An Invincible Summer - A Woman's Journey

Good morning. Today, Boy Scout and I will host lunch for my mother's widower and his wife. They are nice people but they are not my tribe. I feel slightly agitated about how I will remain true to myself if either religion or politics are brought up. In my lifetime, in this country, those two topics were fairly separate. No more. Grandpa Louie and his wife are evangelical and MAGA’s, somehow confusing mango Mussolini with Jesus Christ. Intertwined are the Bible and the constitution. It’s fear, but their fear has a loud voice and a heavy hand, desiring to dictate how others live. Louie was good to my mother and he was a loving grandfather to my children but take mom and kids out of the picture and there is very little common ground.  Hopefully, I will have the power, self control and empathy to divert conversation to appropriate things like …..oh…..the weather, sports, animals, the weather…. And away from the morally bankrupt, misogynistic, ignorant, draft dodging, narcissistic …….oo...

I had something interesting happen the other day and I thought I’d share it. While perusing Facebook, I came across this from an old friend: At first I was angry as piss but then I remembered a few things about this guy and decided to send this: And later this showed up: I was happy I reached out and built a bridge instead of burning it. It’s been a good lesson for me. We can so easily forget each other’s humanity and there are some people who will bank on that and use it for their own benefit but I think there’s a better way.  I’m going to leave you with this.  

A blogger I really enjoy, Sabine at  Interim Arrangements , posted this the other day and I felt compelled to repost. I’d love to hear what you think. Fintan O'Toole  writes today in  The Irish Times : Fascism doesn’t arise suddenly in an existing democracy. It is not easy to get people to give up their ideas of freedom and civility. You have to do trial runs that, if they are done well, serve two purposes. They get people used to something they may initially recoil from; and they allow you to refine and calibrate. This is what is happening now and we would be fools not to see it. One of the basic tools of fascism is (. . .) the generation of tribal identities, the division of society into mutually exclusive polarities. Fascism does not need a majority – it typically comes to power with about 40 per cent support and then uses control and intimidation to consolidate that power. So it doesn’t matter if most people hate you, as long as your 40 per cent is fanatically ...

Yesterday the Boy Scout and I had a big blowup. It was political and ugly. I won’t going to details except to say that I handled my part poorly. When one feels strongly about something, it can be difficult to stay calm and Completely logical, especially in the face of what seems to be an illogical argument and a white washing of the things that are going on in the WH. That being said, I apologized for my part and I meant it. I’m sorry I blew up and I’m sorry I said things that I never I never should have. This morning at 6 AM, the man who loves to sleep more than anything, gets out of bed with a smile and goes into the kitchen to get ready for St Paddy’s day dinner before heading off to work. I see him dancing to Boston and the Eagles. I’m still laying under the blanket cause it’s cold out there. This man is an interesting creature that I have yet to figure out.

It finally happened. I made the mistake of putting something slightly political on Facebook and a small explosion occurred. I've made it a personal policy to keep my FB free of politics except for hitting an occasional LIKE but I made the mistake of putting "Our President just shoved the Prime Minister of Montenegro" and BAM. Beware of those people who you have NOT unfriended because you did not want to insult them but blocked their posts so you did not have to interact. They are still seeing your stuff and, unfortunately, they can still respond.  Sorry...I couldn't resist Honestly, Trump behaved inappropriately and it was an embarrassment. This friend of a friend went off......I won't repeat all the nonsense she barfed up in addition to #fakenews and "anemic, pathetic former president" but I will say I exercised restraint and remained pretty happy. I deleted the post to stay true to my original commitment, made a statement letting others know w...

I have made and, for the most part, kept my commitment to keep my Facebook page free from any political statements, rants, subversive comments or even innuendo. It is not how I choose to use Facebook. But this is my blog....this IS MY BLOG. I haven't said much here but it should not be construed as lack of involvement or caring. I just have to say this and I will ask forgiveness for those of you who don't like my language or disagree but: WHAT THE HELL? Lordy, how did we get into this mess? And how long will it last? Hopefully not 4 entire years! Walls, travel bans, alternative facts, health care, Putin, pussies, women's rights, questionable appointees, racism, defunding of arts and worthy safety nets, environmental issues, fostering a complete distrust of the overall media, LGBTQ issues, alienation of allies along with a puffed up sense of self to demi-god status. He can't even get along with his own party. I know he is not evil, I know that he has the...