Among Friends

[aprilskies]

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@geezerette wrote:

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@bikerbabe wrote:
Hi All,

I have no memory of what a last posted and don’t want to scroll back on my phone. 🤣🤣 Call me lazy.

Bottom line, I’m fine. 🤪

You make an interesting point about people saying they have one set of values or beliefs and then voting another way. I often wonder the same thing. I’ll wager most of us have similar core values but there are vast differences on how we feel they should be implemented and supported. You might think that my vote goes against everything I say I am for but I might come to the same conclusion about you. 🤣 So where does that leave us?🤷🏻‍♀️ Thus, the art of compromise was born where everyone hopefully gets a little of what they wanted but no one walks away truly satisfied. 🤣

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@bikerbabe 

I agree.

And the art of compromise has worked well for us in the past.  My question is will it work now?  And will it truly be compromise?  Or will it be someone's interpretation of "compromise"?

Either way, glad to hear you're doing okay.  I assume this applies to your DH as well.  

And it's your "forum constitutional right" to be lazy and not have to scroll through past posts!  (How's that for compromise?😆)

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@bikerbabe @geezerette, does compromise still exist?  I am not even sure a friendly conversation can exist any more beyond hi bye, and take care.  I love talking to people and discussing certain point of views but most people have one - their own.  I now just stay away from certain conversations unless I know I am talking to a reasonable person. 

@bikerbabe, completely agree with you on we all have to look within ourselves with some honesty. 

Healing thoughts for you and your husband. Looks like you made the right choice when you chose to go on leave. 

I am thinking retirement looks better and better every day. 

[geezerette]

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@aprilskies wrote:

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@geezerette wrote:

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@bikerbabe wrote:
Hi All,

I have no memory of what a last posted and don’t want to scroll back on my phone. 🤣🤣 Call me lazy.

Bottom line, I’m fine. 🤪

You make an interesting point about people saying they have one set of values or beliefs and then voting another way. I often wonder the same thing. I’ll wager most of us have similar core values but there are vast differences on how we feel they should be implemented and supported. You might think that my vote goes against everything I say I am for but I might come to the same conclusion about you. 🤣 So where does that leave us?🤷🏻‍♀️ Thus, the art of compromise was born where everyone hopefully gets a little of what they wanted but no one walks away truly satisfied. 🤣

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@bikerbabe 

I agree.

And the art of compromise has worked well for us in the past.  My question is will it work now?  And will it truly be compromise?  Or will it be someone's interpretation of "compromise"?

Either way, glad to hear you're doing okay.  I assume this applies to your DH as well.  

And it's your "forum constitutional right" to be lazy and not have to scroll through past posts!  (How's that for compromise?😆)

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@bikerbabe @geezerette, does compromise still exist?  I am not even sure a friendly conversation can exist any more beyond hi bye, and take care.  I love talking to people and discussing certain point of views but most people have one - their own.  I now just stay away from certain conversations unless I know I am talking to a reasonable person. 

@bikerbabe, completely agree with you on we all have to look within ourselves with some honesty. 

Healing thoughts for you and your husband. Looks like you made the right choice when you chose to go on leave. 

I am thinking retirement looks better and better every day. 

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@aprilskies 

With all you have going on now, it sounds like you could use a "leave" too.  Is that possible for you?

As for compromise being alive or dead, I don't know.  I dont discuss my opinions with anyone anymore.  Oh wait, that's because I don't have any opinions anymore.🤣

[aprilskies]

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@geezerette wrote:

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@aprilskies wrote:

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@geezerette wrote:

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@bikerbabe wrote:
Hi All,

I have no memory of what a last posted and don’t want to scroll back on my phone. 🤣🤣 Call me lazy.

Bottom line, I’m fine. 🤪

You make an interesting point about people saying they have one set of values or beliefs and then voting another way. I often wonder the same thing. I’ll wager most of us have similar core values but there are vast differences on how we feel they should be implemented and supported. You might think that my vote goes against everything I say I am for but I might come to the same conclusion about you. 🤣 So where does that leave us?🤷🏻‍♀️ Thus, the art of compromise was born where everyone hopefully gets a little of what they wanted but no one walks away truly satisfied. 🤣

---

@bikerbabe 

I agree.

And the art of compromise has worked well for us in the past.  My question is will it work now?  And will it truly be compromise?  Or will it be someone's interpretation of "compromise"?

Either way, glad to hear you're doing okay.  I assume this applies to your DH as well.  

And it's your "forum constitutional right" to be lazy and not have to scroll through past posts!  (How's that for compromise?😆)

---

@bikerbabe @geezerette, does compromise still exist?  I am not even sure a friendly conversation can exist any more beyond hi bye, and take care.  I love talking to people and discussing certain point of views but most people have one - their own.  I now just stay away from certain conversations unless I know I am talking to a reasonable person. 

@bikerbabe, completely agree with you on we all have to look within ourselves with some honesty. 

Healing thoughts for you and your husband. Looks like you made the right choice when you chose to go on leave. 

I am thinking retirement looks better and better every day. 

---

@aprilskies 

With all you have going on now, it sounds like you could use a "leave" too.  Is that possible for you?

As for compromise being alive or dead, I don't know.  I dont discuss my opinions with anyone anymore.  Oh wait, that's because I don't have any opinions anymore.🤣

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@geezerette, if I didnt have certain things going on at work, I think I could take a leave. But right now, I wouldn’t feel comfortable. And I guess I am really holding off until I really need too.  You only get one leave a year.

I kid about retirement, although half kid, but I dont know if I am ready to fully. The future is so uncertain and at my age, I really dont want to start over if things go south. That is if I could start over with so many people unemployed, and younger. 

LOL, @geezerette, dont ever stop sharing your opinions. I enjoy them too much. 

[KaySD]

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@geezerette wrote:

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@KaySD wrote:

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@geezerette wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

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@KaySD wrote:

@geezerette @just bee @aprilskies 

What you are saying about the yongsters growing up in these times is so true. And I guess the same could be said about everyone...

I have a lot of confidence in the young people. Yes, damage has been done. Yes, they will be affected by the times they are living in, and by their parents' generation, and increasingly, by what's going on all over the world. Plus, it's harder to see, but I believe there is a great deal of goodness and creativity going on along with the damage and pain.

And childhood isn't destiny. We have a million examples to show that. The younger ones will grow up and they are their own people, with their own choices to make. I think they have a great deal of knowledge and experience and wisdom to draw on. Probably more than I'm even capable of perceiving. What they choose might not be my choice, but that hardly matters--it doesn't need to be.

Am I a cockeyed optimist? Could be. I do choose to have faith that everything is in divine order. Maybe those two things are the same. 

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@KaySD 

I just remember when I was a kid and anything that happened to me was the most important thing in the world.  Struggles with algebra.  Someone looked at me cross-eyed.  I got a "B."  Acne.

My parents would just look at me like I was from another galaxy.  And I couldn't figure out why they weren't concerned.

These were people who lived through the Great Depression and World War 2.  And that was only the half of it.

They had something that I don't see in my younger patients or in their parents: Coping skills.  

And that's a problem.  Will they develop them at some point?  It used to be that you had them by the time you hit adulthood.  But I'm seeing adults who don't have them.

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@just bee 

And I'm one of them.  

I'm envious of people that can take what life throws at them without dissolving into a quivering mass of jelly.

Not only were my parents--and those of their generation and before--resilient, they were silent about all they'd gone through and witnessed.  I only learned maybe half of the things my parents went through by the time I was an adult.  

Oh sure, I got the "things were so much harder in my day" and the ubiquitous "I walked seven miles to school in the snow--uphill both ways"🤨🤣 routines.  But I mean the really horrible, nightmarish experiences they had.  

And today I feel guilty that I didn't understand and appreciate them more when I was young.  And the other people around me that had it even worse.  

At this point in my life I look back and do a lot of reflecting and wish I'd done many things differently.  It's only natural.  

The one thing I don't wish is that I'd bought more stuff.  And that's what I try to keep at the top of my mind when I start to buy a lot of things now.

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@geezerette 

Yes! But with all due respect to our parents' experiences, maybe there is such a thing as too much coping.

I know I grew up learning, at least partly, that I had to just swallow whatever life handed out, and get on with it. That made me feel brace but beleaguered, empty and a bit hopeless--which did not sit comfortably with my natural vitality and heart. Thus setting up a long term sort of struggle to reconcile acceptance of what is with allowance of who I really am.

Not sure if that makes any sense to anyone but me. 

Life's a bit tricky. I need to be patient with myself.

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@KaySD 

I think that most often the attitude of "the devil you know is better than the one you don't" is promoted because those doing so feel it's the safer way to go.  Parents tend to want their children safe.  Or at least in an environment that they (the parents) can control if they (the children) step in doo-doo.  Once established in whatever comfortable environment they've found/made for themselves, they tend to forget that all (or at least most) young people want to break away from that establishment at some point, even if it's only partially or temporarily.  I.e., the generation that leaves their home in the old world to come to a new and completely unknown one often doesn't want their own offspring to move on to a new life experience somewhere else.

Some of it was the times, but it also depends on the personality of the individuals involved.  And quite often those that are doing the stifling think they're being the most open and accommodating, and would be flabbergasted to learn their offspring felt otherwise.

In the end, I think your feelings are those that generations have faced throughout our human history.

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@geezerette 

Totally agree with you. 

I think that makes these times, as Dickens said,

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

[KaySD]

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@bikerbabe wrote:
Hi All,

I have no memory of what a last posted and don’t want to scroll back on my phone. 🤣🤣 Call me lazy.

Bottom line, I’m fine. 🤪

You make an interesting point about people saying they have one set of values or beliefs and then voting another way. I often wonder the same thing. I’ll wager most of us have similar core values but there are vast differences on how we feel they should be implemented and supported. You might think that my vote goes against everything I say I am for but I might come to the same conclusion about you. 🤣 So where does that leave us?🤷🏻‍♀️ Thus, the art of compromise was born where everyone hopefully gets a little of what they wanted but no one walks away truly satisfied. 🤣

---

@bikerbabe 

Ah, compromise! Messy, not speedy, subject to change--but compared to the alternative of absolute control, a wonderful thing.

[geezerette]

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@aprilskies wrote:

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@geezerette wrote:

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@aprilskies wrote:

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@geezerette wrote:

---

@bikerbabe wrote:
Hi All,

I have no memory of what a last posted and don’t want to scroll back on my phone. 🤣🤣 Call me lazy.

Bottom line, I’m fine. 🤪

You make an interesting point about people saying they have one set of values or beliefs and then voting another way. I often wonder the same thing. I’ll wager most of us have similar core values but there are vast differences on how we feel they should be implemented and supported. You might think that my vote goes against everything I say I am for but I might come to the same conclusion about you. 🤣 So where does that leave us?🤷🏻‍♀️ Thus, the art of compromise was born where everyone hopefully gets a little of what they wanted but no one walks away truly satisfied. 🤣

---

@bikerbabe 

I agree.

And the art of compromise has worked well for us in the past.  My question is will it work now?  And will it truly be compromise?  Or will it be someone's interpretation of "compromise"?

Either way, glad to hear you're doing okay.  I assume this applies to your DH as well.  

And it's your "forum constitutional right" to be lazy and not have to scroll through past posts!  (How's that for compromise?😆)

---

@bikerbabe @geezerette, does compromise still exist?  I am not even sure a friendly conversation can exist any more beyond hi bye, and take care.  I love talking to people and discussing certain point of views but most people have one - their own.  I now just stay away from certain conversations unless I know I am talking to a reasonable person. 

@bikerbabe, completely agree with you on we all have to look within ourselves with some honesty. 

Healing thoughts for you and your husband. Looks like you made the right choice when you chose to go on leave. 

I am thinking retirement looks better and better every day. 

---

@aprilskies 

With all you have going on now, it sounds like you could use a "leave" too.  Is that possible for you?

As for compromise being alive or dead, I don't know.  I dont discuss my opinions with anyone anymore.  Oh wait, that's because I don't have any opinions anymore.🤣

---

@geezerette, if I didnt have certain things going on at work, I think I could take a leave. But right now, I wouldn’t feel comfortable. And I guess I am really holding off until I really need too.  You only get one leave a year.

I kid about retirement, although half kid, but I dont know if I am ready to fully. The future is so uncertain and at my age, I really dont want to start over if things go south. That is if I could start over with so many people unemployed, and younger. 

LOL, @geezerette, dont ever stop sharing your opinions. I enjoy them too much. 

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@aprilskies 

I think the future has always been uncertain, but there were times when it just didn't seem that way for a lot of us.  Things do tend to change at lightning speed nowadays though.  I know that whatever you're doing for a long time can tend to get to be too much at times.  Especially when you're stressed with a bunch of things at the same time.

But you're smart, practical, and logical, so you know it would be best to stick it out as long as possible.  And in the meantime you're keeping that eventuality in mind and planning and preparing for it, which is smart.

As for my opinions, I don't have any, remember?😉😆

[just bee]

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@geezerette wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

Off to work soon...

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@just bee 

Aw.  I really like this one.  (Not that I haven't liked the others...)

This just seems "cute".  Something about anthropomorphizing this particular image just strikes me.

🐝❤️

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@geezerette 

I thought it had sort of a Death of a Salesman vibe. 

[just bee]

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@rnmom wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

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@geezerette wrote:

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@rnmom 

I'm glad you're part of this thread.  You keep me motivated!👍❤️

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@geezerette 

I'm glad, too!

@rnmom keeps me angry -- and that keeps me motivated. 

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@just bee - Umm, gee, thanks? I guess

Yep, still pretty pi**ed off, just can't say much about it anymore. 

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@rnmom 

Where are the Voltaires?

[just bee]

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@rnmom wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

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@aprilskies wrote:

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@rnmom wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

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@aprilskies wrote:

Just dropping in to say hello. As usual, there is a lot to catch up on.  You ladies have been busy.  

It is funny, I came here to catch up with you all and to spew some thoughts of my own and everything I wanted to say just all seems so trivial considering the past couple of days.  So, I will just say:

Happy New Year!!!!  

May this year be a bit different. I am going to keep the faith!!! 

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@aprilskies 

We've lived through the first week and I'm reminded of the old theater superstition: A bad dress rehearsal means a great opening night (and, subsequently, a successful run).

But I don't think that applies in this case.

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@just bee - Nope. 2021 is not going to be good. 

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@just bee @rnmom,  it's not. It will get worse before it gets better.  But I think it is going to be more important than ever to hold on to the light as best we can for as long as we can. 

One of my many concerns is that we are picking our officials based on who we dont want rather than on the merits.  But, unfortunately, situations are not leaving people much choice. 

@just bee I too am glad I am not 21. I cannot imagine being young at this time but then again, maybe they wont know any different. One can hope. 

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@aprilskies 

The one at the end of the tunnel?

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@just bee - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!  You got that right!

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@rnmom 

Wait, wait... I think I see it.  No...  wait, maybe...

No.

[just bee]

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@rnmom wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

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@bikerbabe wrote:
Younger generations always give me hope that they won’t have some of the baggage and prejudices going into the future. Most of the 20 somethings that I know are so much more open and excepting of people’s differences.

Not feeling well lately. My adrenaline is gone.

PS Yes, everyone is cranky. 🥴😂

Not even dressed yet. Football playoffs again today. Nothing else matters. 😉

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@bikerbabe 

The differences they agree with/approve of, that is.

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@just bee - Exactly. If you don't agree with them, they are much less accepting of differences of opinion. All of the recent censorship should prove that. 

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@rnmom