The Age Old Debate

It's interesting that the nomination of Sarah Palin as a vice presidential candidate has reignited the debate about whether women can have it all: marriage, career, family. Of course I have an opinion but in the interest of full disclosure:

I have never run for public office.
I have never sought power, only a decent living and recognition for work well done.
I have never had a pregnant teenage daughter.
I have never had a "special needs" child. (I hate this term. Show me the child that doesn't have special needs.)
I have never put my career ahead of my family but maybe I should have.
I have never said goodbye to a child headed off to serve our country in a foreign land.
I don't own a gun and I've never shot a moose.

I have almost zero in common with Sarah Palin. It doesn't stop me from studying her. And as a feminist, I admire lots of women, on both sides of the political arena, who choose to serve in government positions. It looks dreadful to me.

We had an interesting debate the other night. A group of people, fresh from seeing our friend sworn into a federal judgeship, talking about the election and the candidates. It got a little animated.

Vice presidents serve in different ways. Some are confidants and trusted advisers. Others are sent to state funerals and marking time in case the president dies.

The debate rages on. I think some women do have it all but they have a strong support network and we never cover the sacrifices they have made.

Frankly, the little I know about Sarah Palin's life exhausts me. But I'm watching.

Show Your ID

I keep reading about these parties where teenagers steal medication and put it all in bowl, like M&Ms. Pretty scary stuff.

These same children can go between WalMart and the hardware store and buy all the ingredients to start a meth lab or make a bomb. They can go to a gun show and buy a gun or a knife with no background check.

Meanwhile, I have to show my driver's licence and sign my name to buy simple sinus medication.

A Deer in the Headlights

This phrase is a pretty accurate description of many people in a panic situation, myself included. Others, like the husband, go into action mode.

After I left my job in the jewelry stand, I moved on to a great job in a drugstore. Sometimes I worked as a cashier but my favorite part was working in the pharmacy. They sent me to classes to become a Pharmacy Tech. (I've never really understood what that means.) We had a very cranky pharmacist but for whatever reason, he liked working with me. I just liked wearing the white coat.

Our drugstore was connected to a grocery store which is not uncommon. The pharmacist discovered that someone was stealing narcotics. I would suspect the oldies but they didn't know me at the time. (I'm kidding!) So, an undercover cop appeared on the scene. As a trained professional, he figured out what was happening -- someone was crawling through the ducts between the grocery store and the drugstore, dropping down and stealing drugs. They (cops) set up a sting operation. I had no clue.

One day I was running to the front of the store to get cash and the criminal was meandering through the store. Undercover cop spotted him and began chasing him through the aisles.

Here's what I remember: Gun drawn by policeman. Yelling to "Get down!" Something registered in my brain that I was between the two of them and one of them was waving a gun. I froze.

After the criminal was apprehended, the undercover cop came up to me and said, "Sheri, I was trying to tell you to get out of the way."

I have tremendous admiration for people who can react appropriately in a scary situation. I am not one of them but someday I plan to join the club.

I Have a Bullet Too

During The Andy Griffith Show, Barney Fife was a buffoon. He was allowed to carry a bullet, but only in his pocket. Every time he broke the rule he ended up shooting the floor or the ceiling. Even though I am anti-guns, I laugh out loud at these escapades.

I come from a long line of hunters and gatherers. My aunt went (or tried to go) through airport security with bullets in her pocket. Hello federal officers!

My cousin sent me some photos today from his recent trip to Africa. He's a big hunter and an adventure hound. I'm impressed with the pictures but I don't think this is something I will ever experience.

Houseboy and I have an ongoing debate about the right to bear arms, whether you're safer or not with a gun in the home, whether hunting is a sport or a cruel activity.

He made me laugh today. He brought me a bullet. I don't have a gun so I'm going to put it in my pocket. If anyone annoys me, I won't shoot them. I'll just launch the bullet toward them.