The political climate #MFRWauthor

DisagreementsNo one who lives in the U.S. can be unaware of our current toxic political climate. It’s gotten to the point where people can be attacked for the hat they wear, or an argument can occur between strangers over a candidate’s plan for health care. Know what it is? It’s ridiculous, is what it is. When did we stop being a country where people could disagree without fear of fistfights? When did people stop mattering less than being “right?”

I admit, I’ve gotten to the age where I don’t care as much what other folks think of me. But even I wouldn’t go outside the house wearing a red ballcap—even if it was just a red ball cap and carried no message. Discuss politics? I wouldn’t mention it to a stranger. In the past, politics might bring on a few sneers or a dismissal, or a spirited discussion. Today, a disagreement over our government can land you in the hospital.

However…when it comes to family, I share my thoughts.

My parents were always a little more conservative than my grandparents. American politicsMom and Dad usually voted for the candidate who supported the military more. My grandmother was a die-hard Democrat, a union steward in the plant where she worked, and had strong opinions she would voice anywhere about who should be running things. Contrary to most of my contemporaries who grew up during the Vietnam War, I leaned more toward my parents’ views than the revolutionaries’. Now, my mom leans more toward her mother—less conservative and more progressive. Do we battle it out during phone calls? Yes. Do we still love each other? YES! We’re family and we love each other despite any comments about the elections.

I wish everyone were more that way. Share your opinions, go home as friends. As it is, I discuss politics with my family, but not with friends. I value my friendships much more than I value making a point over something I have little control over anyway.

Read the next blog in the blog hop by going here.

Dee
Burning Bridges by Anne Krist: old letters put the lie to Sara’s life. Now, mending her past mistakes while crossing burning bridges will be the hardest thing she’s ever done.

One Woman Only
Only a Good Man Will Do
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Corn Pudding—It’s Not Just for Native Americans Anymore #MFRWauthor

Well, this particular corn pudding wasn’t really for Native Americans ever, but we’re part Sioux and my mom developed the recipe, so for all I know, some nice Sioux woman from South Dakota passed on her recipe to Mom. Also, I’m from Iowa, so a corn recipe is only natural, with or without ourCorn heritage. At any rate, this is not a difficult recipe but for some reason, we only had it for holidays and other special dates like birthdays throughout my years of living at home.

True story. After twenty-eight years of marriage my dad came home one day and as part of the whole “I’d like a divorce” speech, he announced that he never liked my mom’s corn pudding. Say what? Some men have no taste. I’ve always thought it was delicious and have made it myself, again as part of special family and holiday meals. Everyone I know loves it, too. But if it turns out you don’t, I wouldn’t suggest waiting twenty-eight years to let it be known. 😉

So here’s the recipe:

2 14-oz cans of cream corn
1 cup whole kernel corn (Mom didn’t add this. I use frozen, whole kernel)
1 Tbl melted butter
1 cup milk
14-16 crushed Saltine crackers
2 eggs, beaten

Mix well. Pour into a greased casserole dish and bake for about an hour, checking for doneness with a toothpick and making sure it comes out clean. The corn should be lightly brown on top.

 

ThanksgivingI hope you love this dish! It’s got childhood written all over it, though it’s my childhood, not yours. Maybe you’ll want to adopt it, though.

Read the next blog in the blog hop by going here.

Dee
Only a Good Man Will Do: Seriously ambitious man seeks woman to encourage his goals, support his (hopeful) position as Headmaster of Westover Academy, and be purer than Caesar’s wife. Good luck with that!

Naval Maneuvers: When a woman requires an earth-shattering crush of pleasure to carry her away, she can’t do better than to call on the US Navy. Sorry, Marines!