Oh, sure, it’s OK for you not to have an opinion.
But, what about me?
I’m supposed to have at least one opinion on something each week, and then write about it. If I don’t, there is a big empty space in the paper.
I suppose I could lie and instead of a column run an insert: “Paul Sassone is on vacation. His column will resume next week.” But, alas, I am not on vacation.
Closer to accurate would be, “Paul Sassone’s brain has shriveled into a dried gourd and he can’t think of anything to write about.”
But, that isn’t true, either. Alas (again) I always have opinion. I can’t help myself.
For example, how can Barack Obama be ranked as the 12th best president in the latest poll of presidents when his successor is undoing whatever Obama accomplished? So, how can the pollsters assign a rank to Obama now?
I mean, is Obama’s rank based on what he accomplished when he left office? Or is it based on what remains after his successor is through dismantling what he did?
Makes a difference, no?
But, I don’t know. I don’t feel like writing about politics this week. I need a rest from it. And maybe you do, too.
What about life as we live it?
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What about this for a column? Not opinion, more observation.
No two people eat exactly the same. I don’t mean they eat mashed potatoes with their fingers. Just that after a lifetime of eating in restaurants and at family dinner tables, I see we all have individual ways of accomplishing the same thing – moving a meal from table to stomach.
I know a guy who always orders a Coke with lunch. He doesn’t sip the Coke throughout the meal. He eats all his food and then drinks the Coke in one swallow.
Someone else tears breakfast toast into quarters to make little egg sandwiches.
A member of my family would roll pieces of white bread into tiny balls and use them like crackers in tomato soup.
And, yes, I also have my own idiosyncrasies. I often eat a sandwich in a circular pattern: All the crust first, then devour the middle. I only eat this way at home, so it is safe to have lunch with me.
And what are your peculiarities when it comes to dining?
Surely you have some.
Ketchup on hot dogs, perhaps? Why not, huh?
Nice to take a break and cleanse my mental palate.
Next week back to serious stuff. Politics perhaps?
Paul Sassone is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.