The Elephant in the Room

 Hello dear friends,

It's been a couple months since I last posted.

First, I will say that I received my new laundry basket and love it!

On the way to Portland

Secondly, I have just had a sour feeling in my gut.

I'm not talking about eating something odd.

The way people have been interacting towards each other

nearly makes me ill.

Not necessarily here on the blog

which is something I've strived to prevent,

but without you all being "grown ups" about things

it would not be possible and I thank you kindly.

Before I get to my point,

I'd like to share a bit of a story.

The gal who has been my best friend for over 20 years and I

haven't spoken since January.

We have laughed and cried and watched each other's family grow.

We've shared struggles and accomplishments as good friends do.

We don't share the same political views which hadn't been an issue

for about 19+ years.

Over the past couple years in particular,

I've strived to avoid any topic I thought might get political.

That alone, the not being able to discuss things was a red flag.

The last time we spoke,

I began telling her about driving a 1 ton duely pick-up pulling a 20' trailer 

full of metal through Portland, OR which I referred to as Looneyville.

I still call it that actually.

They drive like lunatics!

I had completely forgotten about the rioting going on,

but I was quickly reminded and got to listen to about a 15 min. spiel.

I didn't really respond, but when she finished, I continued about driving.

I don't know how she felt when I didn't "jump in" and argue.

That was the last time we spoke.

I miss my friend.

I know in her heart, she is a good person,

but she takes in a lot of media, and it shows.

And now back to the  point.

We are being pushed to conform.

Being pushed to conform creates division.

I really don't care which side you want to take.

And I do not want to try to force you to accept my views.

Grandma Donna did a post and mentioned people feeling

"the need to be right."

I really think she hit the nail on the head.

I tend to withdraw and pull away when something is being forced upon me.

I don't want to just dis media,

but it's not healthy or usually very accurate.

What you state as fact could very well be fiction,

but we like to believe or back up what we think it should be.

I am no exception to that other than I purposely limit any exposure to media

and when I want information, I try to go directly to the source 

rather than a reporter.

Even that can be difficult to do.

It is fine if we believe pro, con, yes, no, up, or down, whatever.

But we don't even have to share our opinion let alone

try to force someone else to accept it as right.

I want to say that one part again:

we don't even have to share our opinion.

In an age that seems eager to take surveys of our opinions,

that might sound like a foreign thought, but you really don't have to share it.

There are so many much more pleasant things we could talk about.

I got some flowers on the close-out shelf 

that have turned around and are gorgeous!

The full moon was so bright the other night,

it was still light at nighttime.

Our "Heat Dome" finally broke, and we have normal temperatures

so my tomatoes are finally producing - yay!

I just did 12 pints of diced and 3 half-pints of sauce.

You see?

It's okay~

We can still be kind.

We can still experience joy.

It's good to laugh.

Don't be afraid to give a loved one a hug.

Don't be afraid.

And lastly, I'd like to share a little reminder.

I learned this when I was knee high to a grasshopper

and I'm sure you know it too.

It's called The Golden Rule.

"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."

At one point I wanted a banner of that over our door.

I still like the idea.

If I've seemed a little absent lately,

now you know why.

I've not made it around to very many blogs lately.

I will try, but sometimes we need to listen to what's inside of us

for a little while and get back to peace within.

I hope this day is good to you 

and that you are surrounded by people and things you love.

By the way,

Blogger is telling me this is my 400th post.

That is thanks to each of you.

Thank you.