 1-2 times)

THAT IS JUST US. Extrapolate from their for families larger than ours (2 adults) with children, longer layoffs, and possibly losing their jobs, and you fully understand the impact that shutting down the Big Three has on this country, and globally.  Every dollar you spend will be affected by every dollar that those who are CTC don’t spend.

And don’t forget the number of families that will not be traveling to be with extended family and friends because they won’t have the means during the holidays.

We who are CTC are in cities and towns, large and small, all across the United States. Michigan will take one of the biggest blows, but if you’ve ever been to a great little small town that has an auto plant in ANY state, the town diner, the grocer, the gas station, the local mechanic, the video store…those people could lose their jobs if their customers don’t come.

You don’t have to embrace the executives and the mistakes of “The Big Three” (Ford, Chrysler, and GM.) I don’t, and neither do scores of people inside, outside, and surrounding the automakers.

This is bigger than that. That’s why I’ve written my Congressman, my Senator, the current President, and the President Elect. When I think of someone else, they will hear from me too.

SO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS when you talk about the auto industry. It’s not just executives and bad choices at the top. It’s not just me. It’s not just Detroit.

Sooner or later, the collapse of the auto industry could help collapse your world, too.

First, a note to the driver of the beaten cargo van, the guy with the big curly hair and black horn-rimmed glasses who looked my way and uttered “Wow, you are FAT.”: Thanks, Captain Obvious. It’s not my only gift. I can read lips, too.

For the most part, I’ve gotten accustomed to the looks from people who notice my size. Relax. I have mirrors in my house, so I am just aware as anyone around me what I look like.

I no longer make apologies, excuses, or explanations for the size it’s taken 32 years go grow. In fact, it’s YOU I pity. I believe the verbal obnoxiousness of people, on this subject and any other, are a way of believing you can elevate yourself by putting others down.

The odd comment I can deal with. Sometimes I even fling a comeback. But I will admit: since my parents raised me to be polite, there are some things that I have heard that have stunned me to silence. Those obnoxious-to-outrageous comments stopped me in my tracks at that time.

However, among some of my friends, I am queen of snappy comebacks. So for those who have silenced me, here they are, with the original offender’s comments. (Don’t forget to read to the end for my favorite solution of all.)

Feel free to add, or contribute, your own comments:

“Well, you know, that neighborhood has become awfully…DARK.”

(Dramatically whispered at a business networking dinner in the company of an entirely Caucasian audience. For this one, I couldn’t help myself; I had a prompt comeback.)

“Well, maybe they should call the power company to update their lighting. I’m sure that would solve the need.”

“Well, you ought to think about babies yourself. You know, your biological clock is ticking.”

(Said to me when I was single, 24, not dating anyone seriously, at a baby shower for a friend.)

“I’ve hit the snooze.”

“I want a puppy first.”

“You’re right; I’ll pick out a ‘baby daddy’ tonight at the bar.”

“Darn, I was really enjoying just having meaningless recreational sex.”

“Well, he liked just everyone and anyone. He even liked n****** and Democrats.”

(Said at visitation before my father’s funeral ABOUT MY FATHER.)

If only I’d just put my arm around the person and said sweetly, “That’s right, and remember, he loved you too.” (more…)

I love dance class. That’s probably not a declaration you’ll get from every plus-sized, 49-year-old woman.

Belly dance appealed to me from the start. I went to see a friend (whom I met through her day job) dance at a nightclub about five years ago. There were dozens of students, teachers, and appreciative fans. What really hooked me was the other dancers: younger, older, larger, smaller than me. At the musicians’ break times, ALL the dancers and students would get on the dance floor. Not one of them looked like the way her stomach, hips, or anything else looked or felt mattered. Nobody commented or stared, excepting happy laughter and applause.

My friend was amazing. In any other moment, she is friendly and engaging, but a little on the shy side. You don’t see it when she dances. In that moment, she is beautiful, sensual, confident and happy.

That performance opened the door to discovering that each dancer has a “secret life” waiting to express itself. I saw the secret reveled in class this week. (more…)

The circle of trees outside the window

Bends and sways

To the song of the wind

And each tree dips her limbs in turn:

The first opens her arms to the horizon

Rippling like a python;

Another flutters delicate fingers in the breeze

Sculpting sensuous shapes;

The next draws circles from her lowest branches

As the circle shimmies in the breeze

And they return to a single circle,

Twisting and undulating in winter sky.

I have just finished yet another game of solitaire on the computer, it is nearly 1 AM and I really need sleep. But I can’t sleep, can’t do housework and wake up my husband—so I play solitaire. (more…)

Welcome to the website of Carla Dodd, and I promise this will (well, probably will) be the last time I will refer to myself in third person. Images all around me, crazy ideas that pop into my head, not so crazy ideas that pop into my head, and thoughts that just randomly swing by and get put down in words are my inspiration. I hope they inspire you, too–and please contribute your own thoughts.