I’m finding it very hard to connect with the general public after the election. I’ve always struggled in the town where I live. I’m different. I’m a tree-hugging hippie. Most of those who surround me are not. I’ve lived here for 11 years and have always struggled to connect with people. It has gotten worse.
I did make a few good friends at first. They have all moved away. I’m basically down to the ladies I knit with and my one Canadian friend. Some of my knitting ladies are pretty mean to me, as I am not a Christian. However, there are some really good ones, too. That is why I keep going back. Plus, I need to get out of the house at least a couple of times a week for some social interaction. I’m becoming a recluse.
For a while, I endured a lot just at the grocery store. People would say things to me that I perceived as crazy and expected me to agree just because I lived here too. I rarely agreed. I did a lot of smiling and nodding. Folks, that is not me. I generally speak my mind, but I’m vastly outnumbered.
When I let my hair go gray during the pandemic, I decided I wasn’t ready to be completely gray, so I put a purple streak in the front. When I’m away from here, I get tons of compliments. When I’m home, people leave me the fuck alone. That was an unforeseen benefit to the purple hair. The downside is I’m memorable, so I can’t go crazy on anyone. My daughter is always saying to me when I suggest I might have an outburst, “Don’t do it, Mom, you have purple hair.” I calm my shit and go on with life. It’s not easy. People can be horrible.
I want to say I don’t believe all the people here are bad; they are just different from me in every possible way. Now, that being said, I do think some of them are horrible. Like the two men in line behind me at the Kroger pharmacy who were saying absolutely horrible things about our former First Lady and my Queen, Michelle Obama. These men made me cry in the grocery store. I was upset for days.
I get upset on the regular just leaving my house. Between the signs, flags and bumper stickers—many of which are totally inappropriate. I feel like the only peace-loving individual in a war zone. It is hard. I stay in a lot.
My Canadian friend is like a ray of warm sunlight. She is beaten down, too. Beat down to the point that she now spends part of her time in Canada to avoid the craziness.
We live in the reddest county in Kentucky. I know because Steve Kornacki told me so during the last election coverage. I was not surprised. It was still discouraging. I feel it every day and it makes me sad. So much of it is mean-spirited. Mean people suck and I have no time for them.
I know I won’t live here forever, at least I hope not. I have met some good folks. I have seen a lot of bad ones, sometimes they overlap. I just need humankind to be both human and kind. Is that too much to ask?
America, we have to find our way back. This current state of affairs is unhealthy and just plain ugly. Please. I beg you. Help make America kind again.
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
