As we were leaving the Cambridge Farmer’s Market this morning, I drove by this couple, talking and laughing and eating their fresh wood-fired pizza in the back of their pickup truck. I didn’t know them and have never seen them before, but I stopped the car, turned to Maria, and said: “I love these people; this is what life is about, or should be.”

I stuck my head out the window and said, “Hey, you guys are great. Can I take your photograph?” They both smiled and said sure.

I defy even the grumpiest people out there not to smile at this photograph and take a second to remember what love means. You can see the love passing between them, and for them, the back of a pickup is as unique a place as any fancy restaurant. I wanted to share the image with you, I love taking pictures of good people like that, and you can see the good and joy in their faces.

This Wednesday, I’ll host my second Zoom Meeting – “Talk To Me..” at 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 21st. To enter, all you need is to bookmark and click on the hyperlink below. I’ve added the ID and passcode below in case it is required.

Of course, this being social media in America in 2020, I’ve been barraged with angry or annoying messages from people demanding that I move the time or schedule the meetings on weekends. They say I’m unfairly favoring the retired and the rich.

One woman wrote to tell me I didn’t understand what working at home was like (this is my 50th year of working at home) and couldn’t imagine I knew people working at home now with firewalls and all kinds of restrictions.

I had many bosses who imposed various restrictions on me in my life; that’s why I had 14 jobs and decided to become a book writer. We all make our choices in life, I’ve made good and bad ones, but I take responsibility for them all. That’s called life. I can’t make everyone happy.

I wish I could respond better to people who think I’m stupid; I’m working on it.

This is why I’ve started the Zoom meetings and kept them confidential, and I won’t record them.

All kinds of people have expressed interest – almost all of whom work in every part of the country. Some are jobless; some are wealthy, some work without firewalls, some are retired (I don’t ask), and some sign in from work with permission.

Some are suffocated by corporate firewalls and can’t come to the meetings, and I’m sorry for them. There are no requirements to join.  But I’m not backing down. If it’s ever possible for me to change the hours of the Zooms, I’ll be happy to do it.

It won’t be anytime soon.

(I’m inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/87822862552?pwd=V2U0SnNyejFJZlNNazZ1d3RLVUFSQT09

Meeting ID: 878 2286 2552
Passcode: 712821)

People can’t seem to grasp my answer, which is that for now, this is the only time I can do it and the only time I want to do it for reasons that are not their business or anyone else’s. It is wearying sometimes to hear from people who don’t know what I’m thinking and don’t care.

Fortunately, I hear from many people who do.

How ironic that a meeting set up to avoid arguing instantly becomes an argument. That’s America in 2022.  People will never quit thinking they can tell me what to do because they read my blog. It never turns out well.

I was thrilled with the meeting last week; it was free of this intrusive and unthinking argument, complaint, and whining. I am sincerely sorry that some people won’t be able to access it.

But I don’t want a large group; we’d never get to talk. The first meeting was perfect, and I’m looking to admit five or six people who want to talk to me, no strings attached. That will be no problem.

There are 350 million people in America, and I can’t please everyone no matter what time we meet.

I just want to finally have good conversations with people who wish to talk and listen, not argue. So far, so good.

I don’t expect any changes in the near future. Down the road, we can almost certainly try some new times.