I always sort of want to think that the heart of a country’s leader is to serve and protect the people of his country. Clearly, that is not the usual way of things.

But Vlad, seriously, who now is suffering the most from your desire to become emperor of a restored Soviet Union?

Russia is now being sanctioned by the entire Free World. Even Switzerland has spoken. Big things and bigger things are impacting the Russian people. The ruble is now devalued in international business, and in Russian cities and villages, people are unable to get a few rubles out of an ATM to join long queues to buy groceries. Russian planes are banned from European air space, and world-wide, countries are banning flights to and from Russia.

Interesting how your BFF Donald cares so much about popularity and you do not. Terrifyingly, I guess your BFF, now that Donald is out of office, is Xi Jinping.

Donald is the arch-narcissist, but because of all the safeguards “we” have in place, I never lived in terror that he could put his own small finger on the nuclear button. Compared to you, he was just an embarrassing bully.

When I was a little girl, we rarely said the word “restaurant.” We knew there were some in bigger towns, but we had a café. Pronounced kuh-fay. It was attached to the gas station at the Y, meaning over on the highway where the road bisected. You might walk there after watching a high school basketball game for a coke and a bag of Fritos. Maybe with a boy, who would pay. I remember Loyd. Spelled with one L. First boy who kissed me.

Loyd and I sometimes walked down town after school too for a cherry coke at the drugstore. He always paid.

Boys always paid in those days. I never gave it a thought.

Then he walked across the street to work in his family’s little grocery store. I hope they paid him. Cokes cost 5¢.

When I visited Mama Harrison in Durant, she might take me out occasionally for the plate lunch special. It would cost about 65¢. Maybe a scoop of mashed potatoes topped with gravy and a small piece of mystery meat and some green beans. Dessert was extra. Maybe a tiny bowl of banana pudding. She would have a cup of coffee, unlimited refills for 5¢. Actually, this was in a booth at the drugstore. No one left tips.

Today, I read in the local paper that “four new restaurants are opening” in town.

Not.

Actually, they are not kuh-fays either. Food carts. With tip jars.