27 October 2016

LAST NIGHT AFTER DINNER - YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO WE MET

LAST NIGHT AFTER DINNER - YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO WE MET 
by Andy Weddington
Thursday, 27 October 2016




Great perils have this beauty, that they bring to light the fraternity of strangers. Victor Hugo




This time of year - "the season," as we call it - you never know who'll you see, and possibly meet, in our quaint desert cities.

For the weather, the famous and not-so-famous flock for sun but milder temperatures and golf and other fines things of life.  

A couple weeks ago Paul McCartney, yes, Sir Paul, played an impromptu concert at a local popular venue but a few miles from home.

Last evening was call to celebrate so out to dinner we went opting for a place we've not tried but heard about. It's the sort of place the "beautiful people" might discretely frequent. Perhaps the powerful, too. Friends were to meet us. Barry Manilow their neighbor. Like I said, you never know who you'll meet. 

Anyway, we arrived early and ahead of the dinner hour. Not so many patrons yet. We had our choice of tables taking one for four off the busy waiter trails. And ordered a drink.

Twenty minutes later our friends arrived. And the place was beginning to fill - inside and out.

Another 20 minutes or so passed and a couple was seated behind us at a table for two - in my direct line of sight. 

A few years my senior, they seemed to fit in - professionals clearly but not overly dressed and they did not attract much attention. 

Back to our table. Conversation was light - mostly about recent travel and entertaining the idea of relocating. 

After dessert the conversation turned to politics. You guessed it - the election.

Mr. Trump's name came up. So did Mrs. Clinton's.

I noticed the woman seated behind us (facing me) was taking subtle interest in our conversation. We made eye contact a couple of times. Her expression noncommittal. She was speaking to her husband and from her occasional glances it seemed about the discourse going on at our table.

Did I know, as in recognize, these people? 

If so, names were not coming to mind. 

And so our conversation continued about the election, and abated when my wife grabbed my knee (under the table) to temper my less than laudatory remarks about one of the candidates. 

I can take a hint. So we shifted to more palatable topics.

A few minutes later the couple behind us stood to depart.

Approaching our table, the woman leaned over and said, "Excuse me, I could not help but overhear you mentioned Trump."

Her husband, a rather distinguished looking gent, stood quietly a pace behind and to her port.

"Yes, I said." And still I could not help but wonder if I'd seen these people before.

She said, "We're voting for Trump!" 

And continued, "We live in Nevada and have been traveling and talking to strangers and finding most are voting for Trump."

Her husband then commented he could not understand where the polls are coming from because so many signs, literally and figuratively, indicate Trump will win. 

That sparked a brief exchange about Mrs. Clinton's crimes, lying, media corruption, etc.

The woman opined about the Obama administration's destruction of our country - from the military to law and order and justice.

Yep. 

And then her husband said, "And healthcare, too. Obamacare is a disaster."

She is a nurse.

He is a doctor.

No, I did not know them. 

Nor did I recognize them as famous folk.

They're typical hard-working Americans, disgusted, and voting Trump.

And they're voting Trump because he is the only choice to prevent Mrs. Clinton from getting her hands on our Supreme Court - that now has four members itching to get their hands on our guns, freedom of speech, and anything else they can grab to control the citizenry.

In short, perils we face though the Trump fraternity sees the light.  

Maybe we'll see President Trump in the desert. At dinner. Now him, and his beautiful wife, I'll recognize; in any light.    



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