My few encounters with conservatives the past couple of weeks. [View all]

[MIButterfly]

My aunt and I just returned from a 12-day Caribbean cruise and it was wonderful. The night before the ship sailed, we stayed in a hotel near the airport because we had an early morning flight. The hotel had a free shuttle to the airport and we chatted with the driver, as one does. At one point he mentioned that illegal immigrants are given food stamps and healthcare as soon as they cross the border and I said "They are not" and my aunt and the driver simultaneously said "Yes they are." This is news to me. I didn't know there was someone standing at the border handing put food stamps and healthcare to everyone who steps foot in this country. You learn something new everyday.

We ate in the dining room almost every night and a nice couple from New England sat next to us. One night I mentioned I love Ben & Jerry's and the husband leaned over, covered one side of his mouth with his hand and said in a stage-whisper "They're ultra liberals, you know" and I said "So am I" and he was shocked. He said "You ARE?" It was pretty funny. I wish I had a camera for the look on his face. He didn't hold it against me though. We stayed friendly throughout the cruise and even had the server (who was excellent, by the way) take pictures of the four of us for a remembrance.

One night, two couples sat on the other side of us at dinner and of course, we asked where they were from and they said Illinois. My aunt made some kind of comment like "oh boy" and they said "oh, not Chicago" {???). I said "I'm from Detroit and I love Chicago" and that pretty much killed the conversation. I don't get it. Maybe they think Chicago is too full of crime and "libruls" for their liking. They warmed up again toward the end of the meal. I think the booze might have helped them deal with a heathen like me much better.

Finally, one afternoon, my aunt, who is a conservative Republican because my uncle is and she says and does everything he tells her to, said to me "You know who's a rising star in the Democrat [sic] party?" Oh do tell who you think is a rising star in the Democratic party. "John Fetterman. He write a book called 'Unfettered'" I guess she thought that was clever or something. John Fetterman is no rising star in our party. In fact, I hope the good people of Pennsylvania primary him so he can run as the Republican he seems to want to be. I just said something to the effect of I think that stroke affected him more than anyone realized.