Coming to the Table

On my way to meet my Republican friend for a drink, I voted. My guess is we have cancelled each other out, and we could just have easily agreed to both not vote, saved each other the trouble.At least I wouldn't still be trying to peel the last layer of my "I voted" sticker off my suede jacket.

We dabbled in the obligatory pleasantries at first -- our kids, work, our travels, my failed attempts at dating and the sad truth that single men my age tend to have their hearts (or whatevers) set on thirty-somethings. So much for my fabulous personality.

Then we got into it, the whole Trump thing. The great divide, the stereotypes and the mutual disdain that has us retreating into our corners, like mortal enemies. He is able to divide Trump into two separate people -- one, the vile, indecent, grossly unqualified person who is our president, the other, the guy who's keeping the economy booming and our taxes down. At least for now. I cannot separate the two; sure, I wouldn't mind being a little bit richer, but the price is too high. My friend made a good point; Trump did not invent racism, and xenophobia, and automatic weapons. True. But he has turned over the rocks, trafficked in hatred, legitimized the most base instincts of the worst among us and given them sunlight. It is unseemly, to say the least, for the leader of the free world to behave as he does.

My friend has grown tired of being viewed as stupid because he's not offended enough by the "person" half to budge on the economics. I've grown tired of the absurdity of it all, that all intelligent conversation is eclipsed by the antics of this one, larger than life buffoon.

We found common ground on so many things, my Republican friend and I. We tossed around names of possible future presidents, and we agreed on most. He admitted he would vote for a moderate Democrat. I admitted I would vote for a moderate Republican (maybe). We are searching for that elusive middle, that space where compromise is not a dirty word and consensus is the only way we can accomplish what's best for most.

Our conversation gave me hope. About democracy anyway. Single men my age will always chase thirty-somethings, no matter who's in power. Which will free me up, sometimes, to take a Republican to lunch.