I appreciate the insight and time you have taken to respond. Also your understanding. I have a really difficult time processing the situation. It does feel very cult like and matter of fact. I don’t understand how someone that seems so good can know something so bad is going on, who is so obviously able to recognize the bad in other related areas, and blindly vehemently support them unquestionably. He’s intelligent and successful…yet so lost, the most caring and compassionate person I know; it can’t be ok.
He is evangelical Christian yes. I don’t have much exposure to religion. I have gone to his church a couple times when he has asked me to in the decade or so we’ve been friends. I’m in my forties. I’ve never felt pressured but I also keep my religion or lack of to myself. I just never really understood the position on Israel and it really stuck out to me. Even though he will freely admit how crazy and hateful things are out of the MAGA crowd, I get the feeling anytime the topic gets close to coming up with me he fends it off by essentially communicating to me that he has unwavering and unquestioned support of Israel and I haven’t been willing to push it since he is otherwise a great person in my life that has helped me through a number of difficulties.
I am not religious so I don’t know the details but I have a friend who is very religious and refuses to vote for Trump again. He hates Harris but won’t give me a reason. When I have brought up the Israel stuff he immediately jumps to a very, holy land, must support and defend at any cost mentality. He would never vote Democrat but it makes me wonder how pervasive this weird fairy tale attachment exists throughout the voting base.
The engagement can be a surprise didn’t read any differently to me than what you laid out. The only surprise for my wife was that I got her dad’s blessing since that was important to her and when/how I went about it. Was in our home, I’m not someone that feels anyone else needs to be involved. To me our engagement was still a surprise but she had already participated in ring shopping with me and we had obviously discussed thoroughly before hand.
Is 1pm an exaggeration or am I unintentionally rude even though I’m trying to be respectful? I don’t do anything to make noise like mowing, running my chainsaw, etc until after 11am. I used to start up late and sleep in until I had kids (wish I still could) so even though I’m up by at least 6am I find other stuff to do until at least 11 . Nobody has complained but I don’t think I would have complained myself.
Oh the horrors of an HOA wanting to preserve wildlife from the destruction of irresponsible pet owners. Theirs plenty of reasons to hate on HOAs and I wouldn’t live under one unless I didn’t have any other options but that’s a stupid reason.
Lucky for us my super power is that I’m completely incompetent at remembering dates and events. Even after reading your comment I couldn’t tell you what date you said or have any idea what it is referring to.
This exit or death!