Jordan's Cobb Salad for our dinner
So good, and a great way to use what's in the fridge;
with a quick, creamy dressing I've just discovered
For
many of us, internet exchanges these days are too often confrontational. There
are so many outrages in our world, so many lies and distortions, that I cannot
resist commenting. So a couple of recent pleasant exchanges were wonderful
surprises.
One
had to do with fast food. When someone mentioned Chick Fil-A, I commented that I
liked the food but will not patronize them for political reasons. A woman I don’t
know responded that she chose her food for taste and not politics nor friendship
and wasn’t that okay. I responded that of course it’s okay, but I just choose
not to enrich the coffers of a corporation that espouses inhumane philosophies.
The same, I added, is true of Hobby Lobby. It’s okay for people to believe
whatever they want, but when it negatively affects and hurts others, it breaks
a certain boundary. I can, at least, I said, give my beliefs some weight
through action. The woman who asked thanked me for explaining my position and
commented that it would be nice if all of us could talk in that way on social
media.
The
other incident was a few days ago. A woman posted from a very conservative point
of view, and when I disagreed (I must learn to keep my indignation to myself)
she wrote, “That’s my opinion, and you are entitled to yours.” I replied that
while I totally disagree with her, I admired her civility, and she thanked me,
said she wished everyone could be polite.
This
has also been a day of introspection for me. I have realized that in addition
to being outspoken about politics and social culture, I am really good at
knowing what other people should do with their lives. It’s hard for me to keep quiet.
But with age, hopefully, comes a bit of wisdom. Today a good friend told me she
was going to do something I thought totally wrong for her situation, but I
managed to say why, once, and then let it go. And I will be supportive of the
course of action she chose.
The weather
is part of the reason I’ve been so introspective today. Rain has threatened all
day but stayed to the west of us. Tonight, it is moving closer, and Jordan says
we expect a storm with possible hail by nine. Actually, I have found the last
two days kind of depressing—gray skies, heavy humidity, neither hot nor cold.
And apparently tomorrow is supposed to be even worse. Ah, springtime in Texas.
Jacob,
with the wisdom of fourteen years, said tonight it would be cool if we had a
tornado, and I wondered what had become of the little boy who was so terrified
of storms. Once he insisted that I hide in my closet with him. Fortunately, it
was a long, walk-in closet with plenty of room. He had put a chair, a candle,
and a glass of wine in there, getting it all ready for me. Then he settled
himself with a pillow on the floor. If I remember correctly, I had a book and
contentedly read until he deemed it safe for us to emerge. Other times, in storms,
he would silently come from the trundle in “his” room to my bed and crawl in
without a word of explanation. Sadly, those days are long gone, but now, Sophie
comes close to that, though if she gets on the bed, she is uncomfortable and
antsy and soon jumps off, all of which is not conducive to my sleep.
So
here I sit, the world growing dark around me, with a glass of wine and a good
book. Let it storm—only no hail or tornado, please!
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