It hurts my ears, my head, my sinuses and my belly to hear Donald Trump’s voice in the recordings we’ve heard in his impeachment trial. It feels like our abuser has come back to haunt us.
I do believe however, that we need to see this process through. How can any parent teach his or her or their kid right from wrong without everyone having to experience the consequences of bad behavior? I think about this all the time. I heard my share of “how come Andrew didn’t get punished”?s when I was raising the #Exhibits ™, and I had to just confess that I was the stricter, meaner parent (compared to Andrew’s mother). In the end, I had nicer children, imho.
The impeachment managers from the house have done a superb job; they have presented the jury with a set of clear arguments for why Trump must be convicted. Anyone who votes to acquit is either just loyal to his/her party elders, or auditioning for a bigger piece of that base’s pie. Ick
Lisa Birnbach and Chris Frantz
But Wait! That’s not the only thing on my mind. Love is on my mind. Valentine’s Day is approaching (one of the trickier of the fake holidays), and I’ve read the most romantic book. It’s Chris Frantz’s memoir, Remain in Love.
I know that spilling the beans is more exciting when the beans are spoiled or filled with spurious gossip. But Chris’s book is about the enduring love affair he has with his wife, Tina Weymouth, who has partnered with him in both bands, and in life. Find a partner who regards you the way Chris idolizes Tina, I now say. And it’s about creating a new kind of music in the 1970s and 1980s with 3 classmates from RISD, (David Bryne went to this reknown art school too; Jerry Harrison was studying architecture at Harvard when he became a rock musician), touring the world with other bands, being swept up in the punk movement, and creative differences with a bandmate. Somehow it just all sounds wonderful.
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Before you hear Chris Frantz, here is my list of 5 things that make my life better.
1. Representative Jamie Raskin, again. His brief, which he presented to the Senate on Tuesday, was eloquent and emotional. His love of this country is palpable. His words memorable.
2. This video, which my friend Paul sent me made me cry happy tears.
3. My mom got her second vaccine, for which I am more than grateful.
4. Meyer lemons. I just got some and they just seem so much more festive than regular old lemons. (Apologies to lemons.). They are more orange, sweeter, and seem to have fewer pits.
5. Shopping local. I’ve been talking about this with my #Exhibit B™. We’re trying to patronize the shops that aren’t Amazon that aren’t Apple, that aren’t franchises. They have one branch and are working like hell to stay in business. No matter whether they sell food or sculpture, it’s tough to expect people to buy things when they don’t need new clothes or anything else. I just bought a shirt from SALTVenice in Los Angeles, a favorite spot in Venice Beach located at 1114 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291 (310) 452-1154.
I’ll mention a local shop every week for the next several.
Chris Frantz’s 5 Things:
1 My two beagles, Poppy and Kiki,
2. Tropical Islands
3. Visiting Brittany in France
4. Sailing
5. Soul Music
Tina, Poppy and Kiki
More About Chris Frantz
REMAIN IN LOVE: Talking Heads ● Tom Tom Club ● Tina
By Chris Frantz
Published by St. Martin’s Press
Twitter @ChrisFrantzTTC
Instagram @frantzchris
Facebook @ChrisFrantz
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The 5 Things That Make Life Better podcast is recorded and produced at The Field in NYC. My team is Shpresa Oruci, Michael Porte, Sam Haft and Boco Haft.The Field in NYC.