A very good friend of mine and I go on nice long walks and she has this saying, actually maybe it’s not her saying but she says this frequently when start talking about an issue-we cover so many issues on our walks…She’ll say, “Ok Mary Yana, there’s your side, my side, or the truth? And sometimes, the facts just jump out and sometimes, they are hidden in the mix.” The first time she said that I stopped and thought about it and I thought there are many situations where that is so absolutely accurate. I thought of my friend and this phrase, several times this week….
Top left, Martha Stewart’s first book, Ina’s new book. Bottom Ina & Jeffrey Garten and Martha Stewart.
About a month or so ago when Ina Garten‘s book came out, Be Ready When The Luck Happens. I purchased the book and had some time this week to get into it. The book is a memoir of her life covering her childhood, dating her eventual husband, Jeffrey Garten, and her career from working at the White House to her career as an cookbook author and television food personality, as well as her relationship with Martha Stewart. In reading this, I contrasted Ina’s life with what I knew, from reading about Martha, who would be Ina’s ‘contemporary‘ or competition, if you could call it that. I have several if not all the books about Martha Stewart in addition to many of her, but not all 100 cookbooks. Martha actually gave her career a bit of a boost when she wrote an article featuring Ina in one of her early additions of the magazine, Martha Stewart Living. The article was about Ina‘s little delicatessen /store in the Hamptons called The Barefoot Contessa, which Ina then turned into a catering business as well. Ina catered many events for Martha when they were neighbors in East Hampton and Martha put Ina in touch with her book publisher and made an introduction to the FOood Network. In the book, Ina mentions that their relationship drifted a part when Martha moved and no longer lived in the same area. Martha’s side of the story is that Ina dropped Martha when she went to jail. Having read and seen many interviews with both of these women, my observation is that both are extremely hard-working and creative women, both with an outstanding business sense. When you look at each one of their lives, it’s not hard to see who might be a little better at interpersonal relationships. Sometimes it’s the person who knows how to get along with people who may fair better in life, with success overall. Just my observation. “Your side, my side or the truth”?
Danny Penny versus the city of New York. This story GRABBED my attention from the start. Like many, having been to New York, having people I know who live there, having taken the subway, I’m concerned of their safety. One person I know, was faced with a similar situation as Daniel Penny found himself in. He observed an individual enter a car as the doors were closing, unable for him to exit, the young man I know observed a very troubled person with what appeared to be a weapon in their pocket. The person seemed somewhat off, most likely on a substance or under the influence of drugs. Trying to come up with a plan in his mind, observing the others around in the surroundings, imagining what to do if a gun was pulled out of the pocket and deployed, do you go after the person, try to grab the weapon, try to protect those around them, how to communicate with those around you to observe. When what seemed like the longest time until the next stop, the young man I know, exited the car, told the first official about the person he observed, gave a description and the car and vowed not to get on the subway again. The outcome will most likely have an effect on how people will consider reacting when they see something bad go down. Who would have guessed, a Good Samaritan who stepped in, a Marine, the best of the Best, steps in to protect others is now a target and now on trial, awaiting the decision of a jury. He could spend years in prison. As he and his family walk into court everyday, they are heckled by those who wish his guilt and are unable to see the intention of the young Marine. Even if he is found guilty, there could possibly be a civil trial and this bad chapter in his life will always be attached to his name, even though his intent was to protect those around him. No one wants to loose a son or family member. The family of Jordan Neely filed a lawsuit against Daniel Penny. Interesting timing. Was this to help sway the jury? Who knows. their son needed help and had he not been a risk to the safety of those other passengers in the subway car, Daniel Penny would have had no need to step in. Expert witness have been bought in to prove each side’s point. “Your side, My Side & the Truth.” On this one what does YOUR gut tell you?
Top left, Pete Hegseth, nominee for the next Secretary of Defense, John Tower, nominee back in 1989 for the Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush, Pete Hegseth and his mother after he returned from a tour overseas, bottom left, President Joe Biden and his son Hunter and bottom right, Penelope Hegseth on Fox and Friends this week defending the letter/email she wrote to her son at a low point in his life.
Pete Hegseth grew up in Minnesota. He graduated at the top of his high school class and went on to Princeton he went on to Harvard to obtain an advanced degree, he joined the military. He had several positions in the military, attaining the rank of Major status and then moved onto civilian life, most recently a weekend host on Fox News weekend. In addition he has authored books on issues in the military and the decline in public education in the United States. What has made news recently, as Hegseth was nominated to be the next Secretary of Defense is his behavior and private life. Women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct and reckless intoxication. Hegseth was not arrested or charged with any wrong doings. A a big news outlet got a hold of an email sent by his mother to him over her concerns of his behavior towards women at a particular time in his life. On Wednesday of this week, his mother, Penelope made an appearance on Fox and Friends defending her private email over her son’s behavior and how the new outlet should not have released the email. She told the circumstances of the letter and that her son has made changes in his life and has faced head on the problems of his past. Interestingly, Senator John Tower was nominated by President George H.W. Bush to be his Secretary of Defense, back in 1989. He did not get enough votes in the senate due to his reputation as one who drank too much and was known to be a womanizer. An investigation found him not to have been an alcoholic and he was never charged for any wrong doing. In these situations, one has to ask, “My side, your side or the truth.” A good lesson for anyone in a position to be qualified for a high profile job, “just don’t do it (behave poorly) and there is nothing to have to explain.” However, the behavior at hand is a matter for those involved and only they know the details. The circumstances may not tell all the details. Both men and women can put themselves is poor situations, either being under the influence or being in the wrong place and the wrong time. It is very legal for someone to offer a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and with money attached to it, not discuss an incident aver again, they sign a document for that. It is a binding agreement and if the party takes the money and agrees not to speak of an event and they do, all monies are forfeited. These happen often to keep uncomfortable situations out of the news. It doesn’t necessarily mean that criminal behavior happened, sometimes people just don’t want there personal or poor behavior made public. Not one of us is perfect. Many very qualified candidates have shied away from running for public office for fear of themselves or their families being “Brett Kavanaughed”. We all remember how the oversight committee went after Brett Kavanaugh. They found three women to come forward, one has since recounted her story and the other two women were found to be questionable about their accounts. Kavanaugh was confirmed and how sits on the Supreme Court. In these circumstances, one has to read reliable sources with confirmed facts, weigh that against the sources of the allegations and draw their own conclusions. Hegseth has Agreed to stop drinking if he is awarded the job of Secretary of Defense. He is an extremely qualified candidate. When asked by the press Thursday he said that he has turned his personal life around. He is accountable to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and answers to him and will answer to the President. It will be interesting to see if the Senate gives him an opportunity to prove himself…
Lastly, the pardoning of Hunter Biden by his father the President, is most likely, no surprise to the American people. What father would not do that and most Americans can understand that. What bothers many Americans, I surmise from what I have read and those I have talked to is that the President lied saying that he would not pardon his son. Maybe he changed his mind, maybe he thought he would be found not guilty, who knows. There is so much wrong with the circumstances of the behavior not just of Hunter but by the entire Biden family over the years. Money from foreign entities, an inquiry from former President Trump about a “Quid pro Quo” (Latin for ‘something for something’) which resulted in an impeachment of the former President when there is video of Joe Biden bragging that he fired a prosecutor who was investigating his son. Hunter having access and selling access to his father, “the Big Guy” a computer carelessly dropped off at a repair shop turned over to the FBI when the store owner, John Paul Mac Issac, saw incriminating evidence on the computer which ended up resulting in nothing but problems for him. He was investigated and basically harassed, for doing what he thought was his obligation when he saw things he should not have. Over the years, Joe Biden has been a father making excuses and lying about his son’s behavior, criminal behavior from a gun possession, to drugs to hiring prostitutes, to making deals using his family’s influence and even bringing cocaine into The White House-Hunter has been a resident of The White House during his father’s Presidency. Contrast that to a mother trying to get her son’s attention for his bad behavior, though not criminal, an email. Rather than having to pardon his son, better yet to have firmly addressed his son’s problems as a young man or child/teenager. Lots of information to sift through on this one. A pardon may keep Hunter from seeing the inside of a jail cell but the problems he faces and his credibility cannot be swept under the rug in a pardon. Wishing for Hunter to address his problem and to have a healthy, drug free life for himself, his extended family and his children. For Pete Hegseth, a long life beyond his past bad behavior to celebrate his professional and personal accomplishments as a son, husband, father and American. “My side, my side & the truth? Interesting…
Life is a series of comparing and contrasting Which can lead to your side, my side and the truth. It’s looking like the next four years will be an interesting series of episodes of a show that could very well be a Netflix series on these topics…Get your popcorn ready and TiVo ready to record if you are unable to watch live…
It’s a Great, or at least an interesting day.
