PubTales
@pubtales.bsky.social
French GenX artist raised in 🇩🇪🇺🇸 | People watching w/ snark in 🇫🇮🇫🇷🇩🇪🇭🇺🇵🇱🇬🇧🇺🇸 | Balancing the melancholy & the funny via standup & art |Talks on cross-cultural identity.
https://talesfromyourlocalpubs.art/
https://talesfromyourlocalpubs.art/
10/10 And it was a wild ride.
But that has to be a story for another time.
But that has to be a story for another time.
May 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
10/10 And it was a wild ride.
But that has to be a story for another time.
But that has to be a story for another time.
9/10 Unpacking all that takes time and I’m in good hands now as I dip in and out of a country whose heritage I might not carry within my genes, but whose culture influenced my mother enough to leave a bevy of clues lying around.
I already unpacked my father’s culture when I was in college.
I already unpacked my father’s culture when I was in college.
May 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
9/10 Unpacking all that takes time and I’m in good hands now as I dip in and out of a country whose heritage I might not carry within my genes, but whose culture influenced my mother enough to leave a bevy of clues lying around.
I already unpacked my father’s culture when I was in college.
I already unpacked my father’s culture when I was in college.
8/10 Make no mistake, trauma changes you. cPTSD is all too real.
But the fact of the matter is, bad things don’t just happen to good people.
They also happen to bad people, who take advantage of it.
My parents were narcissistic & psychopathic long before trauma reared it’s ugly head.
But the fact of the matter is, bad things don’t just happen to good people.
They also happen to bad people, who take advantage of it.
My parents were narcissistic & psychopathic long before trauma reared it’s ugly head.
May 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
8/10 Make no mistake, trauma changes you. cPTSD is all too real.
But the fact of the matter is, bad things don’t just happen to good people.
They also happen to bad people, who take advantage of it.
My parents were narcissistic & psychopathic long before trauma reared it’s ugly head.
But the fact of the matter is, bad things don’t just happen to good people.
They also happen to bad people, who take advantage of it.
My parents were narcissistic & psychopathic long before trauma reared it’s ugly head.
7/10 I grew up with corporal punishment and a minefield of mother’s and father’s emotions to navigate, so not a fan of that.
And the one thing I wish someone had told me was people who went through deep trauma can be absolute asshats because that’s what they already were when shit hit the fan.
And the one thing I wish someone had told me was people who went through deep trauma can be absolute asshats because that’s what they already were when shit hit the fan.
May 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
7/10 I grew up with corporal punishment and a minefield of mother’s and father’s emotions to navigate, so not a fan of that.
And the one thing I wish someone had told me was people who went through deep trauma can be absolute asshats because that’s what they already were when shit hit the fan.
And the one thing I wish someone had told me was people who went through deep trauma can be absolute asshats because that’s what they already were when shit hit the fan.
6/10 For the record, I did hit a child once in my life, when he decided it would be a good idea to pour a bottle of Fanta over my head.
But we were also 12 and 11 respectively (he was my best friend’s other best friend), and my little cousin wasn’t even on this planet yet.
But we were also 12 and 11 respectively (he was my best friend’s other best friend), and my little cousin wasn’t even on this planet yet.
May 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
6/10 For the record, I did hit a child once in my life, when he decided it would be a good idea to pour a bottle of Fanta over my head.
But we were also 12 and 11 respectively (he was my best friend’s other best friend), and my little cousin wasn’t even on this planet yet.
But we were also 12 and 11 respectively (he was my best friend’s other best friend), and my little cousin wasn’t even on this planet yet.
5/10 All because her mother’s sister (our maternal aunt) could not stand the fact that she bonded with me.
Keeping in touch with a six-year-old when you’re spread over two different continents is impossible, so more ways for them to work their agenda on an innocent child.
Keeping in touch with a six-year-old when you’re spread over two different continents is impossible, so more ways for them to work their agenda on an innocent child.
May 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
5/10 All because her mother’s sister (our maternal aunt) could not stand the fact that she bonded with me.
Keeping in touch with a six-year-old when you’re spread over two different continents is impossible, so more ways for them to work their agenda on an innocent child.
Keeping in touch with a six-year-old when you’re spread over two different continents is impossible, so more ways for them to work their agenda on an innocent child.
4/10My father’s folks are all gone (though I did find one who might be related all the way in Australia, but we’ve since lost touch.
On my mother’s side I’m considered the black sheep of the family so much they told my little cousin I had hit her the summer I stayed with her and her parents.
On my mother’s side I’m considered the black sheep of the family so much they told my little cousin I had hit her the summer I stayed with her and her parents.
May 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
4/10My father’s folks are all gone (though I did find one who might be related all the way in Australia, but we’ve since lost touch.
On my mother’s side I’m considered the black sheep of the family so much they told my little cousin I had hit her the summer I stayed with her and her parents.
On my mother’s side I’m considered the black sheep of the family so much they told my little cousin I had hit her the summer I stayed with her and her parents.
3/10 My mother spoke to me in her language from birth because she couldn’t communicate in the local languages where we were.
My father was more secretive and did not bargain for the fact that of the 5 languages he grew up with I’d willingly learn three and grow up with one.
My father was more secretive and did not bargain for the fact that of the 5 languages he grew up with I’d willingly learn three and grow up with one.
May 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
3/10 My mother spoke to me in her language from birth because she couldn’t communicate in the local languages where we were.
My father was more secretive and did not bargain for the fact that of the 5 languages he grew up with I’d willingly learn three and grow up with one.
My father was more secretive and did not bargain for the fact that of the 5 languages he grew up with I’d willingly learn three and grow up with one.
2/10 Somewhere in that mix lies the truth of who I really am, courtesy of my parents’ heritage.
Throw in a #narcissist war child with stories that change every time they are told and a creepy #Holocaust survivor with Octopus hands, and it’s a lot to unravel.
Throw in a #narcissist war child with stories that change every time they are told and a creepy #Holocaust survivor with Octopus hands, and it’s a lot to unravel.
May 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
2/10 Somewhere in that mix lies the truth of who I really am, courtesy of my parents’ heritage.
Throw in a #narcissist war child with stories that change every time they are told and a creepy #Holocaust survivor with Octopus hands, and it’s a lot to unravel.
Throw in a #narcissist war child with stories that change every time they are told and a creepy #Holocaust survivor with Octopus hands, and it’s a lot to unravel.
Cue an elderly lady, very made up (as befits a church service at 6am) exclaiming so the whole church heard her, “I’ve never seen such a pitiful Resurrection (mass).”
Priest didn’t even miss a beat & continued right on preaching.
Priest didn’t even miss a beat & continued right on preaching.
April 20, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Cue an elderly lady, very made up (as befits a church service at 6am) exclaiming so the whole church heard her, “I’ve never seen such a pitiful Resurrection (mass).”
Priest didn’t even miss a beat & continued right on preaching.
Priest didn’t even miss a beat & continued right on preaching.
It is the ultimate in passive-aggressive being. A designed meekness that shall ultimately inherit the Earth.
It is the MO of those who don’t have a voice, who carve out their power by squashing others, perceived as beneath them.
It is the MO of those who don’t have a voice, who carve out their power by squashing others, perceived as beneath them.
April 19, 2025 at 8:21 AM
It is the ultimate in passive-aggressive being. A designed meekness that shall ultimately inherit the Earth.
It is the MO of those who don’t have a voice, who carve out their power by squashing others, perceived as beneath them.
It is the MO of those who don’t have a voice, who carve out their power by squashing others, perceived as beneath them.
12/12 I might not like or appreciate every detail of the Poland I was exposed to in my life, but Polish hospitality when done right really does make a person want to come back. And feel welcome while you’re there.
April 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
12/12 I might not like or appreciate every detail of the Poland I was exposed to in my life, but Polish hospitality when done right really does make a person want to come back. And feel welcome while you’re there.
11/12 And it was true, because in that small span of a lifetime I found out the entire family history of the mother, her mother and the couple itself. Punctured by anecdotes of their lives, which highlighted their interwoven connections.
April 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
11/12 And it was true, because in that small span of a lifetime I found out the entire family history of the mother, her mother and the couple itself. Punctured by anecdotes of their lives, which highlighted their interwoven connections.
10/12 A suspicion which was duly confirmed via a very subtle nod when I finally managed to thank the mother of the child (and introduce myself to her) towards the end of the event.
“I figured they’d entertain you plenty,” she replied, “they’re the chattiest people I know.”
“I figured they’d entertain you plenty,” she replied, “they’re the chattiest people I know.”
April 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
10/12 A suspicion which was duly confirmed via a very subtle nod when I finally managed to thank the mother of the child (and introduce myself to her) towards the end of the event.
“I figured they’d entertain you plenty,” she replied, “they’re the chattiest people I know.”
“I figured they’d entertain you plenty,” she replied, “they’re the chattiest people I know.”
9/12 At the dinner I found that the mother of the child had placed me at the head of a table overseeing the entire gathering.
My host, who knew nearly everybody, had been placed on my left, while a friendly, chatty couple was on my right. I understood that this had been by design.
My host, who knew nearly everybody, had been placed on my left, while a friendly, chatty couple was on my right. I understood that this had been by design.
April 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
9/12 At the dinner I found that the mother of the child had placed me at the head of a table overseeing the entire gathering.
My host, who knew nearly everybody, had been placed on my left, while a friendly, chatty couple was on my right. I understood that this had been by design.
My host, who knew nearly everybody, had been placed on my left, while a friendly, chatty couple was on my right. I understood that this had been by design.
8/12 Because without that key foundation how are you going to build anything that will prevail without using fear as a crutch to hold everything up.
Crutches are too feeble to hold up a house, much less a castle or a temple.
But back to our story.
Crutches are too feeble to hold up a house, much less a castle or a temple.
But back to our story.
April 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
8/12 Because without that key foundation how are you going to build anything that will prevail without using fear as a crutch to hold everything up.
Crutches are too feeble to hold up a house, much less a castle or a temple.
But back to our story.
Crutches are too feeble to hold up a house, much less a castle or a temple.
But back to our story.
7/12 My host thought the same as I. Let people be and rejoice in love. Guide people to be good human beings instead of putting dogma over human worth.
The priests I know and certainly the one I am friends with, who truly serve (the spirit of) Jesus, always put humanity before all else.
The priests I know and certainly the one I am friends with, who truly serve (the spirit of) Jesus, always put humanity before all else.
April 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
7/12 My host thought the same as I. Let people be and rejoice in love. Guide people to be good human beings instead of putting dogma over human worth.
The priests I know and certainly the one I am friends with, who truly serve (the spirit of) Jesus, always put humanity before all else.
The priests I know and certainly the one I am friends with, who truly serve (the spirit of) Jesus, always put humanity before all else.
6/12 This, my host explained was to show the goodness of the priest while still maintaining a facade of propriety before the congregation and God.
I remembered my cousin in Poland telling me something similar, the priest wouldn’t give him confession because he and his girlfriend had a child.
I remembered my cousin in Poland telling me something similar, the priest wouldn’t give him confession because he and his girlfriend had a child.
April 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
6/12 This, my host explained was to show the goodness of the priest while still maintaining a facade of propriety before the congregation and God.
I remembered my cousin in Poland telling me something similar, the priest wouldn’t give him confession because he and his girlfriend had a child.
I remembered my cousin in Poland telling me something similar, the priest wouldn’t give him confession because he and his girlfriend had a child.
5/12 My host also explained to me that since the child had been born while the parents were not married, the christening would not be part of the mass but would occur later. Along with two other couples, who had found themselves in somewhat of a similar predicament.
April 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
5/12 My host also explained to me that since the child had been born while the parents were not married, the christening would not be part of the mass but would occur later. Along with two other couples, who had found themselves in somewhat of a similar predicament.
4/12 As we entered the church grounds a lady came running over, pulled me into a bear hug and told me to address her by her first name. The Poland of my experience was always very formal so this was a very warm welcome in more ways than one.
I was introduced and family relations were explained.
I was introduced and family relations were explained.
April 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
4/12 As we entered the church grounds a lady came running over, pulled me into a bear hug and told me to address her by her first name. The Poland of my experience was always very formal so this was a very warm welcome in more ways than one.
I was introduced and family relations were explained.
I was introduced and family relations were explained.
3/12 The whole ceremony was explained to me in great detail, Including a reminder that if I had any questions during the mass, or didn’t understand a word, I was free to ask.
I was assured that neither parent was overly religious, so my own religiosity or lack of it, would not come up.
I was assured that neither parent was overly religious, so my own religiosity or lack of it, would not come up.
April 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
3/12 The whole ceremony was explained to me in great detail, Including a reminder that if I had any questions during the mass, or didn’t understand a word, I was free to ask.
I was assured that neither parent was overly religious, so my own religiosity or lack of it, would not come up.
I was assured that neither parent was overly religious, so my own religiosity or lack of it, would not come up.
2/12 It was my first visit back to Poland after nearly 20 years, and I had never been to Warsaw, so I was happy to explore on my own.I spoke the language & cities never scared me.
The mother of the child responded that I was more than welcome, and so we set off to buy a dress.
The mother of the child responded that I was more than welcome, and so we set off to buy a dress.
April 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
2/12 It was my first visit back to Poland after nearly 20 years, and I had never been to Warsaw, so I was happy to explore on my own.I spoke the language & cities never scared me.
The mother of the child responded that I was more than welcome, and so we set off to buy a dress.
The mother of the child responded that I was more than welcome, and so we set off to buy a dress.