a chance

And so, we now have a new president, our 45th president, who was voted in, whether fairly or not.   For the next four years, if he fails, democrats will remind us that he didn't win the popular vote.  If he succeeds, the republicans will insist he was voted in fair and square.

I've never told anyone who i voted for, and i won't.  It's no ones business.   If you want to tell me who you voted for...okay, but don't expect me to respond in kind.

Do i like Trump?   Can't say i do.  There were other republicans i liked more. 

However, i'm going to give him a chance.

A fair chance.

Like i was given.

When i was in 10th grade...my life was...upside down.  My mother and stepfather were divorcing, it was messy, it was violent and it was devastating.   There were secrets, and i started failing school.  I'll never forget when i was sent to a principals office for something or other, and she stood over me, glaring at me, and told me i was never going to amount to much, i was going to be a drunk, nothing but trailer trash.  

I was at my lowest point.

But i wrote a story...it was dark, it involved death (all my stories did around that time) and it got attention.   A friend of the family called me, i'll never forget that, he called me to compliment me on the article.   And 2 teachers reached out to me.  Both were involved with writing.  One was in charge of the school newspaper, and one had a writing class.   Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Hollman gave me a chance to show a different side of me.   Mr. Kennedy put me on the Clipper staff, Mr. Hollman challenged me to take a class and write stories.  

They both challenged me to show the world a different side of me and prove myself.    To prove i was more than trailer trash.   I told Mr. Kennedy what i had been told...and his response was simple "Don't ever let anyone tell you what you are, show them what you can be."   

I'm not a drunk, i'm not trailer trash (oh btw, one thing i learned living in Florida, jeepers some of those trailers are nicer than most homes), i'm a great mother, a pretty dang good wife and i like who i became.

I was given a chance.

So, i'm going to give Trump a chance.  He may screw up.   He may succeed.  He may do a bit of both.  Let's see. 

Obama screwed up, he succeeded, he did a bit of both.

Bush screwed up, he succeeded, he did a bit of both.

Clinton screwed up, he succeeded, he did a bit of both.

Bush screwed up, he succeeded, he did a bit of both.

Reagan screwed up, he succeeded he did a bit of both.

The list goes on.

the average me

So, i was taken a few minutes to myself and grabbed a Christmas issue magazine (i'm a little behind in my reading) and there were suggestions for gifts.   Okay, so I'm looking at gifts that are recommended for family and i had to chuckle when they suggested $200 ear plugs for my teenager.  First, my kids break earplugs - within 6 weeks they are complaining one plug doesn't work.   This could be $5 earplugs or a $35 pair.  Second, he usually wears his headset on the bus, which means he would bring them to school, which means....yeah, they'd be stolen in a week.

So then, i read about gifts for friends and truly burst out laughing.  This magazine was recommending i give a friend a $198 bathrobe.   Yes, you saw that right, $198. 

Now, i can tell you - if i were to give one of my friends a $198 bathroom, say for instance, i gave it to Melody - her first thought would be "Oh my gosh, Sharon robbed a bank!"  I love Melodyq with all my heart, i consider her a sister.  But no way am i giving her a robe that cost more than my weekly shopping list.

Now, i consider myself an every day type of woman, i clean every day, i do laundry every day, I lose my mind every day...but the people who put together these magazines are a wee bit out of touch.  I can't imagine any of my friends spending $169 for a pair jeans which are the must have for the spring.  Or a t-shirt, a plain white t-shirt that's a great bargain at $50.

(just have to squeeze this in:  I remember all the "in-things" while i was in high school.  Remember calvins  and Gloria vanderbuilt jeans?  I will never forget a classmate wearing jeans so tight she struggled to sit at her desk and was telling her friends she had to lay on the bed with her sister pulling the snap together so she could zip them up.  Ah, the good old days.)

I know my friends don't expect me to spend my grocery money on them.  Most of my friends are happy when i give them something i made with yarn.   I've been given a pair of microwave slippers that are one of the best things i've ever been given.  The average person doesn't want a gift that would financially strap their friend. 

The average person is happy with a girls night out that can includes a cheap bottle of wine and a couple of dice.   The average person comes home bragging about an incredible bargain she found (and has a husband who asks "And how much did you spend to save me that money?")

I'm average.   I'm not beautiful (even though Tim tries to convince me i am), I'm not amazingly smart, I'm not incredibly talented, I i don't have an amazing singing voice, even though i do have friends that fit in each category.

I am perfectly average.

And i'm so very blessed to have you as my friend.

I love you.