The Stress of the Facade

I had a delicious brunch at Tapas Picasso Spanish Restaurant with a friend, to celebrate her birthday. Tapas is a comforting array of delicacies. Paella a la Valenciana (a beautiful medley of spices, mussels, chicken, shrimp, vegetables and rice), canteloupe melon and proscuitto, fresh fruit, grilled salmon in a cilantro sauce with raspberries.



It was a relaxing few hours, with no need to rush. There are not enough days like that. Inevitably politics sat at the table with us, a not unexpected event considering the birthday gift I gave my friend. At least we had a good laugh when she unwrapped it. My reflection on the current state of affairs in the USA? Something I have coined as "the stress of the facade of freedom".



How many of us are suffering from it?: anger and frustration simmering just below the surface because of the violation of our civil rights and the repeated attempts to threaten us into submission with daily alleged threat alerts; the churning stomach from hearing daily lies and mudslinging; it takes its toll on the body after a while. I wonder how many have high blood pressure from it all?



Can the world outside the USA hear the screams of the American people, people who want a change of government?



The stress of the facade of freedom.