Republican party. What comes to mind? What are you trying to forget? Or are you just doing your best to ignore it all?
BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: OK, this isn't going to be about politics for several reasons.
First, because although Red loves history, and there's a fine line between being a student of history and following politics, her area of interest is Tudor history. (Even Black, who loves the question, "Why" hasn't asked her, "Why Tudor history?") Second, neither Red nor Black used to follow politics (we don't count knowing the basic principles of political parties). Ok, we'll be more precise. American politics. Red's excuse was much of her adult life was lived overseas. Black's excuse? She just wasn't interested. That changed for both of them with the 2016 Presidential election, when there seemed to be no way to avoid politics from that point forward.
But this post isn't about politics. You may be thinking, really? It certainly sounds a lot like politics, and we're all exhausted by politics. So, when Red was curious why the Republican party seemed to be imploding, or certainly was at war with itself, and even wondering if the "party of Lincoln" would survive, Black changed the focus of the conversation to the symbol of the Republican party – the elephant.
Anyone who has ever heard (pun intended) us at speaking engagements knows elephants often work their way into the presentation. It's an analogy from our book that becomes hard to forget or, at least, it's something Red has never forgotten. It happened early in her crisis, when she was struggling with having too much to do, too much to learn, and too much to cope with, and Black merely said,
You CAN eat an elephant. You just cannot do it in one sitting.
So, it didn't surprise Red that instead of commenting on the Republican party's current woes, Black immediately thought of the Republican's symbol, the elephant, and her analogy. But it did make Red realize that she didn't have a clue how the elephant became the symbol of the Republican party. But, being that lover of history, she knew the History channel could answer the question, "How did Republicans and Democrats get their animal symbols?".
When the news is challenging or life’s stressful, there’s something comforting about Girl Scout cookies. Always has been, which is why we’re rerunning this post from several years ago.
Girl Scouts, though, are about so much more than cookies, as year-round girls learn important life skills, gain confidence, and discover leadership skills. But buying cookies is such a sweet way (sorry, we couldn’t resist) to support the organization. Red’s favorite is the classic shortbread (now known as Trefoils), and Black buys a large assortment and gives them all away.
But hurry! Cookie season ends on March 23.
P.S. - If S’mores and Toast-Yay! are your favorites … make sure you stock up as this is the last year they’ll be available.
Let's play word association. If we say, "Girl Scouts," what's the first word that comes to mind? Ok, what's the second word?
BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: When Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low organized the first Girl Scout meeting – hoping to create an organization that redefined what was possible for girls everywhere – there was no way for her to know the difference it would make in the lives of millions of girls and their communities.
Many people's first (and sometimes only) image of Girl Scouts is as cookie salespeople – either selling door-to-door or at a make-shift table at a grocery or other store (or having their parents hand you an order form). But if you've been a Girl Scout (both of us have) or know someone who has, you know that Girl Scouts are about so much more.
So, as we celebrate the Girls Scouts being around for over 100 years, we should celebrate the years of fun and friendships, and for helping girls learn important qualities such as responsibility, courage, strength, and independence. Qualities that are as important in 2021 as they were in 1912.
And what better way to celebrate than to buy some Girl Scout cookies? Guilt-free as you're helping a good cause.
Today’s turbulent times for Jews may overshadow the celebration of the Jewish New Year, one of the holiest of the Jewish holidays. Yet, ironically, we feel it should strengthen its significance, as the holiday is a time for reflection on the past and hope for the future.
If you think today’s politics are ugly … let’s talk about a man who named himself “dictator for life” of the Roman empire, and is then assassinated by a group of senators, including his best friend. (However, there’s a “pretty” part – Cleopatra was his mistress.) Food trivia and leadership lessons aside, the fact July is named after him is the perfect excuse to rerun one of Red’s favorite Banter Bites …
Quick! If someone says "Julius Caesar," what comes to mind?
BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: Almost everyone has heard of Julius Caesar, but how many of us really know much about him, or at least that's what Red starts to wonder when she receives the usual flippant, but still accurate, reply from her sister, after feeling very proud that she knew that July was named after the famous Roman.
Which is what got Red to realize, much to her surprise (shock, if truth be told), that even as a straight-A student with a love of history, that when it came to Julius Caesar, a famous historical figure and possibly one of the greatest generals and statesmen of all time, she couldn't tell you dates or battles or anything "historical" associated with him.
Even as a theater major in college, she never read Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," although she knew just enough about the play to know that it was where the fortune teller warned Caesar to "Beware the Ides of March." Instead, her knowledge of Caesar came from her love of movies.
My first, and probably my most enduring, memory is of a brilliant general who not only commanded armies as he conquered lands far from home but was a great statesman who was also involved with one of the world's most beautiful women. And while he was Julius Caesar and the woman was Cleopatra, to me, they'll always be Rex Harrison and Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra, a movie almost as controversial as the general himself.
And Black? Besides knowing that Caesar Salad was invented by a different Caesar, she appreciates Julius Caesar's leadership skills and way with words,
There is much we can learn about leadership from Julius Caesar, whether on the battlefield, in politics, or in business (start small, take risks, communicate well), including what ultimately led to his death (always consider worst-case scenarios, never get complacent or arrogant). Many of his quotes speak (pun intended) to his powerful way with words, and the ability to not only deliver a message but to inspire (and story tell), with my favorite being, "I came, I saw, I conquered."