Voting, sandwiches and Saturday Night remind us how good we have it
Three is a Magic Number by Steven Uhles
Human beings, I believe, are pretty lousy at appreciation. It’s not that we mean to be dismissive of those gifts and privileges occasionally offered by the universe, but we often are not great at recognizing them. Maybe it’s residual fight-or-flight instinct keeping us forever on the lookout for the next attack. Perhaps it’s an evolutionary inability to see far enough outside our own experience to fully comprehend our own good fortune. That’s not to say we are all living in a technicolored candy land where remorse is unnecessary. I’m far too cynical myself to take that sort of stance. But I do believe, generally speaking and as a species, we are prone to look toward the negative as a default.
With that in mind, I’ve come up with a Magic Three built on the idea that sometimes those things we habitually complain about are, in fact, much better than the alternative. Start the countdown…
No nuggets in Augusta
Every spring I get excited about a not-so-special sandwich. It’s ham and American cheese, a couple of condiments and decidedly grocery-grade bread. Nothing special and yet, very special to me. Is it the fact that it comes from the Masters that makes me believe it tastes better? Perhaps, but that’s a delusion I’m more than happy to live with – particularly when that sandwich gets me change from $5. This really hit home recently when I read about certain concessions at the U.S. Open tennis tournament.
Look, I love a chicken nugget, even ones that aren’t shaped like dinosaurs. I’m sure I would love a gourmet nugget even more than my standard freezer varietal. But I cannot imagine dropping $100 for six nugs – no matter how good.
It should be noted that the U.S. Open nuggets were far from ordinary. The six pack came with crème fraiche and caviar and the handmade nuggets themselves were culled from pasture-raised poultry and fried in gluten-free batter using cultured non-seed oil. Still, the primary component was chicken, and the end result was a nugget. I’m sure it was great, but so is my ham and cheese on rye, so I believe all of us springtime sandwich connoisseurs are coming out ahead.
Voters, start your engines
My daughter, who just turned 21, has not been voting long and she is already feeling a little disillusioned with the process. I’ve tried to explain the importance of the process, the idea of voting for platforms over personalities, and how her political leanings belong to her and her alone. Voter, to thy own self be true. Still, she remains jaded. Sometimes I find it hard to disagree. It should be noted that her electoral angst is primarily focused on the presidential election. Whose isn’t. So, here is my plan. Instead of luring her into the voting booth with the most significant office in the country – and perhaps the world – I’m going to encourage her to think small because in addition to the Trump-versus-Harris battle royale, there are some meaningful local races that might have a real effect on her life and how she lives it.
Rick Allen and Liz Johnson are running against each other for the District 12 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. A national office, but with real local ties and consequence.
Max Burns is facing off against Shayna Boston, both vying for the Georgia State Senate District 23 seat. The decisions the winner of that race will be faced with have significant ramifications locally.
Even the race for Columbia County coroner – for those marking their scorecard at home the candidates are incumbent Terry Norman and Helen Bratton – is important in its own end-of-the-road way.
The way I explain it to my kids is this. Be proud you have a vote and use that privilege well, because the consequence of voting for someone with whom you may not fully agree is far less than not voting at all.
Live, from New York
There has never been a television show both loved and reviled – and often in the same breath – as Saturday Night Live. On September 28, the bastion of American comedy will kick off its 50th season and, once again, it will be greeted with both joy and derision. Beyond the 50th anniversary, which I feel certain will spawn some special hosts, musical guests and episodes, there’s a lot of ancillary SNL action going on. This season will also mark Kenan Thompson’s 20th anniversary on the show. Even those who decry SNL for not being funny since the Chevy Chase days have certainly found joy in Thompson skits. My personal favorite – Black Jeopardy featuring Tom Hanks. I don’t always laugh at SNL, but when I do it is hard and authentic. We are lucky to have it still.
Fans of the earliest incarnation of the show might want to check out Saturday Night, a feature film about the earliest day of the show. It hits theaters on October 11.
