I don’t know the music of Taylor Swift. I’m sure this 33 year-old phenomenon has a lovely voice but that’s not what this is about. On TV this past weekend I saw this attractive young woman at a KC Chiefs game whooping it up watching her perhaps new boyfriend, a Super Bowl champ, play the game he plays so well, while sitting with his mother.
What I witnessed was pure joy, fun and, yes, hope. And that brought a tear to my eyes. Then I heard the inevitable Republican backlash, that Taylor Swift may not like Donald Trump and that she may support the reproductive rights of women. Heavens to Betsy! And now, Travis Kelce may be “woke” because he supports vaccinations. Young people these days. What is the world coming to?
I say leave these two lovebirds alone. Does anyone remember what it’s like to be young and in love? I can tell you, in between healthy cheering at a football game and an after-dinner with the team (and his Mom, for heaven’s sake), Taylor and Travis have way more to talk about than Donald Trump or COVID. Let them.
You may not be able to remember the days when you awoke to the day and lived your life thinking about, well, your life and not who/what the political climate tells you to hate today.
Now I hear that with her mere presence and inspiration, young people are registering to vote like never before. That Taylor Swift and Beyoncé are encouraging our newest generation of adults to participate in our democracy as responsible citizens. Amen to that! I’m sure the GOP already has something negative to say about that, as it’s now “OK” to bemoan any new voters as anti-Republican and try to keep them from registering to vote or removing their polling locations or threatening to change the constitution so that only old farts like me are allowed to cast a ballot.
Or, how about this, to say they were indoctrinated by banned books and liberal teachers in school so they shouldn’t be allowed to vote until they’re 25. That’s you, presidential alternatives to Trump.
You were young and hopeful once. The world was your oyster. You were unstoppable and impervious to aches and pains. You were overjoyed at learning new things and understanding your new capabilities. You were happy. You envisioned a great future, and knew that you could change the world. I’ll turn 65 in a few weeks and I remember those days as if it was yesterday. Guess who reminded me? A jubilant young woman watching a fellow superstar play football in Kansas City. Be you, be kind, and keep voting! Dee
Cooking with Dee 