Another parking lot encounter

[madamesilverspurs]

Living in a red town brings its challenges. Like Sunday afternoon, in the grocery store parking lot. I was getting out of my minivan, it takes a minute or two what with the cane and the oxygen stuff. Anyway, as I stood up I noticed a guy standing there watching. A big guy. As in burly. He had his arms crossed as he glowered at me from under the bill of his red baseball cap. I was somewhat relieved that the cap had a team logo on it instead of, you know. He nodded toward my bumper stickers and said, “I take it you didn’t vote for Trump.” Ulp.

Locking the car door and picking up my oxygen, I decided to take a non-confrontational route. “What gave me away?” I smiled. He smiled back and shook his head. “I don’t know how to explain all this to my kids,” he said. “I’ve worked hard my whole life to give them a good world. I just don’t know what to do any more.”

“Well, I’m not giving up just yet,” I said. “Midterms are coming up, there are lots of good people running.” He nodded, then pointed at my stickers and said I had a lot of guts to show them around here. I showed him where the car had been keyed in response to those stickers, and told him that it just compelled me to add more.

“These people are just rotten,” he said. He went on to say, “My son is in high school. We were watching the news this morning, and I looked at him and told him that I’m so sorry, that I wanted better for him.”

I was going to urge him not to give up, but he held his hand up, shook his head with a sad smile, got in his pickup and drove away.

At least he knows that, in his town, there are some Democrats not giving up. Time to get some more bumper stickers.


.

[peabody]

1. We have hope and resistance.

Cool story too; thanks for sharing.

[dalton99a]

2. Kick

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. What a great stoey. Thank you for sharing....

Even down in red Texas, we had no one harass us for still having our Clinton/Kaine bumper sticker .

But in Oklahoma, we got flicked off a lot. What were they driving? FOREIGN made cars. We drive a UAW American made 2014 Chevy Cruze.

[kimbutgar]

4. Gives me hope they are more good people than those fooled by rethugs and twitler.

Thank you for sharing your story.

[C Moon]

5. No. That's not a lump in my throat, I'm just...okay, it is a lump in my throat.

Great story, madamesilverspurs!

[Cha]

6. What a poignant story, madame..

You told it so well.. such a great writer!

[Demovictory9]

7. start of story had me scared for you. Glad it turned out well

[appalachiablue]

8. Really uplifting story, thanks. At first I figured he was a Trump supporter

ready to give you a hard time! So glad it went well. I share his concerns about the mess we're in and the future for kids.

Good on your for your car signs and optimism.

[Honeycombe8]

9. You are brave. I don't dare.

I can't afford a keyed car or other damage. I don't want mean looks, either. I know what I know, and I'll vote accordingly. I know there are others around.

I feel like we're walking around in that movie The Body Snatchers. Where real people have been taken over by aliens, and we, the real real people, are waiting to be found out, with the aliens pointing at us and letting out a shrill scream.

[No Vested Interest]

10. You handled that beautifully. nt

[StarryNite]

11. Thank you for sharing your bittersweet story.

You are absolutely right, we cannot give up! There is far too much at stake and we Democrats are not quitters!

[Hulk]

12. It's a pretty turbulent time out there...

We came up to Washington state nearly nine years ago from Mexico. I grew up in Portland, Oregon for 52 years. We're heading south to central Mexico at the end of June. Just can't afford to live here anymore on my half a teacher's pension, SSI and VA disability. It's a shame, but if you don't own a home, have a decent job, or both, you are being priced out of the area. I grew up here, and I've had a great life here, but it's changed now.

Used to be 95% Oregonians and Washingtonians with new people moving in each year...and now it's about 60% natives, with mostly young folks from all over the country and the world moving in...CA, the Midwest, the East Coast, etc. They "love the friendliness and laid back society out here", but the problem is, they aren't part of that society. They're coming with their lifestyle of fast past, rudeness and other negative characteristics that are souring the PNW. I don't mean to sound ugly and sour, but it's not my home anymore. The HUGE apartment structures are going up all over the inner city, and even in the burbs to a lesser extent. The roads are crumbling and awful, and the highways are congested and move at a snail's pace nearly all day long now. Infrastructure is 1960's...with three times the people using it. The little neighborhoods where I grew up are all yuppie restaurants, clubs and magnets for night life. It's really sad. New arrivals love it....we old timers are bummed and being pushed out.

With all that said, I've considered moving to a red state to help balance out the progressive vote a bit, but I just can't bring myself to do that. A tip of my hat to those of you living in those parts of the country where you are the minority, and you are fighting the good fight. I'm just too old and tired to start over again, and I'm too picky about not living near humidity.

So....heading south to Mexico to join the easy life and enjoy the sunshine...the slow life. I can live on $3000 a month pretty well down there. Up here, I'm cutting corners best I can, driving for Uber and Lyft, and I'm still digging into my dwindling 401K. I'll miss Oregon/Washington, but it's not the same anymore.... those days are gone. The weather sucks in the winter - always has - unless you like gray, wet and cold weather most of the time from late October to May. The summers are beautiful. The country is green and lush, but the BMW and Mercedes crowd is taking over. I'll take my memories and get out of town before I get too much more sour. It's been fun...but it's time to move on. Don't want to get anymore negative than I already am.

Nice job of interacting with the threatening neighbors where you live. It's not easy. I had several neighbors here that are dRumpf supporters...yet they complain about his hypocrisy and corruption...but then listen to Limpballs and fox nonsense all day long too. I just don't get it. I feel bad for my kids and grandkids that are staying behind. I know it will get better...but it's just too bad they have to live through this stench of an administration. We've survived worse. We'll make it. It's just it's going to open some scars that are going to take a generation to heal from.

Moving on down the line. Good luck to you.

[lunatica]

13. As an American who grew up in Mexico and South America

I can tell you that you will love living there. There are plenty of expats everywhere so you’ll feel at ease and Mexicans are friendly as part of their cultural upbringing.

But just like Washington and Oregon have been hurt by outsiders going there, I hope you are cognizant of foreigners doing the same when they become expats. Respect for your host country will pay off in ways you never expected. Good luck!

The best way to keep from being the ugly American is to say you love their country and their culture.

[oasis]

14. Great story. People are finally waking up. nt

[liberalnarb]

15. Cool. What stickers do you have on there?

[BadGimp]

16. Trump supporters must have both of what that man has...

A true sense of empathy for enough people being affected by Trumpisim, and a growing sense of acceptance of what is actually happening and the effect it is and will continue to happen to people he cares about.

thanks for sharing!

[Stuart G]

17. Thank You for sharing

[sheshe2]

18. Thank you for sharing, madame.

I am still hoping as well.

[mcar]

19. A great story!

Thanks for sharing it.

[calimary]

20. Thanks so much for sharing this story, madamesilverspurs!

Here’s hoping there’s a growing sense of unease among possible soon-to-be-EX-trump supporters - that THIS, now, is NOT what they voted for. They thought they were voting for real genuine tangible change. And all they got was this lousy lying petty vindictive CONman.

I imagine there will be some uncomfortable truths (and inconvenient ones, too!) that start to dawn on more voters who respond the way this fellow did. When you have to explain it to your kids. When you let your inner grown-up assert itself, and you understand that integrity matters, this realization can sober you up in a heartbeat. That’s THE test of tests: when you have to try to explain it to your kids.

[warmfeet]

21. Wonderful.

[FakeNoose]

22. I grew up in the Midwest, in a mostly-Republican family

I can remember when being a Republican meant something: you were polite, patriotic, and proud of your community. Sadly all of that has changed and it hasn't been sudden. I remained independent for many years because I believed that sooner or later the Republicans might have a candidate like Ike Eisenhower and I would want to vote for him/her.

Well I never did vote for a Republican - ever - because they've never had one. I finally joined the Democratic Party in 2008 because I wanted to vote for Hillary in the primary. I found Obama's campaign motto "Yes We Can" inspiring, just as his 8 years of leadership were inspiring. We can never give up hope, even though things look hard right now. Things are going to get better.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

23. K&R. Thanks for sharing that story - you gave us a lift! n/t

....... ........

[BobTheSubgenius]

24. What a bittersweet story.

It's gotten to the point where we need to apologize to our children for leaving them the world we're leaving them.

That is a VERY tragic state of affairs.