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Bob Davidson
Re HW Bush -- I think I've mentioned that we went to the same church for many years and I taught two of his grandkids in Sunday School -- while I certainly can't claim them as friends, the Bushes and I were at least speaking acquaintances. Of their grandkids, one was an awesome young woman; the other, a problem child when he was in my class -- his parents were going through a divorce and he was thirteen and acting out. My favorite memory of HW is when he came back from being President and we had a welcome-back reception for him and Barbara in the fellowship hall one Sunday after 11:00 services. Hundreds of people lined up to shake their hands and welcome them back. They stood with the rector and a couple of the assistants and spoke to everyone for over an hour. My son was four at the time and a big follower of the news -- he could read the Chronicle and enjoyed current events. We were toward the end of the line and the Bushes must have been tired. President Bush kneeled down and shook hands with William and Alice, his little sister who was barely three, at their eye level. William told him he was his favorite president and Bush gravely thanked him. After that, he always made a point of greeting William whenever we saw one another -- saying things like "Hello William. Good to see one of my supporters." He and his wife were also incredibly gracious to William about five years later, the year he and their granddaughter Lauren were the elementary and high school kids, respectively, doing Scripture readings on Youth Sunday. Lauren took Will under her wing while they practiced and both Bush grandparents made a point of telling him afterwards what a good job he did and then told me and his mom, in front of him, that we must be very proud of him. Even though I thought he was way too moderate as a politician, I liked, respected, and admired President Bush and his wife. He made me think of a golden retriever; she, a queen.
On another note: Last night I took a world geography quiz on facebook. I got most of it right, but was guessing on several countries -- particularly newish African, Balkan, and former SSRs. Afterwards, I realized that I just don't care to learn their current names -- I've always been a geography buff and enjoyed knowing the world but don't anymore. I don't think they'll last -- in a few years, if we still have countries, they're most likely going to be part of the Russian Empire or Chinese East Africa -- or, if the American garbage elite really screws up, Post-Nuclear Wasteland. I would know every country in a 1978, 1962, 1945, 1939, 1914, 1812, etc., map because I'm interested in the history and know enough to have a fair amount of context, but I see no reason to know current temporary names.
Yet another note: The other day I stopped for lunch at the Schlozsky's on Kingwood Drive by our Kingwood office. I hadn't been there since before the COVID shutdown and was thinking I'd missed them. I noticed that the dozen or so customers all had white hair or dyed hair with white roots. (Before the lockdown, the customer base was housewife-looking women in workout clothes, often with little kids, or if I had a late lunch, high schook kids.) I ordered my regular sandwich and medium drink, took my number, and sat in a corner and watched everyone -- like I always do when I'm eating alone. A couple of women were quite querulous to the young man at the register about the ingredients on their sandwiches and then complained vociferously when their free water glasses were too small for their taste. Then a guy with a walker brought his back because it wasn't made right. The kid was polite to them all. I was thinking "boy those old people are hard to get along with" and identifying with the cashier. As I was leaving, I told the Indian owner that I was glad to see them open again and he said it was good to see me again. Afterwards, I realized that I'm older than probably half of those "old" people -- the ones in their 60s. Sigh! 
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