Blog 3357 – 01.11.2025

Being Mindful of Strongly Held Opinions

I do not always state it in every blog, yet Dear Readers, I hope it is understood that the standard disclaimer for most publications always applies: “The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.” And I might add “at the time I authored the piece” for it is just as likely that I might write a piece today or tomorrow expressing an opinion totally opposite to the one I wrote yesterday. These are just opinion pieces and no matter how strongly I hold these opinions in the moment, I could be wrong, and I always reserve the prerogative to change my thinking.

If have been thinking a lot lately about differing opinions. Some that come up often this time of year are strong opinions regarding the weather. Like the classic Marilyn Monroe movie from the nineteen-fifties, Some Like It Hot, others like myself though a devoted MM fan when it comes to the weather I prefer it cooler even cold.

My sister-in-law Esther lives in Indianapolis and has texted me several pictures lately of snow on her vehicle and in her yard. I have a friend in Wisconsin, Deb, who texts me “Happy Birthday” every time in snows there because she has heard me say on several occasions that one of my favorite gifts for my birthday is snow – I love snow. I responded to Esther’s text and snow pictures yesterday with: “I think I must have been a Yankee boy in another life because I love snow so much.” Esther like me was born and raised in the South, I in Tennessee and she in South Carolina. Both states get more snow than Texas, especially Southeast Texas. It is a good thing for me that I also love rain because most years we get quite a lot of that here.

My wife’s mom Betty Lou has some pretty strong opinions regarding the weather. She likes it hot and does not care much for snow or rain even though as a life-long farmer’s wife she knows how important rain is. She and I have opposing opinions about the weather, yet we disagree pretty agreeably. Yesterday, when the topic came up again and mom was complaining a bit about the cold, I reminded her of the Serenity prayer:

The weather being one of those things we cannot change I think we need serenity more than courage and wisdom to deal with it. We may be unable to change the weather but we can change our minds or when all else fails our location.

I always marvel at people who live up north and complain about cold, snow, and ice or at people on the Gulf Coast who complain about the heat, humidity, and hurricanes. The expression comes to mind, “It comes with the territory.”

Just my opinion and I could be wrong.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

Authors Note:

If you are wondering about the title picture today. I have written several opinion pieces in the past against hand guns in particular. In recent months since acquiring fifteen acres of wooded property in East Texas near the Sabine River I began carrying a 32 Beretta on walks in the woods just in case I might chance upon an alligator, coyote, or some other unexpected aggressive critter. Well, I have been thinking lately (always a dangerous thing) that perhaps I might want a bit more fire power, so yesterday at a nearby Pawn Shop, after a brief background check, I purchased the above Smith & Wesson Feather-Weight 38 Special. Alligators beware! I have no intention of ever using it to settle strongly held opinions. Words can be taken back, not bullets.