Met a woman at the pet store today briefly

[Sydnie]

I went to a pet store with my room mate today to get a new kennel for her puppy. He was getting too big for his first one and I just couldn't stand to see him sleep overnight in that smaller crate any longer. The puppy helped by finally "busting out" through the mesh front yesterday. Being a puppy, he still chews everything, so he has to be crated when he is alone. So, off to the store we go.

We picked out the new kennel and took it to the register. while waiting for the cashier to ring up the kennel, I was just standing there minding my own business. I turned to my left and there was an older woman looking my way. I smiled and she smiled back. She stepped closer and asked me what the buttons on my jacket said. I showed her my buttons (1. End the war now, 2. bush lied thousands died, 3, Kerry Edwards (ok, I'm a die hard!), 4. Proud to be everything the right wing hates 5. a peace sign, 6. Kerry Traveler) and she quickly read them. She glanced at me with sad eyes, reminding me of the Indian in the litter PSA's of yesteryear, and said "Isn't it awful". I said that I agreed with her, it is awful what they are doing to our country. We both stood there for what seemed like an eternity as if observing a moment of silence for the state of our country. She then blew me away. She said, "You know, I'm 67 years old and I have always loved my country. I have never been ashamed to be an American before", she paused for a moment, then continued by saying, "but I am now. What they have done is so horrible, I just hope we can get our country back and soon". We chatted for a few minutes longer as my room mate finished paying for the kennel. We parted ways by telling each other to keep up the good fight both for her grandchildren and for my children's sake.

I would have stayed and talked more with her, but my room mate was in a hurry and she couldn't put the kennel in her son's truck all by herself. Needless to say, I left thinking that we have finally broken through a barrier that I wasn't sure we ever would again. We have begun to bring those people to the table who have never questioned the acts of their government before. And now that they are awake, they will not fall asleep so easily ... ever again. Let's hope that her encounter with me will get her speaking to her friends as she did with me today too. The more the better ... and soon.

It gave me hope.

[havocmom]

1. Thanks for telling your tale. It gives me hope too.

And hope is a very powerful fuel!

[PDJane]

2. and hope is what's needed.........

Along with education. Keep fighting the good fight. I will do my part.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. This is what we need

Went to the beginning of the Jasper AR protest-the usual folks there,but the difference was that none of the passers by had thumbs down, no angry shouts against us, no spitting. And several waves and thumbs up. A big change from 2003--sad that it has taken the country so long to wake up.

[Booster]

4. I'm 64 and from what you say about this lady, I'm betting she has

questioned her government before in the 60's, and if she didn't then I'm glad she is now. Something to remember about old people; Nixon was our Bush so most of can say "been there, done that". Thanks for posting this.

[Sydnie]

7. I've seen a few springs myself

;) I can remember JFK's assasination (I was in elementary school at the time) ... that should give you and idea of my age without my having to say it ... out loud. :rofl:

She might have questioned things in the 60's but she stated that she hadn't felt this way before. Her concern is for her grandchildren and the world that we will be leaving behind and the impact that we, as a nation, are having now that makes her fearful for their future.

Even in the 60's, we weren't hated all over the world as we are now.

[Booster]

13. JFK was assassinated on my 21st birthday. I have to say that

anyone as old as me would have to say, if they were totally honest and not stoned at the time,thaT they questioned our government when the National Guard opened fire on the Kent State students and on protesters all over the country. I first questioned our government during the civil rights movement because I was totally ashamed of what my government was doing to Americans who were just like me - I remember vividly saying "what the fuck is happening"? And what really bothers me is it's the same damn players who were in charge back then that are in charge now - coincidence? I don't think so - a master plan they have been working on for decades.

[MADem]

15. Jeeeeez, what a crappy circumstance THAT is. It's like having a

Nine Wun Wun birthday, or a Pearl Harbor birthday. And so totally out of your control, too.

It's always, 'Happy birthday and wasn't that a dreadful day...'

[Straight Shooter]

18. Hey, you want a crappy birthdate? I've got one. December 12.

How would you like to be reminded every birthday, starting with 2000, that the destruction of America began on what used to be (for me) a day of celebration? Waaaahhhh. :cry:

Now, if only he could be impeached on December 12, that would be so grand. :D

[MADem]

21. It sure would remove that stain, wouldn't it???

:evilgrin:

[Booster]

24. Yep. Really messed up my day in 1963 and ever since. If people

say Happy Birthday, I'm fine; but as soon as they say "hey, that's the same day as....." I lose it and some time during that day I will find a quiet spot and sob like I did in '63. It's become and always will be a sad day.

[karlrschneider]

23. You're about 8 months younger than I and totally agree.

One of the great historical ironies will be for a very long time is that a Republican president warned us about the very thing that most threatens us right now.

[Tess49]

8. I agree. I meet lots of older people (50 +) who are horrified by this

administration. I am in this rank age wise.

[NanceGreggs]

5. A great story, and beautifully told ...

With all of the nonsense we are subjected to by the MSM, it is THESE stories that give us all hope -- hope that people are waking up to the facts, and hope that there will be a better tomorrow as a result.

Thanks, Sydnie ... and K & R, natch!

:patriot:

[Cha]

6. Poignant story..thanks for

writing so we could share in your experience!

[DesertRat]

9. My parents are 76 and 75 and completely agree

And they tell me that their friends are as disgusted and fed up as they are.
In Sept. 2004 while visiting Yellowstone Park my Mom was wearing a Kerry/Edwards button on her jacket. A woman walked up to her, pointed at the button and said "You should be ashamed of yourself!!" before storming off. My non-confrontational Mom is now uncomfortable wearing buttons and they are afraid to put their "Impeach Bush" bumper sticker on the car. They have it in their kitchen window instead. :)

[babylonsister]

10. Wow! Thanks, Sydnie! What a shame we've come to this point,

but stories like yours give me hope.
:hug:

[donco6]

11. What a sweet story. THX. n/t

[bdamomma]

12. slowly people are opening their eyes, to what is really happening

sorry it took this long for people to realize what is going on with the country. Great story though.

[Hepburn]

14. I am a senior...

...and I live in a Seniors development. Have to be 55 to get in and I am just slightly over that ~~ well, maybe a bit more than slightly!!

I am one of the younger seniors here. Many of the people here are the age my parents would have been if they were alive. I talk with several in their 80s and they are totally disgusted by what is going on in our country right now. Lots of them are on the internet and I have told each and everyone of them about the DU. Most of them lurk on message boards and do not post...but they do read here. And I know this because they will discuss different things with me they have read on the DU.

One guy who turns 82 this month and is a retired math prof is just as bright and knowledgeable as he can be! What an amazing man...and liberal to the max. Up on the latest on Plame, Gonzo, the war, you name it. I tell ya, if that guy was 20 years younger, I would chase the heck out of him! Tall, handsome, courtly, sense of humor to the max and liberal as all get out!

One of the most liberal neighbors I have met is a retired minister who is pushing 80. He knows his politics and he is just about as liberal as they come. So is his whole family ~~ wife, kids, everyone. We have talked about this ~~ and Bush pretty much pushed all of them over the edge.

It is just amazing how many liberal seniors there are around. While there are some conservative seniors, they sure are in the minority where I live. Sit around after a Homeowners meeting and the chat usually turns to politics. When I first moved here, I was rather quiet about politics because I am compared to most, very liberal, and I figured my neighbors would be conservative because of the age and that this is a rather pricey place so a lot of people would be into the Republican money thingy. Boy, was I wrong!

And the guy across the street ~~ lol ~~ a war protester and skate board champ from the 60s!! Pig tails and a new VW turbo ... with a freaking peace symbol on the back bumper!

Yes, there is life ~~ and liberal politics ~~ after 55!

[MADem]

16. The Republicans sure as hell aren't going to protect medicare or social security.

It's only sanity to be liberal the older you get.

[Hepburn]

17. Amen to that, MAD...

...frankly, I don't think they give a damn about seniors. There are all sorts of issues ~~ like you said, medicare and Social Security ~~ health care for disabled seniors that need rest home care or assisted living help, that most certainly is NOT on the conservative menu.

Frankly, the Pubbies ONLY care about corporations and money. PERIOD. Oh, yeah...and that freaking immoral war. No...there is NO such thing as a compassionate conservative.

JMHO

[MADem]

20. The disability issue is a biggie. Not just for the octogenarian set, either

but for the poor old bastards twenty or so years behind them--their KIDS--who are faced with horrible choices, like "Force Paw to sell the home he loves, because he's gotta spend it all to get any help with his medical issues" or "To hell with your own kids, you and they will have to take turns being pisspoor nurses for old Paw because there's no spare cash for a pro" to "Let's make EVERYONE miserable and move Paw out of his beloved, memory-filled house and into the home of the next generation! Oh, and shuffle the poor bastard around from place to place, that'll make him feel real good about himself!!!!"

I live in a state where we have a few "geezer benefits." One of them is the circuit breaker tax, where total real estate taxes can't exceed a set portion of income before tax relief sets in. There are actually a few bastards in this state who wanted to dump the tax, so that the geezers will be forced to sell their homes to taxpayers who will pay the full load...like all those years of taxpaying have no value (and the seniors don't have ten kids in school, either). Mitt the Shitt Romney actually found a way to raise the bar there for a year or two so that many seniors didn't qualify (he made it so you had to live in a dump--even if you bought your house for twenty grand fifty years prior, if it was valued over 480K or so, which many houses are, you were screwed).

I think they're all un-compassionate baaaaastids, myself!!!!!

[pretzel4gore]

19. elderly people who are liberals...

truly, they come off like the hippest teenager w/out all the easy fluidity! gore vidal, tommy smothers, jane fonda, ed asner, lauren bacall, senator mcgovern, louis lapham, kurt vonnegut are just a few easily recognised examples! the old adage about 'if you aint liberal at 25, you're heartless, and if you aren't conservative at 70 you're a fool' isn't true, not anymore, not after what went down in the 20th century.

[roguevalley]

22. I'm a senior too. My dad was 100+% against all this stuff when he died

at 79. He was my hero and so are everyone who speak out.

[SammyWinstonJack]

25. I have three dogs. Have had two of them since they were 7 weeks old. Never crated them.

My Yorkie girl came to me when she was 5 months old. Had been crated since she was six weeks old. When she came to live with me, no more crates! I let them have free reign! My Yorkie pup, male is now 8 months. He chews, I give him alternative chew toys. We work it out. When I take my dogs too be groomed, I pay extra for them not too be put into a cage,while awaiting too be groomed. They are my "babies" and I treat them as such! Not your point, I know, but I had to add this.

[MLFerrell]

26. "I have always loved my country. I have never been ashamed to be an American before"

I know how she feels, though I've only been around for a fraction of the time that she has.

"I just hope we can get our country back and soon"

This is how the majority of Americans now feel. They know that we've been bamboozled. Except for that ever-present 20%-30%, of course. One of two things is going to happen this foul year of our Lord, 2007: either * and the gang will be ousted, or * will start a war with Iran, and likely WWIII in the process.

The Chinese have a curse: May you live in interesting times. I never understood that until recently, what with it sounding so pleasant and all. But I must say, the most interesting' times are far and away not the times within which one should want to exist.