Generation T.P.

I am no different and yet very different than David.  How American’s entertain themselves.  It upsets me that he can’t watch TV or Theatre with content involving social awkwardness, or infidelity.  That wipes out a good 50% of the shows.  Then again, I have a hard time watching, without pitifully wet,  swollen eyes, stories about loss and hardships.   My brain can’t turn off the story and how hard life is for people that I automatically extend it to outside of the story and then I’m a mess ...  Hardships include even the war movies that David loves to watch.  So basically, that leaves about 20%, of what is out there, to view as entertainment.  Oh wait, now let’s get picky - and of that 20%, the story needs to be clever, and a story told in a new way, oh and it can’t be too violent or be too predictable – yup, now we’ve wiped out another 12%.  Leaving us 8%,  of the total shows out there,  suitable for David and me to watch.  I think we’ve watched a good number of them and we are frustrated trying to find more.  Please help and send ideas.
Now we’re reading.  David rereads what he’s read before.  He knows he liked it, why try a new book?  I try reading something that’s heartfelt and start crying and have to stop because of the blurr of the pages.
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That leads me to tell you about our new toy.  We knew it was just a matter of time before all the coffee shops would close.  That day was Friday.  We had the premonition on Thursday and bought a full on espresso machine.  David is interested in learning to make latte art, while I just wanted to easily pull a good cuppa espresso.  Not so fast.  I’ve read the manual.  I’ve watched many a talented barista.  I’ve been glued to the many YouTube video’s out there, and still my espresso shot is a tad bitter. Adjust the grind, do it again.  Now it’s a too sour.  Adjust the grind.  I fill the basket more.  Again it’s not right.  Again, this validates the differences between David and me.  David is so excited by this toy that we now seem to have endless mornings by which to practice.  I, on the other hand, just want a tasty cup of coffee to start my day.  I foresee, we will get to be quite good at making espresso drinks.  There is nothing else to do.  Well, David will get really good and I’ll benefit from his ability to persevere through the banality of pulling a shot of espresso.

A thought to leave you with.   You know when you see a characteristic in someone, for example, being beyond frugal: getting a spatula and wiping out the mayo jar etc.…. you justify it by saying they survived the depression era.  Or when someone is a naive slacker who lacks ambition and might have disregard for promptness is wrongly generalized as a “Millennial”. Well, I’m here to introduce you to our newest generation = Generation T.P. “Transitory Pestilence”  TODAY, all of us, WE THE PEOPLE, who have felt trapped inside, socially isolated – I mean socially distancing ourselves for the greater good, we will adopt new behaviors.  What will all of us end up learning?  Will we pick up hobbies we can do independently?  Will we learn how to volunteer using our skills on-line?  Will we build storage closets filled with Toilet Paper that the next generation will never understand?  Or when this is all over, will we seek to have richer, deeper, more meaningful relationships?  Will we see that we are more the same then we are different? This is how these odd behaviors and therefore stereotypes develop.  A group of people experience something so unusual, so profound, often so uprooting, that one’s behaviors are forever changed.  What I find most interesting, is that we are experiencing this together as a global community.  It has no connection with cultural differences: color of skin, languages spoken, religion, economic or educational advantages, etc.  I know some are trying to twist it into an Us vs. Them type thing, but this is an universal experience and we should be feeling solidarity not segregation.  What will we each choose to do with our time in confinement?  How can we become part of the solution instead of part of the problem?  With billions of people, we need the diversity of thoughts and ideas to make a movement happen, and regardless what we do, the momentum is there.  I’m trying to find a way to sand down my rough edges so I can roll with the flow.  Maybe I should buy more TP?  or learn to pull a drinkable espresso?  Until then, I think I’ll sign up as a local Red Cross Reserve Volunteer.  I’ve always had the desire to appreciate the people in my life, now I think I’ve learned to appreciate all people. Let’s unite and make our world a better place!  Oh, and a huge shout out to those involved with the medical world.  Those on the front line as well as those in the supply chains.  Thank you, we do appreciate you.
Really looking forward to being able to eventually travel and write about that!! Until then, be safe!