Chips Ahoy!

Donna and I married on the 2nd of December, 1965 — 59 years ago this day. We were hitched in a German civil ceremony at the courthouse in Wiesbaden, Germany, where this photo was taken. We were teenagers, and facing an uncertain future. Somehow things worked out and here we are today, wondering how we’re going to celebrate the big day.

Going out to dinner for sure, probably to a chain steakhouse because we both feel like steak and being regular folks, Texas Roadhouse is plenty good enough for us.

We were going to drive to Palm Springs for a couple of days, but for various reasons the trip fell apart and we’ll be staying home instead. Maybe we’ll be able to go later in the month; it’ll depend on whether we can find a boarding solution for our dogs.

For our 60th, just a year from now (which year, at our age, will go by in a flash), we hope to take a major road trip, all the way across the bottom to Florida, up to Maine, then back through the middle to Tucson. It’ll be a grand adventure if we can get it together and pull it off.

I meant to post this earlier but didn’t get to it and now it’s mid-afternoon. Turns out our anniversary celebration included a visit to the county animal shelter, where they’re microchipping dogs for free. Mister B already had one but Lulu and Fritzi didn’t, so we took them across town to the shelter. We didn’t need any paperwork or shot records, so if you’re in the Tucson area and have an unchipped dog, you should take advantage of this. I believe Pima Animal Care Center’s free microchipping program runs to the 5th of January.

We adopted Lulu and Fritzi from a couple who were fostering them for PACC, and it was obvious they knew where they were, even though new buildings have replaced the old. Excitement turned quickly into somber introspection, silence, and demands to be held. When it was their turn the microchip lady had to drag them into the chipping room.

But hey, it’s all over now, we’re home, and everybody got treats. Now to register their chips online, then call the restaurant to get on a waiting list for dinner tonight.

Switching gears now.

Those of you who voted for Trump want the rest of us to believe it was about politics. You liked his and disliked hers. You say those of us who voted for Harris are being unduly intolerant, that we should all be friends again and move on. That there’s no big difference between Trump and Harris voters, after all — it’s just politics.

But it isn’t just politics. It’s values. Core values, the ones we were taught as children by parents, teachers, and religious leaders. The values woven into the fabric of civilized society. Honesty, fairness, respect for others, taking responsibility, standing up for the little guy, compassion for those in need, service, working together, self-sacrifice, forgiveness, loyalty, trustworthiness.

Trump — in life, in business, and in public office — has embodied the exact opposite of every value just listed. And on top of that he’s a racist, an adulterer, a cheat, a sexual predator and rapist, and most likely a traitor to his nation.

You knew all that about him and voted for him anyway. We now know what you really think of the values you say you hold dear. How can we be friends?