In what passes for political analysis on the SDGOP spin blog, Pat Powers says a six-year-old Tweet from my friend and independent District 7 House candidate Cory Ann Ellis expressing insufficient interest in college football disqualifies her from Legislative service.
My respect for smart women from Brookings compels me to muse on Pat’s narrow-minded approach to relationships.
I once was interacting with an attractive young female. On our first unchaperoned outing, I invited this young woman on a topless Jeep ride.
No, I was not stupid or coarse enough to phrase it that way. I had a red Jeep. It was August, I had the canvas top down and the doors off. I invited her to travel, fully clothed, in my awesome Jeep, with the awesome Jeep’s top down. I considered this mode of travel only 2% less thrilling than riding my bikes around Lake County.
The young woman showed no sign of sharing my enthusiasm for Jeeping. The wind, the dust, the noise—not her style.
I found her lack of shared interest not just incomprehensible but deal-breaking. We still went on to enjoy a perfectly enjoyable afternoon of steam tractors, lemonade, and intellectual discourse (she was a Brookings gal, and Brookings tends to produce lots of smart women), but I remember very distinctly thinking, Well, don’t have to worry about marrying this gal.
Eight months later, we were married. Ten years later, I traded the Jeep for my Bug (doors don’t come off, but it has a sunroof). Seventeen years later, her ring remains on my finger, and mine on hers.
My point—beyond enjoying my immense good fortune—is to note that we don’t all have to like all of each others hobbies and diversions in order to form relationships that matter. We don’t all have to cheer the football team, or pepper the countryside with buckshot on pheasant opener, or buy season tickets to the opera, or like Jeeping or bicycling to find common ground, work together, and get things done.
Don’t freak out when someone expresses a lack of interest in your favorite diversion. You might miss out on a really good relationship that’s bigger, better, and more productive than any single hobby or prized possession.
Great story. Pat is one of those people who excell in banality. He assumes we all should share his particular interests.
He’d better find some pearls to clutch when he realizes how much I’ve liked live-tweeting weekend candidate forums.
I have always wanted a Jeep Wrangler. Make mine a 2-door as well. With manual transmission.
On a day with so much good news for the taking
I sit in silence my olde damaged heart breaking
and long for the days of wild and free
just some nice cold beer, music, Herbie and me.
Herbie was a ’40 Chevy Special Deluxe business coupe with 2 bucket seats, a Muncie 4 speed hooked up to a reworked small block power plant. The 8 track tape had a headphone jack so I could crank up the volume without disturbing the public when out cruising. Single passenger was optional. Herbie was a jealous girl.
Good one, Mike. :)
All them nights just cruizing ’round, headphones on, music cranked and shades until the sun is down
The open road lies dead ahead steady speed and plenty gas
to get me there and back again fast not so fast to get a fine
and sober enough to toe the line……… should the need arise.
only stop to take a whiz back into the seat relaunch the ship
as Herbie flees deeper into the dark, no woman along no need to embark in a rassling match to win her favor for a passionate fling too drunk to savor
The end.
Eight-track, with headphones—fun!
Ror, I’m with you on stick! The jeep was automatic, but my Bug is stick. Love it.
ACB, keep those live-tweets coming! Show no mercy!
Wonderful Mike. I can see you now!
Some of my best friends and favorite dates have been with people very different from me. Once upon a time my cousin set me up with a young man who loved cars, as my family did. Brian was nice enough, but cars were his first love, and second love, and third love . . . . .