"Be brave", she said to herself.

At the end of the day, I stopped by the antique mall where I sell at.....I was in the area for my day job & needed a moment of no drama, stress free. I was going to add a few things to my booth & fluff it a bit. The mall was preparing to close & the owner had just arrived to do a bit of work himself. We both stand on opposite ends of the political & even social landscape but have learned to get along just fine. But today he was loaded for bear....and there I stood, a liberal. He unleashed on me such vitriol. At first I just stood my ground, attempting a rational debate, perhaps even a heated conversation. But he was loaded for bear and assumed I wanted to take away his rifle.

Now, if you know me, really know me....you will know I do stand to the left of center and have very strong opinion on many things. However, I often temper my thoughts, carefully groom what I will say to not offend anyone. I do it every day in my work life, leaving my beliefs generally at the office door....only bringing them forward if coerced to do so.

But today, the gloves came off and I said to myself, "be brave". And the words flowed like a river. And I felt better because I was me, and I stood up for what I believe in. See I am an educator of 33 years, a parent of 25 years...and a strong, independent woman. Yes I love my farm! Yes I love my animals! Yes I love to decorate my home with pieces of the past! And Yes I have an opinion! I am all these things. And, no one, no one can believe that their voice is louder then mine.

When I arrived home tonight, I cried & cried. I have such fear for the bravery of our President. If vitriol is addressed at me, what must he carry on his shoulders. And when I lifted my head I saw two sights.....a bench and a roll of barbed wire. We all have a choice: to sit down and talk through the big issues facing us or to pull out the barbed wire and prepare just to fight. I for one am ready for either......I will be brave.