Politics

 

Let's talk politics.

Not many want to talk politics.  Or baseball.  Or grief.  We'll talk baseball and grief later. 

Let's talk politics. 

Though I don't know how to talk politics since I've never been the politics-talker.  I've only been the politics-listener.  Sort of.  But now I'm on a mission to stay informed and talk when I need to.  Caught to.   I've asked friends and politics-talkers and the Internet about how to get balanced, makes-sense news.  How do I form views?  Who do I trust?  What is important?

So I practice politics talking with our son.  He listens to me acronym my way to a federal department issue.  He listens to me whatshisname to a debate debrief.  He listens to me Prop 50 or 86 or pick-a-number to new legislation.  I muddle, fumble, jumble my way through a politic talk.

He pauses, searches for words and gently replies, "What?" 

Though I may be in over-my-head mode, I'm also in try-with-dread mode.  To talk politics -- with an understanding son.  And to make proud the former politics-talker.