Post here if you're from a Republican family

[senseandsensibility]

I'm not sure how to begin this post. I am from a Republican family. Here's my credentials: my mother actually held my baby brother up to be kissed by Richard M. Nixon in the sixties. She, to this day, thinks that Nixon did nothing that other Presidents did not do.

Fast forward forty years, and unfortunately, the picture has not improved. Now, my parents are eager consumers of FOX news, read Anne Coulter and AGREE with her, listen to limpballs and O'Reilly, and agree with them, and really, really, think they are right.

I am married to a white male who is to the left of Kucinich. But he is also from a very far right family. Everyone in his family is Republican. Every single person, including the union workers, the poor,and the elderly, sill to this day support chimp.

How do you handle it if you are in our position? I have tried to "handle" it for twenty years. I'm exhausted.

x(

[Phredicles]

1. D'oh - duplicate post

[Phredicles]

2. My late father was very conservative but since his passing my Mom

has called herself an independent but from what I can tell pretty much votes straight Democratic. Of their 6 children (we were Catholic, doncha know), two are conservative and four are varying degrees of liberal. We essentially never talk politics in "mixed company" any more - just as well.

There's a split in my wife's family too, and it's mostly the same deal, a (mostly unspoken) agreement that the whole topic is mostly best avoided.

[senseandsensibility]

3. Sounds like heaven

compared to my life. But then again, we've only recently decided to completely avoid discussing politics at family gatherings.

[Mojorabbit]

4. My father voted republican his entire life

my mother did not vote. The last election they both voted for Kerry(moms first ever time voting). They plan on voting a straight dem ticket this election coming up.

[senseandsensibility]

5. Well, good for them

I am happy for them and you. But I come from the kind of Republican family that worships chimp, and would continue to do so no matter what. Am I the only one?

[jbm]

6. my family were/are all huge repubs..

BUT..I live in an area where the dems used to be racist and conservative. My family was very traditional, but also quite liberal. It has taken a few years, but almost all of them have now become Democrats. There are still a few holdouts, but I haven't given up on them yet.

[azurnoir]

7. My dad a life long

republican and member of the RNC walked away from both over the Terri Schiavo incident, he is disgusted with GW and the religious overtones that came with him, not to mention the corruption of any ethics that the GOP may once have had.

[senseandsensibility]

14. Good for him!

:toast:

[phylny]

19. My dad registered Republican only because in his town/county if you

wanted ANYTHING done you had better be a Republican.

He cannot stand GWB and we have great conversations about liberal topics. My dad, a staunch Catholic, thinks abortion is morally wrong but doesn't want to see it outlawed.

My dad's great.

As for other family members, one brother and his family are very conservative and love Bush to death. We do not discuss politics, ever.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. glad you only have 6 replies. n/t

[senseandsensibility]

12. I wish it were zero!

x(

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. yes. If the Idiot keeps it up it will be zero by 2008. But

my inlaws still love him. Too proud to
admit they made a monumental mistake. They
live near the ranch (where I hope he takes a 2
year vacation and can't start any more wars).
They sold the ranch some cattle and wanted to
frame the freakin check.

[Arugula Latte]

9. Ugh.

I don't have a similar tale (though my parents were sort of Jerry Fordish moderate Repubs in the 70s/early 80s and thankfully eventually saw the light). I just want to say I really feel for you. That would be very, very hard for me. Hang in there.

[senseandsensibility]

10. Thank you!

I love Oregon, and grew up there! I understand it's very Dem these days!

[susanna]

11. I'm with you.

My family is; my husband's family is.

My tactic has been to politely tell them it's just NOT up for discussion, as it's wearing thin. I am still anticipating the day I get to tell someone to bite me. That idea just plain gets me up in the morning, LOL.

Seriously, I am sorry; I know you are looking for more serious insight. My good news? I have turned a couple of folks. I keep that quiet; don't want to cause a rift, ya know! :-)

[senseandsensibility]

13. Thanks for the reply!

I realize that it is very difficult to stand up to, or even to reason with, the true believers.

[JackORoses]

16. i have thought about this

and have come up with a theory.
I call it Peak Republican

The reason the Republicans are going no-hold barred for the power structure in this country is because our culture is evolving away from them holding anything resembling a majority.

Most Young Republicans are born of Old ones.
Many Young Democrats are born of Old Republicans.
Many Many Young Democrats are born of Old Democrats.

But very few Young Republicans are born of Old Democrats.

What does this equal in the long run as more old republicans pass on? Extinction for the Republican party.

I believe we have passed the tipping point (Peak Repub), and this is why they are making their last ditch grasp to hold onto the reins.

If we can just keep them from destroying the world during this transition, they will never have the numbers to take control again.

[izzie]

17. Well I voted GOP until RR came in.

My family were all in the GOP but the old GOP. I still believe a lot like my father who gave much money to his party. I think both parties have moved to the right some what. Just one thing comes to mind. My father said it takes a village to bring up a child and build a society. Who does that sound like? He hate taxes but you have to recall the percent for him was way up their not like to day.

[MysteryToMyself]

18. My son in law is a Republican. Does that Count?

My daughter is a Democrat. His family is Republican, big time. We had a one time political argument. He said the Democrats have no morals. It ended with no one speaking. He later asked my daughter,"Why should I care about the homeless/hungry in New York?" After deep thought, I told my daughter that politics aren't worth splitting the family. I said Bill and Hilary wouldn't know us if they met us and would never eat Thanksgiving dinner with us.

I helped my grandson do a report and display of the president of his choice and he chose Eisenhower. I thought this is my chance to make a statement. I would display the meanness/greed of the man and his party very subtly.

I read a biography of Eisenhower. It was fascinating. He wasn't the devil's spawn or devil incarnate. I remember Dad saying "Ike isn't like most Republicans." Ike had been in war, he was the last five star general even. He had come to hate war. He thought it was treasonous to not let citizens express anti-war views. He made many nice, commonsense quotes. He worried that our country would be taken over by the military complex. Note: Ike's son voted against Bush. Our country has been taken over by the military complex.

My daughter never quit defending the democrats, but it is hard, since the New Democrats seem to have the worst parts of both parties. I want to tell the female democrats that they don't have to prove they are manly tough. They could add compassion and understanding to the mix. Hilary, Diane and Blanche, I hardly recognize any of them as a woman or a democrat. They are not nurturing women. Woman's liberation has failed.It hasn't improved the world. (And we fought so hard for it.)

I am still a democrat. Somewhere out there there are Democratic leaders that hate war and want no child bombed or going to bed hungry. They want to really save Social Security. Whatever it takes.

The oddest thing is my son in law's family, at first defended Bush, but have lost their loyalty. They have evolved and realize that Bushites are a disaster. Since having children, my son in law has decided that children should be helped by the government if for some mental, physical moral or financial reason(like working for slave wages)the parents can't do it. Where does that leave us? A democracy confused and angry. A divided country that is on wobbly legs. There must be a forth way.

Rob Portman is on TV now, saying they have to do something about Social Security to save it. That is republican speak for dismantling it. I have an idea for Mr. Portman. Quit running up the deficit so when the Baby Boomers retire, you can pay our bonds back as we need the money.

[PA Democrat]

20. I'm exhausted too.

My parents are both registered Democrats but have become extremely right wing in their views since they've started watching FOX News and the 700 Club, and listening to right wing radio. My siblings are all right wingers, too. My husband, thank God, is a good liberal, as is my mother-in-law. But of my husband's 3 siblings, 1 is Democrat and 2 are Republicans.

It makes for interesting family get-togethers to say the least. During the administrations of Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton, the talk about politics was minimal and mostly joking in nature. It has become caustic since the chimp took office. My dad and one brother-in-law in particular have become aggressively adversarial in that they are always bringing up politics by making remarks that they know will upset you. Sometimes I ignore them and just change the subject, but other times I've let them have it with both barrels as has my husband.

It's gotten to the point that I don't want to spend time with family members because it is so unpleasant. Last Christmas, my brother-in-law toasted George Bush at the family Christmas dinner. On my son's most recent birthday, my dad launched into a verbal assault on "tree-huggers" when he knows that I completely disagree with his wacky anti-environment, global-warming-denying views.

Since Bush took office, family gatherings have turned from a pleasant experience into a something I dread. George Bush is such a "uniter".

[marions ghost]

21. my mom and dad

were both flaming liberals from very conservative, very Republican families of doctors, lawyers and small businessmen. John Kennedy galvanized my parents politically at an early age. They voted for Kennedy and put some effort into his campaign. They worked for civil rights and environmental causes. That had a big impact on their children. We knew our parents were taking brave stands on important issues. Consequently we grew up not liking our Republican relatives too awfully much, although my parents stuck with them and taught us to try to get along. But even as kids we could see how narrow-minded and self-centered they were. It was no surprise to me when I heard later that a couple of them (doctor and lawyer) were big limpballs fans. Couldn't take them seriously at all after that. Saw them as very gullible and delusional. No desire to spend any time with them. Their stock went way down in my book.

Conservatives often like to think of themselves as the annointed ones, the pillars of the community, respectable and responsible...holding the line against anarchy and hippies, communism and mob rule, which is how they interpret any kind of populism. This is their noble role in life, they believe. They are generally inflexible and lack imagination. Authoritarian father archetype, they think they should control things, 'have dominion over.' It's kind of pathetic really. So much more can be accomplished with less rigidity and less ego. Well now that they're totally in control of everything, maybe more people can see the spectacular failures that can happen when you let reactionaries rule. They have plunged us into a Dark Age and it's going to take a lot of progressive practical thinkers to lead the way out.

So Sense, you are not alone in being in the political minority in your family. I'm sure that many of us can relate to it, although I'd say that I did have the advantage of my parents being very strong in their progressive beliefs so I wasn't on the front line like you are, so to speak. A little advice--it's up to you and hubby to set some rules of engagement, according to your own stress meter.
If you can get along with them and stay away from political subjects, OK. If you can even talk about politics in a civil way, well OK, but be ready to cut off immediately if it goes bad. If they can't talk about politics without putting you down and arguments erupt, or you feel like you are always being baited or ridiculed, then that would be the line in the sand for me. I wouldn't put up with that stuff.

With some of my more rabid conservative relatives who like to drop little 'hit and run' jibes on political subjects, I don't bite the bait. I treat them like naughty children that go around pinching and annoying other people. They don't deserve serious debate. First I stare at them like they've lost their minds. I try to look them straight in the eyes, like how Colbert bores a hole through his guests. Then I say something like, "Hey, so tell me about Uncle Bob's hernia operation..." (I have thought of my 'change the subject' lines ahead of time, esp if it's some occasion like a wedding or funeral where I was anticipating the event). Takes all the fun out of it for them. They actually don't do it much anymore. You just want to curb the rude behavior.

OK so your parents are hardcore but they're your parents and you have to accept them as they are. Try to be compassionate as you would for anyone who is immersed in an odd cult that has hijacked their brains. This is giving them some sense of power over a world that is scary to them. Some conservatives will be psychologically strong enough to jump off the Hindenberg, but some won't. If your parents are among the last diehards to go down with the ship, just accept that they needed to do that. Let go of fond desires that they will ever understand your politics. In other words, don't expect epiphanies, big changes of heart, which may never come. If your being oppositional just adds fuel to their fire, give it up. Don't push their buttons and don't let them push yours. If it's just hard for you to be around them, set boundaries for interaction.

Y'know families have disagreed for centuries about something or other...it's all about negotiation, terms, boundaries. Look for support for your beliefs elsewhere. I'm getting that you HAVE tried your best, and you are now exhausted by the effort. So work on letting go. Really let go of the struggle. Just LET GO of it all. This will most likely get better with time. The NeoCons goose is cooked. :)

[senseandsensibility]

37. Thanks for the thoughtful relply!

I really appreciate it! I am following your advice to let go. Because of my exhaustion, I don't have much choice! In fact, shortly after posting this, I had to go to bed. I just couldn't deal with it anymore. This morning, after reading your reply and many others, I feel refreshed. However, I have let go and will continue to do so. It feels so much better, and really there is nothing I can do.

[marions ghost]

40. ah good

letting go can take awhile...once you cast off from the pier it takes awhile to get up to speed. Now that you are making the the mental leap, you will know how to handle situations as they come up more objectively. You have a new goal now --not to let this stress you anymore, come what may. And you have an ally in your husband. So you will be OK. Glad to have helped even a little bit--I have been there. :thumbsup:

[MysteryToMyself]

55. Sense&Sensibility You can't control what other people say

but you can control your reaction to them.

I quit discussing it with the in-laws, but my daughter quietly spoke the truth each manic spasm of the Bushites. It was a combination of things, my caring enough not to want to disrupt the family, her being politely honest and the Bushites being so radical and fiscally irresponsible.

[foreigncorrespondent]

22. Yep, kinda!

My grandparents (mothers side) were both right leaning voters (he has passed on, but she is still around. Here in Australia it isn't the repuke party, but the liberal party.) I remember growing up always being told to make sure I always vote liberal. When I turned 18 (legal age for voting here) my grandmother wanted to enter the booth with me to make sure I voted her wishes! Luckily for me the workers didn't allow it so I was able to vote the way I wanted, and not made to feel guilty by her for years after. I now have no contact with my grandmother, after I came out she kicked me out of her home.

My father and step mother are both right leaning voters. I do not have contact with either of them, not because of who they vote for, but because of the fact I am a lesbian and my dad doesn't like that little fact.

Not sure about my two younger half brothers, but I think they are too stoned and caught up in armed robberies etc to actually care about voting period.

My mum and sister are both lefties though.

And thank God Sapphocrat is a good little leftie!

On edit typo

[marions ghost]

26. and so it goes

the same issues...the same wall-building, the same struggles in families...the world over. Is there any country that does NOT have this tug-of-war between conservatives and progressives? Maybe Iceland?

[twiterpatted]

23. My family believes that poverty is a moral issue and that the

free market should apply to all things including public education.

Ergo, bat shit crazy.

My family project there own inadequacies onto society at large.

[sweetpotato]

24. Me too

I, too, am from a Republican family. My parents LOVE Rush, Fox News, and all the RW literature. Ditto the in-laws. Racism, sexism and homophobia abound. Family events are loads of fun.

I avoid most of the conversations. My blood pressure goes up just thinking about the holidays.

[RayOfHope]

25. Me.

I call my family the "super republicans". They are members of that 30something% club that still has faith in *. My grandma sends me bullshit repub emails (many of them hateful against Jews and Muslims), one of my brothers married into a fundie family, his bookshelves are full of coulter, limbaugh, insanity, dobson, etc., and my other brother isn't a fundie but is very 'conservative' (which these days means bigoted/racist). My father donates the maximum amount of money to repubs on the state and federal level, as such his house and office is littered with republican shit (coffee mugs, magnets, photos, etc). It goes without saying that faux news is the gospel to them.

My mother in law told me in 2004 how she admired cheney even more than *. She opens up wide and swallows for faux news. I've gotten into it enough times with her that she STFU around me now.

I have nearly cut off ties with the fundie brother, and ties are weakening with the other brother. I told my father in 2004 that I can never discuss politics with him again. To me, a vote is also a moral and ethical choice, and I can't stand their moral and ethical choices. I live 3 hours away from all of them, so we don't get together all that much.

I counteract their republican damage by volunteering for dem campaigns in my area. I work hard to get dems in office, and that makes me feel like I'm sticking it to them while I'm doing something good for my country.

[senseandsensibility]

38. Good for you!

Working to elect Dems is productive and a great way to "stick it to them", as you say. I hadn't really thought of it that way. My hubby and I work for local Dems too, and were precinct captains for Kerry. None of our Republican relatives voounteer for their candidates that they say they believe in so strongly.

[antigop]

27. How do you handle it?

Do what I do...


Stop going to family functions. Why should I hang around with someone who is supporting policies that are killing me?

[antigop]

28. I might add...

There is no law that says you have to attend family functions.

Just stop going...it has done wonders for my peace of mind on holidays.

[senseandsensibility]

39. I don't want to stop seeing my parents

They are getting older, and that just isn't an option for me. We almost never discuss politics now anyway. Too many bad experiences over the years have convinced everyone involved that it's not productive. Even so, the unspoken words hand heavy between us. I wish that we could agree, or at least respect each other's opinion enough to have a civil discussion. But it is literally impossible with people who get all their info from FAUX and limpballs.

[antigop]

54. well, you asked "How do you handle it?"

That's how I handle it. I've just stopped going to family functions.

As I said, there is no law that says you have to go. You'd be surprised how much you can enjoy your holidays without having to put up with wingnut relatives.

[Roon]

29. My,step-mother, step-father, mother, and father

Are all RW radio, foxnews, Bush supporting, right wingers. Yet,they are my most favorite people in the world.

My Grandparents, on the other hand, are just as left as I am. So it all balances out.

[marions ghost]

41. LOL

write a book about how you make that work :)

[Roon]

45. A simple rule

No political debate allowed. Of course, I still discuss politics with my Grandparents because we are on the same side.

[Rhiannon12866]

48. Everyone in my family is RW, as well...

Except for my cousins, who I've had discussions with and they've seen the light. But my mother os a great fan of O'Reilly, Hannity, Limbaugh and Scarborough. *sigh* I can't discuss much with her without her getting mad...:-(

But my grandmother was also an exception. She voted Republican all her life, including against FDR, but she woke up in 1992, since she began hanging with a more liberal crowd, LOL, and voted for Bill Clinton, twice! She called me to tell me and I told her that I did, too, but that there was no need to tell the others..:evilgrin:

[ThatsMyBarack]

30. Not in my *immediate* family, but....

....on my mother's side, she has a cousin in West Virginia that ran for some Republican office three years ago. However, his daughter--my favorite cousin---is a lifelong Democrat like me! :toast:

[JitterbugPerfume]

31. my sister (whom I love)

recently asked me "how could I stray so far from all daddy taught me" <sigh>

I think there are about 5-6 Democrats in my whole extended family, other than me and my kids


my niece actually told me that she is a Democrat but made me promise not to tell her mom!!

[BraveandCrazy]

32. I am from a right-wing family

My dad actively supported the KKK. My sis and brother are right-wing, bushbots. My half-sister marches with the Klan. I guess you could say that I'm surrounded by idiots. Even my mother supports Little Boots.

I "handle" them by steering clear of them. I do not have anything to do with them if I can help it. My dad died and my half-sister lives somewhere in TN - don't know where because I told her to take a hike with her bigoted self.

My sister is in the Air Force and she's back in Afghanistan - for the 2nd tour. She's been in Iraq as well.

My mother complains about losing her overtime pay, losing her health benefits and all of that but she voted for * twice.

I used to spend a lot of time wondering if I was adopted.

Now, I just ignore them all and try to raise my kids to understand my beliefs. I don't force anything on them. I married a nice liberal man and am very happy with my great liberal friends.

Peace.

[Rhiannon12866]

51. Yikes! I am so sorry! And I thought that I had it bad...

My family has always voted Republican, but they are just uninformed, since my mother listens to the likes of O'Reilly and Limbaugh, and my brother will do anything to annoy me...:-(

My Dad was a Republican and very involved with local politics, but he was the kind of guy who liked everyone and was the antithesis of racist. I haver often wondered what he'd think of today's Republican party, since it's hardly the one that he knew...:shrug:

And my grandmother saw the light in 1992, and voted for Bill Clinton, twice, LOL! So there may be hope for the others, like my cousins, who have also woken up and I've has some productive discussions with them.:-)

But I also have one who's moved to Tennessee and has begun sending me some pretty questionable stuff... But I'd prefer to discuss this sort of thing with her in person...:-(

Given your tough background, I'm just glad to hear that you found your way, a great guy, and that you managed to find us. You're among friends here, and we're very glad to have you with us! You may definitely be brave, but I assure you that you aren't crazy!:D

Peace to you, as well. Rhiannon:hi:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

33. I am from the GOOD kind of Republican family.

My father and grandfather were for the Republic and against the Franco Fascists, pre-Spanish Civil War.

Dad's town was quickly seized by the Fascists at the start of hostilities, and Dad was recruited to work as a paramedic and pharmacist. Since that involved saving lives instead of ending them, he decided to lay low and do his job.

Granddad (whom I never met) kept going in and out of jail for insulting the Generalissimo in public, and Dad kept bailing him out (using the friendships he made in the Army).

So, I can say I'm a PROUD REPUBLICAN too.

And, in case you're wondering -- yes, I admit Juan Carlos I is an excellent King but I STILL think a Republic would be best. I don't like the concept of "royal families."

[Seabiscuit]

34. Hmmm... the easy answer?

uh, put them out of, uh, your misery?

Arsenic and Old Lace?

[TheFriedPiper]

35. I just tell mine: I'm not SCARED enough to vote Republican

And then ask them "why are you?"

Always challenge them on weakness. They think America is too WEAK to defeat terrorists without giving up what makes America great.

They want to allow the terrorists to change America.

Republicans hate us for our freedoms.

[donsu]

36. when Nixon was pres. I told my Rep. father that Nixon was a criminal

he was enraged and said I was crazy (his favorite term for me)

when it was proven Nixon was a criminal - did he apologize? of course not.

[Cleita]

42. Shut the door on them. Honestly.

I too am from a Republican family who were working class people, but they at least could think. Limbaugh, et al would not have impressed them. At least they tried to keep informed. There always was a newspaper delivered to our door every day no matter where we lived and weekly newsmagazine, "U. S. World Report". My dad always listened to Edward Murrow from New York on shortwave radio.

They mostly objected to the socialism the Democratic Party leaned towards in those days, but they certainly would have seen the fascism of the present GOP today because they were well traveled and familiar with those kinds of governments. They always proudly told me how we would never see that in America. (I'm so happy they died before this although they voted for Nixon.) Funny about the socialism they so objected to, it was Social Security and Medicare that enabled them to have a comfortable old age.

[Bucky]

43. Open the door to them. Really.

Many Republican voters don't lack compassion, intelligence, or human decency. They lack facts. Sharing what you know may not win them all over to our side, but intelligent discussions do tend to favor pragmatic liberalism. When conservatives win aruments, it's usualy because they've smashed straw dragons and rejected mawkish steotypes of liberals of the sort that Limbaugh and O'Reilly dream up. Simple facts, honest analysis, and practical solutions tend to do better about removing peoples' eye-scales.

Plus, they're family. If shit hits the fan, good families will put differences aside and close ranks. If you're so blessed to have good family like that, then political views are not worth losing it over.

[Cleita]

46. Sometimes toxic family just needs to go.

Life is too short for the aggravation.

[Momgonepostal]

44. Raises hand

Everyone in the home I grew up in is republican. My Dad worked on Goldwaters campaign and once owned a shirt that said "make war, not love." What I can say for my dad is that he was very smart, and politically aware, although he saw the world very differently than I do.

My mother and sister are republicans but not very political. They both love George Bush and most of what he stands for, although don't even know what exactly he stands for. :eyes: My mother hates that medicare has been cut and rates increased, but doesn't seem to think that's a republican thing at all. My sister's life has been hugely financed by the government over the years, through subsidized housing, zero interest housing loans, public education, grants and loans for her husband's university education, WIC to help feed her 4 children. She does not seem to realize that if the people she votes for had their way, all the little programs she has benefited from over the years would be greatly reduced or worse case, completely eliminated.

My mother thinks women should have the right to choose abortion, although she personally wishes they would not make that choice. She does not seem to realize or care that the people she votes for want to take that right away.

If I mention any of this or make any remotely negative comment about George Bush or republicans, they smile and roll their eyes. I mostly avoid political discourse with these people, which is easy to do since they are very informed and don't know enough about politics to sustain a conversation.

[Rhiannon12866]

49. I avoid political discussions with my family, as well.

Though sometimes it's just unavoidable. My thought is, like yours, that those who support Bush* are those who are just not paying attention. I know what my mother believes and, if she actually thought about it, like abortion rights, fiscal responsibility and civil rights, she doesn't agree with George Bush* at all! But she listens to all the wrong sources and, though she's far from stupid, has bought all the lies. I wish that I could convince her, but it's just not worth it, anymore...:-(

[frebrd]

47. I left!

Grew up in a family of "hidebound Rebublicans" and off-the-wall religious nuts. My whole childhood felt surreal.

I left home (Santa Monica) when I was sixteen. Went back once twenty years later for four months, then left again.

My (six years) younger brother said he was a partisan Republican 'til he was almost forty, then Reagan turned him into a partisan Democrat. He also backed away from the religious thing eventually. I didn't know all this until a few years before he died, but then we became pretty well acquainted and kept in touch for the rest of his life.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AspenRose]

52. My family of origin is Democrat; however my in-laws are Repugs

as is my husband.

Most of the time we don't discuss politics.

[Cha]

53. You poor thing!

That's all I gotta say!

[diamidue]

56. oh yeah!

My dad worked in Reagan's office & was appointed to one of his task forces - back when Reagan was gov. I heard a lot of stories about the Reagans from him. How do I get along with my folks? Let's just say I rebelled, left home and didn't look back. We drop each other a line now and then, but that is all. My children are in college now and they wouldn't recognize their grandmother if they met her on the street. People are just wired differently, I think. And life is too short.