Recently Ed said he was concerned about my “obsession” with politics. Although the election is over, I continue to watch political programs, mostly on MSNBC and if he wants to switch to the Western channel, I go into the bedroom and get MSNBC on the spare TV set. So he is worried. (Really? Sheesh.) Now, I ask, you is watching another John Wayne Western not a form of intellectual suicide? Or a Vera Hruba Ralston festival? Or any movie with Randolph (vomit) Scott in it?

So I explained to him that I had sort of found my voice in my sere and yellow and was enjoying spreading the word about progressive and liberal causes and I maintained my sanity in this very red part of SW Florida by tilting at the Republican establishment, by running them down on Facebook and sending them what I think are succinct messages about their omissions and failures and downright stupidity.

Furthermore, I explained, he had found for himself a venue to renew his viability in that he is a guardian for the elderly, does really good work for his wards, gets to wear a New York suit and appear in court before judges, now knows a lot of lawyers and his work is becoming known and appreciated. He enjoys being viable again – “a person” as he puts it. Whereas I, on the other hand, have only my modest blog and internet activism to lift me out of total oblivion.

This morning I composed a message to Connie Mack, our district’s U.S. representative (grandson of the baseball commissioner). He is a lame duck, so I couched my encouragement to vote for Middle Class tax cuts as the President wants, by saying that compromise and cooperation would help revitalize the Republican Party, which is now in free-fall.

I wanted Ed to hear my little essay and he snarled, “Hey, Emma Goldman, I’m busy, read it to me later.” I really love that. I couldn’t stop laughing. I had to look her up, Here’s her info: Emma Goldman (June 27 [O.S. June 15] 1869 – May 14, 1940) was an anarchist known for her political activism, writing, and speeches. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century.

I had to add that, when it comes to obsessions, listening to 19th century Italian tenors with a fixation on arias about “mother” for hours on end, kind of qualifies for INSANITY.

I hope that’s the end of that discussion.

xx, Teal

(anarchist! hot diggity.)