Plumbago and morning glory flowers draped over the hilltop village of La Cadière d'Azur. One of the things to love about le littoral is the abundance of flowers. The French call plumbago La dentellaire du Cap, or simply la dentellaire, for its ability to soigner les dents or treat toothaches–but don't take my word for it!
Ever heard of someone who broke up with a friend over politics? Today, read my story… and thanks for forwarding to a friend!
rompre (rompr)
: to break up, to interupt, stop
rompre avec son (sa) petit(e) ami(e) = to break up with one's boyfriend or girlfriend
rompre avec son (sa) meilleur(e) ami(e) = to break up with one's best friend
rompre avec quelque chose = to break away from something
rompre le silence = to break the silence
rompre le pain = to break bread
rompre la monotonie = to break the monotony
Audio File : listen to Jean-Marc read the list of expressions, just above:
Download MP3 or Download Wav
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Day before yesterday, while Jean-Marc and the neighbor were felling a few fire-hazardous pines near our new house, I began to think about some longtime friends and to puzzle, once again, over our unexpected estrangement.
It happened over politics, though I suspect the break-up began with the tree we cut down in our back yard (adjacent to my friends' yard). I never wanted that tree to be felled, but when it was declared a hazard ("If a branch broke off of that dying tree," another neighbor warned, "it could kill a kid!" That is all it took for me to agree to have the tree taken down.
My dear friends, a married couple, were physically ill over the tree-felling episode, which they witnessed from their back porch. An arbre is a sacred entity, and it must have been heart-wrenching for them to see that tree come crashing down. But it would have been even more traumatic to me to see one of its heavy branches come down on my children who played beneath it each day.
Around this time the French elections were underway and my dear friends, who are a married couple, were busy rallying for Ségolène Royal. These expats had even drafted a letter to the politician in which they proposed a detailed strategy that, should Mme. Royal heed the instructions, would help her win the upcoming election. When my friends forwarded me the letter via email, I read it, surprised by their moxie to go telling a French president elect what to do! Next I thought, good on them! for exercising their freedom of expression and for believing that they had the ability to effect a change in this world. I should exercise such precious freedoms too!
Newly inspired, I tried to respond to their forwarded letter, only it was hard for me to put my thoughts to words. The truth was, I knew so little about politics, in spite of getting an earful each day from my husband (anti-Ségolène) and again from my friends (super-pro-Ségolène!).
I thought to keep my reply simple, hoping both to encourage my neighbor to exercise his rights (and his wife's)… while not drawing too much attention to my own ignorance vis-à-vis the political debate). Here's the entire word-for-word response that I wrote:
Dear A,
I think your letter was helpful to Madame Royal and you have given some very good ideas. (Next I quickly changed the subject…):
It was nice bumping into you the other day while out on a walk. I will miss walking along that scenic path and the scent of the garrigue here in the Var!
My best to Z.
Love,
Kristi
A few days later I received a surprising and disturbing response:
Dear Kristi,
I have received your email in which you try to give the impression that you support Ségolène.
Whom you support is your business. It is not my concern.
But when your daughter told us yesterday, when she and [name withheld] visited us, that both you and Jean-Marc support Sarkozy, it showed a certain double-faced nature, which didn’t come as a surprise.What really disappointed me greatly is when the two girls started arguing the case for waging wars. “Having wars is good, so long as it does not take place in France.” That is what my ears heard. When I heard that my heart fell. That someone so young can make such a statement shows that they have been badly brought up, lacking any ethical and moral sense, showing no lack of respect for life.
With kind regards,
A
Reading the letter I was amazed. So many strange accusations and unthruths (No! my 9-year-old daughter was not out touting war! (She happened to be out looking for candy, which these neighbors and good friends took delight in giving her.) No, she would not have said both my husband and I were for Sarkozy (an impossibility!).
No, no! no! Rereading the letter I was struck by the sentence "that is what my ears heard"… Could it be that my neighbor was so caught up in the current politics that when a couple of 9-year-olds stopped by… they sounded to him like a team of warmongers?
I had to respond to the accusations, but I could hardly type the first word, and the second word is completely missing as you'll see…
Dear A,
I disheartened by your email.
As for the other harsh words, I am speechless.
I am not a Sarkozy supporter, for the record.
Reading your email and the accusations, my heart has fallen as you say yours has.
Kristi
But the final words from my dear friend took my breath away:
Dear Kristi,
Please understand that I’m not angry with you.
The reason why I’m writing again is out of concern for your mental health and welfare generally.
Honestly, I don’t see one Kristi. There are two Kristis in one physical body, one Kristi who is totally unaware of what the other Kristi is thinking, feeling and doing. In medical jargon this condition is called schizophrenia. It affects thousands of people in varying degrees. If you don’t put the matter right now, it might get aggravated in the years to come. So I suggest you consulting with a reliable English-speaking psychoanalyst, I say English-speaking because that’s your parental language, not French, and all your earliest impressions are tied up with your first language. I realise that such psychoanalysts would be difficult to find in France, so you can try elsewhere.
Kind regards
A
No matter how many times I tried to find the words, I could not respond to my friend's letter. Sadly, I never spoke to the couple ever again.
The letter left me deeply thoughtful and somewhat agitated. Were there several Kristis? A tree-felling Lumberjack Kristi? A two-faced Sarkozy-Segolène Kristi? Or a multiple mugged People-Pleaser Kristi?
I don't know that I know who I am anymore than the next person does. Just who am I to know? I am both a very open and expressive public persona… and I am a fiercely private likes-to-live-in-her-own-room person, too.
I leave off, ironically, with a well known aphorism: Know thyself. Some say it means "to pay no attention to the multitude". This brings me a certain peace when it comes to hurtful name-calling.
***
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Mom, checking out all the succulents, or plantes grasses, growing in La Cadière d'Azur.
Jean-Marc left me a couple of sea oursins for lunch. "You sure you can open them?" he asked. I'm having doubts now… I should have paid more attention when he used the kitchen scissors to circumvent this prickly shell. Will take a stab at it soon… bon appétit!
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Kristi, you’re far better off without those folks for “friends.” Sometime you simply have to part ways with people and move on.
Ahhh Kristin,
To know oneself may be difficult and may take a lifetime, but how easy it is to judge another . . as your strange neighbor did you and then as we, your readers, do your neighbor, because we all are human and flawed. Let us all be easy on ourselves, forgive everyone, and neither regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
I have been crushed also by a toxic “friend”
before. What I learned is that their remarks really have nothing to do with the target at all. There is something about your bright, open spirit that has made you their target. The sad lesson is that life is too short to put energy into such relationships. Avoid contact but be civil when you must. These are “friends” not worth the name.
Oh my do they have much to learn, but I fear it may be too late. As you know we are facing the election in less than 2 weeks now. My father and I are on completely different sides of the fence. I reminded him recently of what he taught us growing up. “Our opinions may differ, however I respect your right to yours as you should mine.”
You think felling a tree there is hard. Try it here. One has to get a permit to take down anything greater than 4″ in diameter.
Thought of another possible name for the “new winery”….Oursins de Mer. Wishing you warm days and starry nights for the week-end.
Kristy, what an amazing response from your readers, such an outpouring of love and support. I can only ditto their comments and provide a “reality check”. I am a Clinical Neuropsychologist from Boston and typically don’t have time to weigh in, but I could not resist. Your ex neighobors are perpetuating a fallacy of nomenclature I was sure no longer existed in the United States. They were not defining Schizophrenia, but a variation of a Dissociative Disorder, typically thought to be engendered by severe trauma in childhood. One theory is that a component of the child’s personality “splits off” and the person acquires more than one persona to cope with the trauma. They are typically not aware of their split personalities (think “All About Eve”. This most assuredly is not you. Schizophrenia is a typically severe neurodevelopmental disorder which, primarily as a result of changes in the Central Nervous System, there is a disruption in the person’s thinking, feeling and behavior. The person can experience symptoms such as an altered sense of reality, hallucinations, delusions, and concrete, perseverative thinking. Of course this is not you.
All of us have different persona, for different situations, there are many different parts to our sense of self. I like to think of a personality as a prism with many facets. Also psychological research has indicate that the environment , and environmental cues, dictate how we behave at any given time, indeed, more than we may know. So people behave differently in different environments, which is one of the reasons why the acculturation process is so complicated. When you switch societies, you just do not have the unwirtten script that dictates how you are supposed to react in certain situations, which you well know. Happy to talk to you more about these issues backchannel if you wish, so sorry you have been under such a misconception for so long. Simpley said, your ex’s did not know #### what they were talking about, love Carol
There is a card I like(which someone sent to me when I was being bombarded by loons): “A question that sometimes makes me hazy: is it me or are the others crazy?” Inside it says, “It’s the others. You’re fine.”
People-pleasers like me always want not to give up on any relationship, but isn’t that a little vain and futile? Why not say, “I’ve done all I could with this person, and it didn’t work out”?
Also,how many of us have time for toxic relationships, when we can barely get around to the lovely people?
Lastly, I think it is good to protect ourselves from venomous people. Those neighbors would only continue to zero in on your vulnerabilities and try to make you feel bad.
They really do have a mental or spiritual illness, and that’s a shame.
You are well rid of them. They are the ones with some type of mental problem and probably did not understand a word your daughter was saying or misunderstood whatever she was speaking about.
To me you sounded very complimentary and diplomatic. Trouble yourself no more over this. They are not worth your time.
Your neighbor sounds daft, especially in his last note. Tallk about psychoanalysis! Forget it.
As for the tree downing, there are trees all over that might fall on someone’s head, even along French roads where they have been brutally pruned. Was this one sick? Was it especially dangerous?
Dear Kristin,
Like the comments of support above, I think this was just a ‘friendship’ that was meant to end. The issues they raise are their own, not yours. As difficult as it is to admit a friendship is over, sometimes it really is the better option. Having that kind of arrogance in your life isn’t healthy. Have faith in your lovely, compassionate and inspirational self.
Chris xx
We experienced a very similar “break up” a few years ago, when we decided to introduce two couples whose company we had enjoyed at separate times and places. Couple A were older and very conservative; couple B were closer to our own ages and more liberal (again, more like ourselves). Over dinner, the conversation turned to politics, and despite our attempts to change the subject, the discussion became heated. Couple A called us the next day to tell us they would not be seeing us any further until we decided to apologize for exposing them to the “vitriolic” remarks made by couple B, and for committing the grave sin of actually laughing at a joke Mr. B made at the expense of couple A’s favorite politician! We never apologized, and haven’t seen couple A since. We remain good friends with couple B.
I think you needn’t worry about your mental health; you seem just fine to all of us, your readers!
Kristi, when an incident such as yours happens to me as it has over the course of my lifetime, I ask myself, ” What was my part in this misunderstanding?” After careful examination, such a rupture may have come about because of a continuing build-up of resentment/jealousy/insecurity or who knows what else on the part of the other person(s). Did I contribute intentionally or unintentionally in any way to this condition?
Once I stop blaming myself for the entire break up and can see the problem with a clear eye, it might mean I am responsible to some extent. However, I most certainly have never conducted myself in a way that merits insults, accusations, phony analysis and bringing my children into the discussion.
Maybe it was the tree. I have found it difficult to forgive my neighbor for cutting down all her trees and leaving both our back yards totally exposed to the Texas sun.
As for politics – sadly my childhood friend of 58 years and I no longer speak thanks to George W. As if he were worth it!
I wish I could be like your other correspondents and just brush off former friends. It takes me a long time to recover because I make a genuine emotional investment in my friendships. And, those feelings do not easily evaporate.
Kristi, I am so sorry that this happened to you. Yes I lost a “friend” of over 20 years in bizarre circumstances as well. I still think of her and what happened and that was over 20 year ago now. But it doesn’t hurt so much now, I am just more curious as to why it happened.
However, as many have said beforehand it is the other couple that has the problem – not you. Somewhere along the way I remember hearing that often people will project their own “problems” on to someone else. i.e. they obviously realise they have mental issues so instead of working on themselves they suggest you get the help. In a way it is them recognising their own issues. If that makes sense. This “friend” of mine wrote me a horrible letter telling me of all my faults, but they were all the things she had done and said TO ME not the other way round. It was quite ‘creepy’ to see the denial and transference of actions.
I agree, delete these emails NOW and have a mental funeral – they have gone, so has the couple from your life.
I understand how these things linger in your mind, and I am sorry you had to go through this.
Lesley
LOL at the “solution” Gus had….too funny.
Di
Kristi,
I believe that people who consider their political opinions to be more important than their relationships, whether with friends, family, or neighbors, are unbalanced. (Thankfully, this may be only temporary, like the excitement of elections.) Those who imagine they can divine the ideas of others are delusional. I’m sorry you were hurt when they revealed their craziness. I think most of us have encountered such persons, and we see examples everyday in the news. Some people have problems, and we can’t fix them. Thank you for sharing!
I agree with Amanda that the rift between parties seems to be greater this season. Perhaps it’s because the problems are bigger than normal with people out of work, etc. And it seems the two parties have moved further in their opposite directions, meaning the gap is wider and compromise more difficult.
I will celebrate when the election is over and hope for a brighter future for all of us.
And I think I agree with Malinda as well! 😉
Hi dear Kristin,
Another wonderful post (and pictures!) reminding us how life is not always filled with caring friends and nice people.
You and your dear family are so much better off without these hateful individuals to darken your days.
Feel these hugs of admiration for the person you are and your gift of writing which you share with us.THANK YOU!!!
Love, Natalia
Kristi: Your “friend” was a nut case. You’re better off without her.
It reminds me of the time someone sent me a very detailed email proving from the design (not the words) of my website that I had psychopathic tendencies.
I was tempted to reply that if they really thought I was a psychopath, they were being very brave to send me an email like that – but I thought better of it!
OMG. That is a painful series of emails Kristi. I could just say ignore them, but it takes a very confident person to do that. I am amazed though that your neighbours had the arrogance to feel that (a) they could tell a political candidate how to win and run France and (b) have the hide to say such deeply offensive things to you. Some people’s sense of self entitlement and self importance is beyond belief.
It is good for you that you no longer see these neighbours Kristi. Apart from being delusional they sound very negative. Life’s too short – who needs that?
On a political note, can I share a bit of family news with you. My 24 year old son (Australian) is on a road trip in the US in an RV. Absolutely loving it. He is in Texas at the moment. He is a very passionate Obama supporter and has volunteered to work in the campaign’s Austin office. What an experience! He is having the time of his life. Thank you to all those kind Americans who are making his trip so wonderful and life changing.
Wow, what an odd thing for someone to say to you, Kristi. Sadly, I have broken up with a friend over politics. Things seem very polarized in the United States right now, and many people who used to be congenial on many issues now look at political leanings at being the only one on which to form or keep a friendship.
Just another thought, everyone is thinking schizophrenia, megalomania, etc. for these former neighbors, but since you mention they were elderly and the malevolence came mostly from just one half of the union (whom I took for the man), could it be Alzheimers? This disease can really alter the personality in addition to the more usual memory loss. I’ve known of parents who stopped speaking to their own kids over very trivial issues due to advancing Alzheimer’s Disease! Those stories sounded so similar to yours, that I really have to wonder about it…
Either way, don’t take it so to heart. Be glad they were only neighbors! I get this stuff from my family ;)!! Especially since in this US election year, I’m one of those subhuman liberal thingies…. sigh….
One practice I have always found very helpful in my tumultuous life is to periodically take stock of my blessings and always try to look on the bright side! In this case, I’m serious when I say be happy you aren’t related to these nuts, and be happy at how richly you’ve been blessed by so many lovely folks!! You have great family!! I’ll happily trade any time you like!
Try my little exercise, and when you start to feel blue over these hurts, stop yourself and say, “I’ve too many blessings to feel bad over one thing gone wrong”, and then COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!! So much more fun than counting money! The more you do this, the more you will see that the Lord has truly blessed you, and no other friend is so Great!!
That was no friend. Please try to keep your daughter from going to her house. Are they worth a telephone call to see if someone else wrote those emails?? Ce n’est rien. Oubliez-les! Bisous!
Kristi, Kristi, Kristi,
This was the most poignant blog of yours that I have ever read, and I suspect has provoked the greatest number of responses you have ever had. I couldn’t read all of them, and am probably reiterating the thoughts of many respondents.
The self righteousness of politics today is daunting, even scarey, and apparently rages on both sides of the Atlantic.
But to involve children as a pawn in hate-mongering is beyond my comprehension.
One doesn’t need a psychologist to know that your former friend is an insecure and bitter person, with issues not readily apparent to you.
However true this may be, I feel the hurt in your heart.
This too shall pass.
Hi Kristi,
I find it interesting that today at Barnes and Noble bookstore I purchased a book titled Coincidence is God’s Way of Remaining Anonymous by Gloria Loring. I just joined this site last week. I am skimming through past words and come upon “comment faire” Coincidence ??? I think not.
I am glad to read about Provence, as I spent some time studying at Centre Universitaire d’Avinon and became good frinds with several locals. I became good friends with a Madame Hugette Bergier of Le Vieux Moulin in Uchaux. I had many visits to the Moulin. Your blog allows me the opportunity to revisit this beautiful countryside and brings back bittersweet memories, as many of my friends have passed on.
About friends who go awry, I find it best to forgive before I forget.
Best,
Tom J.
A sad tale!
The US also becomes politically rabid. Once, only one party’s extreme adherents had politics for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When such tyranny sprouts, how government should address and fix all ills becomes everything.
Now the other party has this distemper and thinks government can put everything right. Ever know historic examples where government fixed itself?
US media say our politics are becoming extreme. Indeed!
‘Tribal’ as among savages is apter. It almost like a smoker saying, “If you don’t smoke my brand, you don’t (or shouldn’t) exist.”
Before The Enlightenment that is how religions’ adherents viewed one another.
Dear Kristi,
Your are not alone! My girlfriend was recently ‘fired’ by her hairdresser/friend(?) of 30 years due to political disagreement.
My French-learing-daughter and I have enjoyed your posts for a number of years and I’m especially happy you are delving into deeper topics of late.
Love your bravery, warmth and wisdom.
Elsie, Texas
After some years of living in the US I have reached the point of NEVER talking about politics with anyone whom I don’t already know I agree with. There is no longer any possibility of civil discourse on the subject, it seems, only vicious, ad hominem attacks and distortions. Disappointing…
On an unrelated subject, I am delighted to see you use the word “fell,” meaning “make fall.” I was afraid it had disappeared, when even [professional] lumberjacks apparently now say they “fall” trees. Vive la langue anglaise!
Some people are so close.minded they even willfully distort reality. Be thankful you aren’t one of them!
Your neighbor is fou. C’est tout
Dear Kristi,
This person was not a friend, just a misguided, self-absorbed man. As we each walk through our lives, we meet others on the same journey, but for whatever reason, he has taken a wrong turn and is walking in a dark forest. You, on the other hand, are walking in the warmth of the sun…your family, real friends, and the caring of your dear readers. Perhaps it was in God’s plan for that tree to come down, so you could feel the warmth and healing powers of your sun! We haven’t met, but I count you as a friend..and you are sane..no doubt. Nancy
1.
a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.
2.
a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter: friends of the Boston Symphony.
3.
a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile: Who goes there? Friend or foe?
Back when the primaries were being held for our next president ( 2007-2008 elections), a friend of mine whom i gotten quite close to was a big Barack Obama fan. I personally was leaning to Hilary Clinton. Of note, i am an independent voter but I had had enough of George Bush. We were having a conversation at work regarding the presidential hopefuls and I although I did not dislike Obama, I felt he needed some work on his international diplomatic skills. Well, when I said that she nearly took my head off. I was so taken aback and embarrassed (we are both nurses and working in the clinic at the time). I am the first to say that I am not on top of politics and she is definateley more passionate than myself, but things changed in our friendship. I feel there is a way to respect ones opinions without making them feel bad about them.
Kristy, I am new to your newsletter and live not far from St Cecile les vignes, I understand that you have moved but if you are in Vaucluse again, I would love to meet up with you 🙂 Life goes on, la vie continue!Je vous souhaite une trés bonne journée. Jos ps: I wonder how your feel after reading the feedbacks?
A thought which often has comforted me is
this from
Cicero:
” The evil have as difficult a time seeing good as the good have seeing evil.”
Elaine
One thing left for you to write= “go fuck yourself!!”
Wow, Kristi, this one packed a punch! I wish I had time to read the comments on this post. I am taken aback by their attack. I was once in a similar situation. I can say there is no making sense out of that which has none.
I so love your inclusion of the prickly-spiky urchin photo and your last paragraph? Brilliant!
Kristin, your friend Robin responded so succinctly that all I could think of to say was Ditto. More and more as I move on in life, other peoples opinion of me is of so little value. I have discovered that I am NOT their opinion. I am truly a child of God and His opinion of me is the only one, after all, that really matters. You are on my heart and in my prayers. I suggest you release them “with love” so that you don’t stay chained to them. God Bless, your friend Maryellen from Arlington Texas.
Chere Kristi, you are a beautiful soul! All the words above attest to the love we have for you and our gratitude to have had our lives blessed by you being openly, honestly YOU! Affectfueusement, Moi
Let it go, let it go, let it go. As others above have said, they have issues of their own that they are projecting on you. Now they can be your crazy neighbors. And when he gets some medication or has become enlightened, you can all laugh about it. People get passionate over politics, but he has taken it too far. Don’t engage. That’s why Robert Frost said good fences make good neighbors.
You sure do have an army of supporters, Kristi! You can consider me one among them! 🙂
Have you ever considered running for political office? 😉 I can see it now….
Dear Kristi, as a blog friend from afar,I think these so called “friends,” never deserved your friendship to begin with. True friends accept one another regardless of differences of opinion whether they be about politics or any other single thing. Find a way to put it behind you and know it’s really not about you!!! Your Colorado, USA friend and follower, Judi
All I can say is WOW! With each email my jaw dropped further! In our own neighborhood we have found it best to be GOOD NEIGHBORS, but not good friends with the people who live next to you….for the oh, so obvious reasons!
Bisous to Kristi, and Kristi and Kristi!
Certainly hit a nerve in a lot of individuals! I can relate to your story in that people come into our lives for a purpose, and they leave for a purpose as well. Our differences are sometimes too great and some people are bullies. They try to bully us into what they want us to be. Your pain brings compassion.
thank you
peace
Sara
As I read your post, I kept asking myself why you were putting up with this nonsense and then I realized I had done exactly the same thing with a niece a few months ago. Reading your story gave me some insight into what happened. You and I both thought we could calm the situation by making a positive comment about what the other person said and then move away from the volatile subject. It did not occur to either of us that they were bent on having a fight. It made them angry that we changed the subject. They wanted a fight. I think you were right not to have the last word. It is not possible to have the last word with people like this. The last email my niece sent me was so ugly that I was sorely tempted to reply, but I didn’t. Thanks to you and your story, I now see the situation clearly and will move on.
Wow did this bring back painful memories! It was exactly at the time of Sarkosy election that I was on vacation in Paris with my EX best friend. She reveal to me that she was having an affair with our teacher. I wanted to stay out of it. I felt awful for her husband who was also a friend. I finally told her I was not going to cover for her anymore. She became enraged and left me several horrible voice mails. She told me I needed to be more open minded. That I was crazy and needed therapy. I never saw her again. The sad thing is I still miss her.
Kristy those neighbors were awful. No wonder your husband wanted to move!
I would respond to this “friend” by giving them thanks for their concern over your mental health. I would tell them you will follow their advice by seeking the best English speaking doctor you can find and you will so kindly send to them the doctor bill. If one is able to open off at the mouth, they should be willing to open up their purse also.
“This brings me a certain peace when it comes to hurtful name-calling”.
Boys flying kites haul in their white winged birds. But you can’t do that,when you’re flying words.
From my dear Mother (orev ha’shalom)
Dear Kristi,
At some point, I considered that your friend “A” might have mental illness. Sometimes people who will later be diagnosed with Alzheimers or one of the many other types of dementia, start to lose their ability to behave rationally years ahead of time. I felt your pain and I was sorry you experienced this. But it has nothing to do with YOU.
not only am I aghast by someone saying such a thing, but saying such a thing about YOU! Nearly everyone who has commented here over the years has mentioned how courageous you are to wear your heart on your sleeve and share with us like you do. You put it all out there. That person’s letter says so much more about them than it does about you. I’m sorry you had to go through that.
bisous mon amie
A sad story. I think mental illness is clearly an issue here but it is not on your part, Kristi. The paranoia expressed by your neighbor alludes to a bigger problem.
What a timely topic. Thank you for being brave enough to write about your experience. I don’t understand people who act like your correspondent. I have many friends who are on the opposite side of me in politics and religion. If I know they hold to their opinions blindly then I don’t even bring either subject up. I’ve been severely tested during this election. I’ve also been affected by the “politics” of other kinds of issues. Yes, friendships have ended, but I was never the one to cut it off. Bon Courage!