For several months now I’ve been attending MeetUp functions with women in my area. Various members of the group get together for wine or lunch. Sometimes we go for leisurely walks and visit historic landmarks. I always enjoy myself.
I’m beginning to get to know some of the women who attend, and find some of us have a great deal in common. On the whole, we tend to be a fairly progressive group. Even those that tend to be more conservative politically are appalled by the antics of our current potus.
One evening last week seven of us met for wine and dinner at a local restaurant. I knew three of the women in attendance, but three were new to MeetUp.
One of the first timers bristled a bit when the talk turned to the need for action on gun control. The shootings in Parkland, Florida, on Valentine’s Day are still very much on our minds.
“Well!” she huffed. “I’m a member of the NRA, and we can’t ban assault rifles.”
I restrained myself–you all would’ve been proud of me, but she also announced that she was carrying (a gun, I suppose, but might’ve been drugs, the terminology is similar), so maybe it was fear and not restraint that kept me silent.
We turned the talk away from guns, and someone else mentioned the Me Too movement. Again this woman spoke up, “Just ridiculous. These women parading around with hats shaped like vaginas…”
“I have one of those. I wear it proudly,” I said.
“Well, it’s so vulgar and extreme,” she countered.
“Sometimes, we have to be extreme to make a point,” someone else added.
The conversation was steered away again, and we continued to drink our wine and snack on appetizers. We even found things we had in common with Ms. NRA. I don’t want to know if she voted for trump. I don’t want to discuss women’s issues with her. I definitely don’t want to take up gun control when she’s in the room. But, if she’s at any future MeetUps I’ll strike up a conversation with her. Maybe I’ll wear my pussy hat.
Peace, people.
Praying for Eyebrowz 
If time spare allows, would you mind becoming PM of the UK, young Leslie. Well done…plus you’ve kept a little back for another day.
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I can barely run my household!
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And? You should be in politics, local or national. You are erodite and you care, young Leslie
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You’re awfully kind.
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Pussy hat? Not sure I can talk the knit and crochet for charity ladies at my church into this project….. 🙂
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Hahaha! Nope.
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Please wear it! “Pussy Hats” are offensive but walking around with a gun is cool?
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That was my thinking.
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Part of me is curious what her reasoning is for why banning assault rifles is bad. But were I in your place, I would have stayed silent too. Sometimes it’s the silence that lets people like that know of your disapproval. – Marty
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She obviously thought she was among like-minded people. We all got pretty quiet after her pronouncement.
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Pussy hats are shaped like vaginas? Not mine. I have a feeling that Ms. Packing Heat won’t be back.
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Who knows?? She seemed rather oblivious.
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