Dearest Reader,
I need to apologize. I started the year all gutsy and ready to fight my fears with the No Fears campaign. Instead, I was sidelined by the political situation and wrote about the March on Washington and whether a pink hat and a red baseball cap could make a relationship work. Although the political situation continues, I need to lighten up. My friend Susan, the proprietress of Twig in Laguna Beach, suggested I start a line of greeting cards. Since another dear friend, Peggy, made the same suggestion years ago and I respect both of them so much, I figured I would toss my hat in the notecard arena. In designing the cards, I had 2 primary goals:
XO M.J.
2 Comments
Dearest Reader,
On a Valentine’s Day, long ago, Robert was my fifth-grade classmate. He did not fit in. He was quiet and soft and didn’t garner much attention. I have no idea about his background. I don’t even remember much about him. Our class party was filled with goodies and busy children excitedly passing out valentines. Ken P. had a big stack. Maureen B.’s desk was covered and Jack P.’s large pile was sliding off onto the floor. Sitting, directly across from me, was Robert. There was not one card on his desk. It still makes me sick to my stomach and although time has blurred the details, I am still blown away by the utter desolation that little kid must have felt that day. Valentine’s Day is tough for a lot of people. Some have lost loved ones and are hurting. Some never found that anticipated great love, and are sad and lonely. Some are little kids who just want to be liked. Maybe we should all remember this. So…if you’re living the Valentine’s Day dream with candy, a romantic dinner and warm kisses, good for you. And if you are not, you are not alone. Be kind out there… XO M.J. P.S. And Robert, wherever you may be, happy Valentine’s Day. Dearest Reader,
Unfortunately, an already very shallow dating pool has been split in half. We now have a left end and a right end and our ideas are the rope floats keeping us apart. Websites are popping up all over, catering to this new polarization. On your right, you have TrumpSingles.com displaying a very upwardly mobile attractive couple out for an elegant evening. On the left, you have Maple Match catering to liberal U.S. citizens who, as a result of the election, are ready to exit the country. So, the big question is: Can a pink beanie and a red baseball cap ever live happily ever after? According to Grindstone, there are some political unicorn couples out there. You have Mary Matalin, a Republican political consultant, and James Carville, a Democratic commentator. Their diametrically opposing views seem to fuel the passion and perhaps their disagreements are a form of foreplay. They are not unprecedented. Although, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt had 6 children, their marriage definitely had its rocky moments. During FDR’s presidency, Mrs. Roosevelt wrote This Troubled World, a book directly opposing many of her husband’s ideas. There are other presidential examples as well. After the very conservative George W. Bush exited his presidency, his former first lady Laura Bush, proclaimed she was pro-choice and supported same-sex marriage, in direct opposition to her husband’s beliefs. All three couples have differing values and opinions but managed to keep their marriages together. Of course, I suspect with very different levels of success. So, maybe it works and maybe it does not work but they do offer hope. If they can come together, compromise, and make their relationships work, shouldn’t our country, with all its collective resources, be able to do the same? XO M.J. |