The conversations around the dinner table continue to amaze me during the pandemic.  Start with the science… add in the political theater…throw about some ideas of civil liberties and public health… stir it all together while being seen through social media and strongly varying opinions…. There are just so many ways that any one topic could go these days.

Plus, just when it seemed that anything we could possibly want to discuss was already out there for discussion, America’s reaction to George Floyd’s death stirs up the family discourse yet again.

Around the table, we’ll normally see 21, 20, 19, 16 and 15 year-olds, some in college, some in high school, and one out working.  I don’t always agree with all of them.  But, I do appreciate hearing their logic.  (If there are any holes in the reasoning of any viewpoint, well, it’s fair game–and hones their oral argumentation skills.) 

This nightly routine of coming together around food—and sharing our thoughts—is important, I think.  They have so many things to say, so many opinions and strong feelings going through their heads right now. 

My silver lining today is that we are all here.  Together.  That seems a really good thing, especially right now.