A touch of despair after talking to my neighbor...

[Rorey]

9. We didn't talk for awhile after that

I feel bad for her because she's surrounded by Democrats, though nobody in the neighborhood is very overt about it as far as putting out yard signs and such. This past year was the first year I've ever seen a political yard sign on my one-block-long cul-de-sac.

Sometimes we'll talk often, and other times we might go a month or two without much more than waving hello. I know she's having more and more age-related challenges, and she knows I'm always here for her. When we do talk, our conversations usually turn out to be LONG, and that's just fine.

I'm just not going to cause her stress because it really serves no purpose. I know that at the end of the day she's really a Republican based on economic policy, and I can respect that she has her reasons. I'm sure she voted for trump just because of the "R" after his name, but I know in my heart that if she had all of the facts about him she wouldn't have done so.

So, it's complicated, but I just know I have to choose my battles and with whom I'll battle.