Rules of Engagement

For tonight celebrating 163 birthdays among the three of me, my husband, and oldest son's May birthdays within four days of each other For tonight unestranged, and, if we each prefer, for the remainder of our lives more together, less apart We are here to understand and express appreciation for and with each other, not to fix anyone's misunderstandings or positions or perspective or ignorance or sin against God or Country or common sense, or love for each other, or all of the above. That way, if we get confused about which of these White God Red v Blue country or common sense Pillars of economic and political wisdom we have so shamefully violated, It doesn't matter because we're not going to try to understand Othering tonight And, if you prefer, for the remainder of our co-invested lives more together, less apart. If you want feedback about Past or Future You, please ask Because, for tonight, we are here together to hear how you are feeling now about appreciating abundant you as you are And about appreciating us as we are And any memories of our past we can revisit with full integrity appreciating you as part of us-- your Me as our interwoven We. So, if you want feedback about how and what you are doing and not doing, about who you are becoming or not becoming, you will have to ask. If you get feedback you cannot appreciate, at least as yet, Please, let's help remind each other, calmly and kindly, that giving unsolicited feedback, including how to solve your stupid problems for you, violates our rules for tonight and, if you prefer, for the remainder of our lives, more together, less apart. These rules apply to you, about yourself, and about us, and include me, about me, and about us. I invite your kind and calm reminder, and my own this night to appreciate and celebrate who I am as I am and who you are as we are compassionately co-invested Without judging ourselves or Others Without shaming ourselves or blaming Others for what we have failed to understand and to express co-passionately, To water our flowers and rewarm our best days, and not feed the cold dead weeds of our worst days before this our night more together, less apart.