Family Secrets Revealed...

So, I'm not really going to reveal any family secrets (there's no really juicy ones anyway). I just wanted to get my mother's attention. Hi Mom!

I'm not sure what my parents thought when I told them that I was starting a blog, considering that some of my Facebook updates have made them cringe (just a little...), but they are pretty great people and have always supported me and my brothers in whatever we've done. The closest thing we have to a family secret is that my parents and I don't see eye to eye, politically. But,that is hardly a secret. And, it is so common in families that it is practically standard. Remember, 40-50 years ago, our parents' parents thought the Beatles had "crazy, hippie hair"? Hello Marilyn Manson and Insane Clown Posse.

Funny story... 18ish years ago, I'd moved back to my Mom and Dad's house in the spring, following my first year away at university. I was broke. Jobs were few and far between and I'd applied for many of them. One day, I got a call from someone who asked me if I'd like to work the upcoming election, on election day. 12 hours at $5/hr, which was minimum wage. 60 bucks!! I was thrilled, if not very informed about what I'd be doing. I was told to be there for 8am, and I was there at 7:45 at the polling station. My job for the day was to sit in a car with Rich, a very well known character in my hometown, and write down the names of everyone who walked into the polling station. Great. I could do that. I was making $60 for this? Awesome. Just sitting in a car with Rich for that long was an education. In life.

So, the day was over and I came home. I talked to my Mom and Dad for a few minutes, then said,"I'm going to have a shower and go to the Liberal (wrap -up) party up at the hall." My Mom said, "Lori-Dear, do you think that's a good idea?" I was bored, lonely and missing my friends and would have wanted to go to any party, anywhere. Saying, yes, I thought it was a great idea, my Mom told me, "Well, you just spent the day working for the Tories, and it probably wouldn't look right."

"I just spent the day working for the conservative party???" WTH??? Does anyone else know I did that?? Even then, I was liberal minded, if not associated with the liberal party. But, wanting to adhere to my internal system of good taste, I did not go to the party. It pained me. I stayed home, and probably ate several bowls of cereal. Over the years, my politics have further evolved. The more I've travelled, the further left I lean.... I'm sure I'm now what the 'gentil' and soft-spoken Bill O'Reilly would call a leftist loon or pinhead. Considering the source, I'd say, "Bring it, Bill.. I ain't skeert..." There's no way he buys half of what he says.... everyone has their price.

'Cause, when you're broke, you're broke. And, 60 bucks is 60 bucks.