[Magdalen] Checking in

[Ann Markle]

Don,  when did Janice die?  My memory is just about shot, and I don't
remember hearing about this.  I'm so sorry.  I worry about my little dog
dying (she's my life partner and my best friend --  sad!),  can't imagine
losing a spouse/best friend.  But thanks for the update.  I've  only
unfriended a couple of people, not because they disagree with me (though
they did), but because their comments were so rancorous (that doesn't look
right, but I'm too lazy to check it) that  they gave me stomachaches.  And
I agree that they're moral issues,  and I draw my (self-righteous)
conclusions, but  that doesn't  usually preclude  ongoing  friendship, even
online, based on areas of agreement or mutual interest,  if  we can  just
leave the areas of disagreement alone.

I really am so happy to catch up with this online family.  I've known many
of  you longer  than most of my other friends (except my bff, a 39  year
long friendship, and some school friends).

Ann

The Rev. Ann Markle
Buffalo, NY
ann.markle at aya.yale.edu


On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 9:05 AM Don Boyd <thedonboyd at austin.rr.com> wrote:

> NOTE:  Second paragraph is undeniably whiney.  Skip it if you need to (I
> probably would.)
>
> Our (Texas) Governor has sided with Trump in  prioritizing economic
> concerns over public health concerns.  Nevertheless most people are staying
> home as much as they can, wearing masks away from home, and maintaining
> social distance whenever doing so is not too inconvenient.  (I confess to
> resenting people whose blithe disregard for the welfare of anyone but
> themselves allows them to ignore masks and distancing.)
>
> COVID-19 precautions have me feeling somewhat isolated even though by
> nature I’m pretty introverted. Since my wife Janice died the only person I
> ever see up close and in person is my daughter Sarah who visits every day
> for two or three hours including lunch.  She gets me to doctor
> appointments,etc.  I have e-mail dialogues with a few longtime friends.  I
> miss church, in-person visits with friends,  and most of all I miss
> Janice.  She was my partner in life and my best friend.
> >
> > I read a rant recently responding to a post suggesting that sometimes
> people should just “agree to disagree.”  The writer insisted that agreeing
> to disagree was only possible when the subject was trivial (as, e. g.,
> whether ketchup should be an ingredient in a burger) but when the subject
> was important (racism, economic inequality, etc.) these were moral issues
> and disagreement on them precluded continuation of further communication
> and even of friendship.  The writer announced an intent in future  to
> Facebook-unfriend anyone who posted views that the writer considered to be
> immoral.  I am congratulating myself for refraining from calling the writer
> out for self-righteousness, although I of course agree that the issues
> named are indeed about morality.  Acknowledging that the  writer has every
> right to choosethe  co-conversationalists, and even has a right to be a
> self-righteous jerk, but I did want to smack the writer upside the head.
> (I think I just did what I accused the writer of doing.)
> >
> > 😕😕      D
> >
> >
> >
> > Sent from my iPad
>
>