Sheesh! What a day I had, guys. I have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) and those of you familiar with me know this. For those of you that aren't, I got this disease from smoking, have since quit and am living the most healthy lifestyle I can. Because...you know...I want to live. I've stopped eating processed foods. Stopped eating pork (God I would sell my SOUL for a strip of crispy bacon) and have started walking. My initial goals were small.
Now I've made it to the gas station at the end of my road and back. A full fackin mile! My son's partner was the only one at the house (it was his day off and he was cooking--the man is a genius with food and is now my personal chef by decree of the dictatorship that is my home) and he asked me how my walk went.
This is what I told him:
I didn't think I was gonna make it. I was a mere few feet from the store, but I was out of breath and sweating and I took a swig of water and eyed the place for a bench to sit down and catch my breath before starting home (or to contemplate calling my son's partner to come and get me). I noticed a bench on the side of the gas station and there was a woman sitting there reading the paper.
I sat next to her.
"Are you alright, sir?"
In between gasps I explained that I had COPD, was fine, and I needed a moment to catch my breath.
"Oh you poor thing! Just rest here."
So I caught my breath, took a pull from my Combivent, and after a moment the world was in focus again. I waited a moment before deciding to head back, during which this nice woman, out of nowhere, declared, "I'm glad all these liberals are getting kicked out of congress. I mad as hell."
I smiled. This is my forte. I like to talk. So I politely inquired, "About what, my dear? You seem charming, and you are certainly a vision." The woman was mid-fifties, attractive, and looking well-to-do with her hair done and makeup carefully applied. "Seems to me you would be the last person to be angry."
"This President needs more good conservatives in congress..." she went on to mimick GOP talking points about smaller government.
"Well," I wanted to know, "What do you consider smaller government? No police? No roads? No Medicare?"
She shook her head, as if offended, "No, but..."
"Right, but when you talk about government and government spending you're talking about services and free things like police and firefighters. That's government."
"Well..."
She looked well-to-do. So I pulled a "Bush" on her. "Suppose a crazed killer type was trying to get into your home to steal your possessions and kill you. Are you going to call on the free market, or are you going to call your government officials--the police?"
"The police," she admitted.
"So don't you want a vibrant government police force?"
"Well sure."
"And you like firemen? 9-11 and all that?"
She seemed flustered.
"Look, I'm sorry," I finally said. "I've got to be going. I just wanted to make sure you understood that 'small government' being peddled by republicans is more of a made-up boogey man than anything else."
I got up ready to leave, when she grabbed me by my wrist. I turned, startled.
"That...that actually makes sense."
I smiled. "Yes. It does. You should actually check out Elaine Marshall. (I live in NC and Elaine is running against Richard Burr) She's running for senate here."
"We could have TWO women senators?" the woman wanted to know.
"Only if you want there to be," I said, and shuffled off.
I don't know what this woman will do come election day. I don't know if she was convinced. I don't even care. But I made it back home. A mile. Hey, if I can do that, you guys can pitch in and help keep our majorities this November--right?
Thanks.
UPDATED:
Thanks to this community for the support you've shown me. Kos has become a big part of my daily life and it's therapy to come here and share and write these diaries about my life. Your wonderful, supportive comments and tips and recs are humbling and the fact that this is on the rec list made my day! I wouldn't normally update like this, but your support continues to touch my heart. I've got to head out now, a doc appt, so I'll be away for a while, but a special thanks to all of you!