1) Sometimes, wisdom comes along when you really need it. Today I have to start a difficult discussion, and how to engage diplomatically and unapologetically and specifically has been gnawing at me. This morning, I picked up Baltasar Gracián’s The Art of Worldly Wisdom for the first time in awhile for devotional, and wouldn’t you know it, number 245 held part of the answer for me: “Consider it an honor to be criticized, especially by those who speak ill of good people. You should be pained when your things please everyone; it is a sign that they are not good, for perfection belongs only to a few.”
1a) I show up on both sides of this coin. While I have to share criticism today, I have certainly had readers call me to account if they disagree with Etiquetteer.
2) I haven’t left this house since Thursday morning, and all of a sudden I have a lunch with my brother-in-law’s niece visiting from the West Coast. How exciting!
3) The pleasure of seeing items turn up on my calendar is mitigated by Omicron. It confirms that I made the right call in keeping Repeal Day this Friday evening on Zoom and not in person.
3a) And you can still get tickets here.