Cuernavaca is Alive and Well- 2017

We had an uneventful trip to Mexico City where Pepe was waiting for us at the airport.

Fred and Kat, our wonderful hosts along with three other couples had postponed margarita time until we arrived, so we started off our visit with margaritas and a great discussion.

There are a few rules that are affirmed when new guests arrive:

• You can talk about your health but only on the first day.  After that it's off the table.
• There can be only one conversation at a time - no side discussions.
• People who are talking must not be interrupted.

Although the one conversation at a time rule may sound difficult, over the years it has come to be appreciated by all and Fred needs fewer occasions to remind us.  The end result is that everyone is a part of the discussions which make them lively and varied.

Last night Trump became the topic quite quickly.  It was apparent that there was a range of political stances present, but after a bit, Kat asked the group, "How many people in this room voted for Trump?"  It turned out no one had.

There was a wager on the table that Trump would survive the first four years.  There were several who thought differently.  

Some other memorable conversations:

• People are really missing the mark when they keep talking about Trump.  The real problem are the millions of middle America who voted for him.  We have a problem in this country that most people refuse to look at.  

This provoked a lively repartee and it was unanimously agreed that there are angry disenfranchised Americans with legitimate beefs.

• Trump is getting a raw deal with the press.  Take a look at the headlines and then read the articles and you'll see very little connection.  The headlines sensationalize everything and blow it way out of proportion. 

 I had to counter this and brought up the "alternative truths" that seemed rife in the Trump camp.  I think when he says that if it weren't for 3 million fraudulent votes, he would have won the popular vote, the press needs to call him on that.  There is absolutely no basis for this accusation.  I think it's very dangerous for the president of the United States to aver that our journalists are liars because that undermines the credibility of the information we're getting and opens the door for more alternative truths to thrive.

• If you were to take either California or New York out of the mix, Trump would have won the popular vote.

I found this to be an interesting concept- but it's totally hypothetical because California and NY are very much a part of the mix!

• It's like the Cleveland Indians who said they should have won the World Series because they scored more accumulative runs than the Cubs!!

This drew much laughter-  a very apt analogy.  Maybe Baseball's secret electoral college, has something to do with the breaking of the Cub's curse.

• Hillary ran the worst campaign ever.  One guest had attended a discussion in Chicago with David Axlerod who said that Hillary had been so confident in her victory that she stopped campaigning in October.  She got the polls so wrong that she never went in to Wisconsin.  If she had paid attention to Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, she would have won the election.

• It's not what you say, it's what you do.   

I agree that actions speak loudly, but words are also very important and powerful.  I am befuddled by the leeway people give Trump for his outlandish comments about women, judges, celebrities, opponents, Schwartzenegger, and on and on...  Why isn't there more outrage about the smarmy tactics and mean spirited demeanor of this man?

• We need to give him a chance.  It's only been a month; we need to cut him some slack.

Well I guess we don't have much choice...  wait and see...

Dinner was lovely with red roses on the table for Valentine's Day and a big heart shaped cake surrounded by fresh strawberries.  Then after coffee and chocolates in the salon, we retired.  

I can't tell you how great it is to be here!