Did you ever feel deprived because you family never lived up to a Norman Rockwell image?

I felt deprived until one day a friend of mine, a Lutheran pastor, assured me that no one else's family lived up to the images portrayed in a Rockwell painting. Did yours?

It's gotten worse with age, especially in this age of political correctness. My children have little tolerance for my traditional views and they certainly don't want their children infected with them. My wife, a very successful mother, is remonstrated if she dares suggest any child rearing advice to the very children she lovingly raised.

Then there are those other relations: Siblings, nieces and nephews. Dinner conversation is a minefield for any so brazen as to broach it with them. That's why I'm going armed (or armored) with a list of 10 No-Fail Dinner Party Conversation Starters http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carla-mcdonald-/10-nofail-dinner-party-co_b_5611000.html provided by that bastion of political correctness, The Huff Post.

I've also read The Democrat's Guide to Talking Politics with Your Republican Uncle http://www.yourrepublicanuncle.com/ to inure myself to the propaganda I can expect in spite of every effort to avoid discussing politics.

Thus I shall endeavor to abide by my wife's most fervent wish to keep peace in the family.

Good luck to all others who find themselves in my position.

I've written a very short story illustrating the problem. I mentioned that I was writing it in another discussion and promised that I would tell one of the participants that I would send a link when it was ready. Sadly, I've forgotten which discussion and the person's name. Hopefully they'll find it here...

http://www.jackdurish.com/7/post/2015/11/thanksgiving-table-talk.html