It happened really fast and with no warning. We had agreed to meet at her house this morning, as we did yesterday morning, and too many other mornings to count. We share an affinity for antiques and have spent many many hours perusing Ebay listings, thrift stores, antique shops and any garage sale within a 50 mile radius; me planning to buy low and sell high, while she looked for that special something to complement her decor.
As it turns out, that was perhaps the only thing we have in common...
I lost my friend today.
Some Background:
I'm late 30's, male, from the East coast, and slowly coming out of the neocon induced coma I've been in for the last 8 years. Just your average gay but totally straight acting guy, with a penchant for violence and a sunny disposition.
I'm in a long term relationship,I live paycheck to paycheck, have some college, a little savings, a couple cats, a dog, and a lot of people I call friends. Minus one.
She is late 40's, has 2 passports, benefits from McCain's tax plan, and is married with children. You could play basketball in her foyer, and if you earned what she and her husband pay in insurance on their belongings, you would qualify for a McCain tax break yourself.
We have been a perfect couple for the last 10 years. That all ended in about 5 minutes this morning.
The day started as it normally does. She had her coffee. I had what was left of my Sprite from Mickey Dee's drive thru. The maid was cleaning. The nanny was doing her laundry while the kids were at school. Another perfect day on the gated estate.
The difference today?
I had my little sticker declaring the status of my vote, and she had one of her own.
It didn't take long for the conversation to turn to politics, and when it did, I'm sorry to say it got ugly fast. I didn't start it, as I've made it a point to never discuss matters more important than who wore what on the runway, knowing how it would end. We got close last Thanksgiving, but my partner had one too many martinis and our evening was preempted. So went the developing discussion on George W. Bush.
It hasn't come up since, and I wasn't about to today. I'm in too good of a mood.
My friend, however, has quite a bit of anger, and it's all because of that Socialist who's getting ready to give all the rich people's money, to the poor and off-white dregs of society.
She let me have it with both barrels, and didn't stop reloading until the entire list of freeperville talking points had been exhausted. I got Jeremiah Wright blind hatred, racism blind hatred, poor people blind hatred, uninsured blind hatred, you name the issue; I got blind hatred.
Delivered with, you guessed it, blind hatred!
What is it with these people that they can't have a civil discussion? No matter that you present them with facts, they have made up their minds and no amount of truth can be permitted.
Nothing is worse than a liberal and everything is Bill Clinton's fault.
I was called ignorant, scoffed at, and made more than a little uncomfortable; as her tirade against people with little money and no health insurance cut very close to home.
To fill in a little more background on our relationship, though I have little money, I have never asked her or her husband for one cent. I've watched as they have been taken advantage of by others, their peers I guess, but have made it a point to like them for who they are and never appear that their money had anything to do with our relationship. I'd be lying if I said I was never envious. You would be too, believe me.
Need minor roof repairs at Christmas time? Rent Bungalow 1 at the Beverly Hills Hotel and have everyone come there, so they don't see the tarp. The hotel staff will decorate for you and it will only set you back $80,000 for the week.
I never asked them to pay my rent, like Mr. and Mrs. X did. More than once.
I never got them to invest half a million dollars in a restaurant in Vegas, and spent the money taking strippers to Amsterdam to smoke pot, while I used the bulk to pay my tax debt, like Mr. N did.
I never asked them for anything.
I certainly never asked to be accosted at 10 o'clock this morning, and informed that I'm the problem with this country because I voted for Barack Obama.
Before you think that I let all of this go unanswered, look again at my nick, and understand why I chose to post with that moniker. What it actually means.
I'm very serious when it comes to where we are today.
Today is another date which will have significance for many years to come, and I'm thankful to witness it and participate in it.
I have hope again, and whatever ideas were going through my head as I typed 19April1775, I'm starting to believe they may not be necessary.
That's a good thing.
I will do anything to avoid conflict. I really want the poetic words of Rodney King to be heeded, and everyone to please, Please! just get along. I know that isn't going to happen, but I'm an optimist.
If cornered however, like I was this morning, like just about anybody in the same situation, I'm not a very nice person. If carefully thought out debate, delivered in a calm manner and backed by the truth, has no effect besides an increase of the venom spat my way, I reach a point where I no longer feel obligated to play nice. That point was reached this morning. I never raised my voice, but let me tell you, I cut deep.
A clean break.
I don't feel bad about it. I have no regrets.
I lost my friend today and I honestly couldn't care less.