A birthday dinner and some thoughts on Herschel Walker

 

My Scottish dinnerware

Lovely birthday dinner tonight for Subie. Recently the group of four who celebrate birthdays together had a belated dinner for a September birthday, and someone said, “We might as well celebrate Subie’s December birthday too.” We did, but Subie later told me that a December birthday meant all her life her birthday celebration was combined with something else. She wanted just one time to have a party that was all about her. So Jordan and I decided to give it to her!

Dinner was served on some dinner plates I didn’t know I had. When I downsized from house to cottage, I must have given away four sets of china. But the other day Jordan surprised me by pulling out the plaid plates I had—I just assumed they too were gone. They aren’t really Christmas-y and they aren’t the MacBain plaid (the clan I belong to) but they are close on both counts, and I was thrilled to see them in use again. But then I realized she had only brought out eight salad plates. A little investigation revealed that the dinner plates and matching mugs are on Colin’s closet shelf in Tomball. He has promised to bring them next time he comes, and I will ask Jordan to make room for them. It makes me incredibly happy to have them back.

We had a delicious dinner and a jolly gathering. Without exception, I would cook for a dear friend’s birthday—except tonight. Jon Bonnell’s roadside warriors’ dinner last night was tenderloin Stroganoff, green beans, salad, rolls, and brownies. We ordered a double batch, and still have half left over. It was so good—and so easy. Jordan had thrown her back out, but Christian was wonderful about cleaning the kitchen. I just did the last little bit, and all is in order for Zenaida to clean tomorrow.

In an abrupt change of subject, Herschel Walker is on my mind this evening, maybe because I just read a brilliant line by former President Barack Obama to the effect that Walker is talking to Georgians about issue that really matter to them, like whether it is better to be a wolf or a werewolf. Obama said that was a debate he’d had with himself too—when he was seven years old!

More likely, Walker is on my mind because I read Republicans do not now send him out without a handler—Lindsey Graham, Rick Scott, or Ted Cruz (the idea of those three as handlers or pillars of respectability sends me into howling laughter). These men know that they are shamefully using Walker.

Regardless of lack of qualification and violent history plus probably tax fraud, they picked a sports hero who would, they hoped, appeal to black Georgia voters. They are so desperate for that Senate seat they will do anything to get it, without thinking of the chaos Walker could cause in the Senate. I am appalled by their lack of concern for the operation of our government, but I am also really upset at the way they would use another human being. If he loses the election, which of course I hope he will, he may be surprised at how quickly all these “friends” drop him.

Every time you think Republican moral standard could go no lower, they surprise us.

And on that note, good night, sweet dreams, and pray for Raphael Warnock to triumph on Tuesday.