re: vulnerable nephew...OT

[Guest guest]

" Liberal has become almost a dirty word in the US it seems to me

after watching your Presidential election campaign. Here to be a

liberal is to be decent, caring, tolerant and fair. It could never

be used as an accusation or insult. Rather, no one would like to be

accused of not being liberal enough. "

Whew- that't the truth. I always like hearing about what others

across the pond think of us Americans. Most of my friends had

periods of depression following the previous election day! We are a

split nation- it will be interesting to see how the next 4 years

affect our history. I was rather amazed to hear that Farenheit 9/11

won the People's Choice Award the other day- that was a ray of

sunshine, lol! I frequently read May's online journal to get a

British perspective.

I am also humored by the view of travel/distance to you in Europe.

You would be rather amazed to know that I drive an average of one

hour each day, one way to work. One of the schools I visit is 2 1/2

hours away from my home, one way. It's on an Indian Reservation. I

am the exception to the rule, though- none of my other friends drive

that much...except for a friend who is in sales- he drives about

30,000 miles every 6 months. At least my drives are through the

beautiful countryside and not stuck in traffic, bumper to bumper. I

have friends whose commutes are like that- ugh!

I understand your trepidation in reporting your sexuality. I still

think there is a lot of fear about sexuality issues. It is just like

racial issues. Really, people all deserve to be treated with

respect. That is a pet peeve of mine when people are homophobic. My

Nada is somewhat like your's in that when it suits her she likes to

flaunt that her son is black (we adopted him, we are white)- just to

shock her conservative midwestern childhood friends, or even other

black people that she meets. Drives me nuts. Ick.

Don't worry about your lifestyle rubbing off on your nephews. It's

not likely, no matter what Nada says, and who cares if it does. LOL,

my Nada thinks that all Englishmen are bisexual, because, don't you

know they are all fooling around in their boarding schools! That is

one of her views, not mine! I often wonder how she knows this as she

has never been to the UK. or to an all male boarding school!

Di.

[Guest guest]

" My Nada is somewhat like your's in that when it suits her she likes

to flaunt that her son is black (we adopted him, we are white)- just

to shock her conservative midwestern childhood friends, or even other

black people that she meets. Drives me nuts. Ick. "

Eewwww, was that a Fruedian slip, or what? I meant to say: " she

likes to flaunt that her GRANDSON is black. "

Sorry about the confusion. I know that like Theresa's Nada, mine

sometmies crosses the line on who the parent really is! Not anymore-

I am empowered with knowledge, as Edith would say!

Di.