Thanks so much Bruce,
I dont always reply to your posts, but I do read them voraciously. Your interactions with animals, friends/customers, and itinerant Mexicans borders on the inspirational. Who could imagined pigs so lovingly raised that when their world caught fire they didn't panic, but waited patiently for their expected rescuer.
I spent the evening exchanging gifts and dinner with a small, but eclectic group.
A Serbian lass mourning the destruction of her culture. A Tasmanian student intent on becoming a Canadian citizen, or at least joining Canadian Mensa. A Polish lady who still hates Germany for what it did to her country, but who writes an entertainment column in a german language newspaper. Her daughter and son in law who make mainstream movies, but despair of the covert political messages they contain. An octogenarian, now reduced to catching and releasing female octogenarians when in season in Las Vegas, and of course my wonderful wife of 29 years.
The banter touched on the difference between Truth and Fact, and why Trump should be exalted or exiled. We explored the We vs Them concept and reached a rare consensus, that the problem predated our sapien ancestors and couldn't be solved, but that it could be sapiently modified and sanely mollified if sensibly approached.
We vilified America, Canada, Britain, and most of the Western World. I wasn't alone in praising Putin, an oddity in these times, but was backed to the wall in my defense of the FSM. Our lone Baptist faced similar obstacles against a plethora of atheists.
For hour after hour the BS, food, drink and gifts were examined, consumed, and shared. Everyone had moments when they shined, and everyone enjoyed the resultant glow that lit up our evening.
I'm beyond the passions that drove my youth. As striving for success, to succeed, even for secure subsistence, fade in the rear view mirror something new waits take their place.
To be entertaining, even as I'm entertained, isn't a lofty goal. But it's where I am. I've evolved into a bit of a raconteur, and it's enough. The days of Fighting the Man and Rallying the Troops is past.
A pleasant dinner surrounded by friends, an occasional appreciative glance or comment. These now are my raison d'etre, it's sufficient.
Terry