I have a question for all you fellows1And you females too who have ignored the patriarchal “rule” that you couldn’t ask somebody out. out there. Have you ever been a nervous wreck from trying to muster up the courage to ask a young lady out? You’re equal parts scared shitless she will say no, and just as scared shitless she will say yes. And although you’re anxious in either scenario, you just need to know either way so you can get on with your life.
Anyone? Anyone? Show of hands? Surely I’m not the only one to have endured this quintessential male-of-the-species experience.2Again, pardon the patriarchal society that way too many people find themselves a part of. Not trying to reinforce it here or anything
Now, let’s assume that you had prepared yourself for if she were to say ‘yes.’ Hedging your bets, though, you also steeled your emotions and your mind if she were to say ‘no.’ You had your bases covered either way, and you were finally ready to finally ask her out and get some dang resolution in your life.
You took the plunge, you pulled the trigger, you popped the question. There was no turning back after that.
And then…
And then she said ‘maybe.’
Oops! You prepared yourself for either heaven or hell, but you forgot about the possibility of getting stuck indefinitely between the two. Welcome to purgatory my friend…
Purgatory. Yup, that’s a pretty accurate description of how I’m feeling right now, less than two days past the 2020 Election, right in the middle of a clearer picture of the results starting to take shape.
Are we as a country on the verge of falling into the-bad-kind-of-Socialism?3You know, the-good-kind-of-Socialism might be an option too… Or are we on the precipice of plunging into the deep end of tribalism overseen by an authoritarian government? Whatever your darkest vision of the future of America may be, it seemed like it was on the ballot in this wonderful, wonderful year of 2020.
And maybe you’re like me, trying to figure out what my future with the Land of Lady Liberty looks like. Are you, too, wondering if you and America have compatible enough values to last for the long haul? You know “Is this somebody you can see yourself raising kids with?” and all.
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I had finally summoned the courage to ask those big questions of her, and I guess I had just assumed that she was ready to give a definitive answer.
Silly me!
Have I learned nothing from the experiences of my youth? Sometimes a person4Or a person-like entity in an analogy, as the case may be here. just needs time and space to make up their minds and figure out who they really are.
Oh, it’s not the answer I wanted at all. I desperately need to be able to move on with my life.
But, nooooooo. Instead of resolution, what the ----- do I get instead? At least 2-4 more years of suspense. Just super.
You may be surprised to learn that all I really wanted to do here was have a heartfelt conversation about the struggle of trying to be a functional human amidst all of this. I mean, I barely found the will to sit down and write about anything at all today, so I’m taking this as a victory.
If things aren’t easy for you in the middle of this superb-a-licious shit-show in which we all find ourselves, I just want you to know you’re not alone. I truly hope you’re handling it better than me, but if you’re not, that’s okay.
Go outside and get some fresh air. Hug your kids and/or pets. Meditate. Pray. Do the dishes. Finally put new strings on your classical guitar, despite how overly-complicated of a task they make it. Take a break from the world and (gasp!) do some work. Fold some laundry.
The important thing is that you keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward…and on down to the passport office. It’s not too late to find a more suitable soul mate–if you know what I mean.
Just sayin’…
Content created on: 5 November 2020 (Thursday)
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