People can and do adapt.

That hit home with me, erikaj, as it brought back memories of my amazement at my late DH's ability to adapt. Steve was a ballet dancer with incredible physical capabilities. When he could no longer dance he expressed appreciation for walks in the park and doing Tai Chi and yoga. When he could no longer walk he would delight in all the reading he could now catch up on. As he lost his good looks he said it brought him a better understanding of the absurdity of vanity. Let's just say I can't conceive that my ability to adapt would be anything like that.

So yeah, the ability of people to adapt is an awesome and wonderful thing.

eta: The piece you linked to in Beep Me also brought on the feels, but a different variety. Well written and appreciated.

I'm not *that* adaptable, myself, Laura. your husband sounds remarkable. Thanks for your comments. Still kind of wondering why that is so many people's hill to die on, while acknowledging that there are, in fact, people who treat you badly for it. The weirdest reaction I used to get talking about stuff like that is "but you're so *smart* and all I wanted to say is like "Central conflict...hello." while in real life mumbling "different part of the brain." but when you've been doing it since you were seven, being a docent loses a little charm.

None of us really know how adaptable we are until faced with the circumstance. Rather like we don't know how we would react in an emergency situation.

well, that can be true...

sj, my mother wanted me to tell you that it doesn't feel like the holidays till she sees F's new pic, but I didn't remember till I phonebanked another F tonight. (rolls through Bitches with half-price mistletoe and "hint, hint" look on my face...)

Awww, that’s so sweet, Erika. I’m glad she enjoys them.

She really does. I do, too, but as another mom, she can be hard on other people's pics.

ita might have made me move this here, so let's pretend she yelled at me for being off-topic(a not-totally unfathomable event, but I swear I needed to be more concise about proving I was on, but you know) I would have moved it if she wanted me to. [link]

chex mix: Truly the greatest finance article I ever read. [link]

erika, that's a good article! I just subscribed to her Substack.