8/20/20

I have been dished out some scuttlebutt this week from friends and readers unhappy with the blog in its present state. Yesterday one confided that she really didn't go for the local history angle, another writes that there is too much of the material from my shop on its pages lately and they feel like they are being sold. He wants more politics.

Let me say a few things right off the bat. This blog, now in its thirteenth year, is a labor of love, not a job. I get no money from this ridiculous expenditure of my time. God forbid I should promote my business on occasion, something I have rarely done in its entire tenure.

But honestly I have not used it as a selling machine, more to display merchandise that is unusual and tells a story and that I feel like sharing with you. One of the things that got me into the business was my love of history and antiques and art scratches that itch for me, I was a collector before I was a dealer.

Every thing I own has a story and gives me an opportunity to research, one of my passions. I thought it would be cool to share that passion with you, not to sell, but because I find the material honestly interesting. Now I realize that some of you are not into stuff and I get it.

I mentioned a week ago that I had a bit of a writer's block. And also that I was sick of politics. What is politics today? It basically narrows down to cheerleading, our guy encompasses all that is good, your guy is a complete asshole. No room for nuance in any form and very toxic and needlessly divisive.

It makes me ill. I care about issues and I write about them but politics is ugly, especially in its present form at election time. Might I suggest Facebook? There is plenty of rah rah stuff there.

I have said this many times but I don't believe that there are actually any undecided independents out there at this point and if they are truly in the dark they probably have no business voting. I am not going to be changing anybody's mind with my opinions so what is the point of hammering people with a different pov over the head? My feelings about Donald Trump are clear and have not changed. You are entitled to your own.

I was talking to my friend Jay the other day and he said something interesting. He once asked his parents how they were going to vote and I forget if it was his mother or father but he was remonstrated, told never to ask that question, that it was none of his business.

I think that is very healthy. Too many people automatically take on the politics and religion of their parents rather than thinking for themselves. I did the same thing honestly, my father a centrist democrat, my mother a little further left.

Read or don't read, it is up to you. Sorry to disappoint you. Hopefully there is something I put out that you will enjoy. Art and history are two of the things that I am interested in that I can get into without broaching politics and I sought refuge in them. Will see where things go in the future. I frankly, have no idea.

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I was thinking of the covid plague and all of the things it has taught us that we can actually do without. The sports page, dine in restaurants, international and domestic travel, watching sports, handshakes and in some cases smiles, a whole bunch of things.

And hair salons. I found out that my wife is a darn good haircutter. I saw my barber a while back and he complimented my coiffe, said he had fixed a lot worse haircuts that people had paid money for. I'm so cheap I might not ever go back to a hairstylist again, if she is willing.