I NEEDED THIS!!!!!

We moved to Texas in 1979 as two young, newly married people. We never regretted that move and even though we later moved to Florida to be near Debbie's aging parents, we never lost that special fire that burns in the hearts of Texans! We arrived in both Texas and Florida, as young Republicans, active in local politics and wary of those "Liberals"!

However, as time passed and the reality of the vision we shared about America crystalized in our hearts, we found that the Democratic party best represented our beliefs and values better than that of the Republicans. My family has voted Republican since at least Abraham Lincoln, if not since 1850. The blurring of memory due to time, has lost many of my family's history and politics, so exactly  WHY we voted this way, I cannot answer, except to quote my Mother: "We have always been Republican."

Living in Texas, has made NOT being Republican...... difficult! We eventually moved back here, to the desert of far west Texas, an area we fell in love with in the 1980's.. This area attracts odd people and we are two of them.

"Libertarians" seem to be everywhere, though very few understand the definition and most are just Conservatives who don't want to pay taxes and don't want to see any Government employee unless it is a cop answering one of their strange complaints against a neighbor!

Far too many own guns, lots of them, particularly assault rifles. Texas recently passed an "open carry" law and many now pack pistols as if they were a gunslinger in a "spaghetti western". Many go too far. I have a friend who won't go anywhere that he cannot wear his pistol! We have a "drive-in window" at the local liquor store so that those who refuse to remove their guns, can still buy booze, as Texas laws prohibit bringing a firearm into anywhere alcohol is sold!

Too many guns, too much gun culture, climate change denying, extreme evangelical religion, bigotry, LBGT hate, anti-choice sentiment and finally, Donald Trump, all had me becoming cynical, even angry...... then as I have done since 1964, I watched the Republican Convention last week!

After a convention where little went as planned and everyone was angry, particularly the nominee, the balloons did not drop on cue, leaving Trump pointing at the ceiling, showing his young son where the balloons were. The scene made me think Inspector Gordon had just lit the "Bat Signal" and was showing a young boy the only light in Gotham City. I expected to see the Joker standing in the shadows.

The Democratic Convention started no better, with the "WIKI-LEAKS" release of stolen e-mails from Democratic Party insiders. But then there was Michelle! Speaker after speaker lifted us all up and the only thing trying to bring us down, was the few, healthy protest chants from disgruntled Sanders zealots. Even these faded when Bernie himself endorsed Hillary in a selfless act of solidarity! I thought no one could deliver a better speech than Michelle Obama, I was wrong! Joe Biden and Barack Obama, each in their own style, hit "home runs". Michael Bloomberg, a REAL, documented billionaire who could match Trump's imaginary billions 3 to 1 with REAL ones, spoke as the true wealthy do, not of themselves and how wealthy they are, but about the reason he was speaking there as an Independent. Clearly, succinctly and with no nonsense, he explained how and why Donald Trump should never see the White House, let alone be allowed inside!

The next day Trump invited Russia to hack American e-mail computers. Tonight, the parade of unapologetic American heroes began to speak. Gun violence survivors, families of slain police officers, disabled, even a transgender woman! The evening ended with Hillary Clinton speaking and accepting the Party nomination. So familiar with Hillary are we all, that the significance of the moment the first woman ever nominated by a major political party was lost. Hillary is the best candidate for these times, period. Her gender is an afterthought!

I have to admit that when one lives 63 years, fatigue is ever-present! I have good days and bad days and am disappointed most days that I no longer have the energy I once did. Living among what are essentially "Tea Party Conservatives" wearing guns, "home schooling" so that their children's minds are not corrupted by "science", calling 97% of the world's scientists liars over climate change, trying to legislate their religious views about abortion, which is NONE of any man's business and fearful that "the government" will knock on their doors any day to take their guns, had me exhausted, wanting to sell out and move back to where sanity reigns, even among the "non-college-educated white men"!

But Michelle, Michael, Joe, Barack, Tim, Hillary and a stream of everyday Americans, showed me that I was not alone, though I may be in this area. They showed me that my positions on those things that matter to US, are shared by a majority of good, decent Americans and that those who do NOT share these positions, themselves are good, decent Americans who share more in common with me, than they do not.

The Democratic convention caused me to think hard and solidify my position on gun MANAGEMENT in America and that position bears no resemblance to a "spaghetti western", nor would it allow someone less intelligent that spaghetti, one who is unstable, or a threat to everyday Americans, to own a gun and NO ONE to be able to buy assault weapons any longer.

The convention also showed me that we remain a non-partisan, "shining city on a hill" that by welcoming all, betters all and that no one person alone, can fix all our problems, no matter how convincingly they claim they can!

Thanks Democrats! I needed that!