Yeah, But

 Ever since my wife politely wondered aloud to me about the pause I was putting after the praise I was giving her by simply interjecting, "but?" I have tried to be more conscious about my use of that conjunction. I was on my way to thanking her for picking up some groceries that we needed. That's when that word hopped into my sentence, adding another clause that wasn't praise as much as it was the zinger to the whole affair. "Thank you for picking up the groceries, BUT did you remember to get the cookies?"

Suddenly, all the air went out of that congratulations. I understand that this is a very human trait and is designed to pass along important additions to communication. However (see what I did there?) it becomes difficult to hear that first clause once that second one shows up. It makes sense. One tends to hear the last thing said more than the ones that preceded it. "And in conclusion, I would just like to sum up by saying that you forgot to get the cookies."

I bring this up not simply to shine a light on my inadequacies as a husband. I am also wondering how we as a group of humans can start to get past the need to limit our accomplishments. For example, it only took a few hours for voices to start butting into the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. After fifteen months of near constant attacks against one another, a pause in the hostilities was negotiated. 

BUT Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his cabinet meeting slated to approve the cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip would be delayed. In the meantime, air strikes by Israeli warplanes continue because Hamas "won't back down." 

Suddenly that additional ask for Oreos is looking pretty benign. 

Elsewhere on the globe we see folks lining up to praise the brave first responders battling the numerous fires in the Los Angeles area. BUT questions still plague the response connected to how administrators and politicians acted in those moments of crisis. Before the flames have been put out, a new firestorm is brewing regarding everything from forest management to DEI hires. 

There is an old phrase, Monday Morning Quarterback, that comes to us from an age before professional football was played most every night of the week. It referred to the tendency for people to show off their twenty-twenty hindsight. "Oh, I wouldn't have punted there. And did you see that touchdown? It should have been called back." This syndrome is a hallmark of most human behavior: the ability to instruct us all how to close that barn door after the cows have already gotten out, moved on down the road and opened up their own bistro in a nice quiet suburb. 

The fires will eventually be extinguished. A ceasefire will take place in Gaza. I will get my cookies. 

But for now, let's just be glad that there are people working to provide a place that is free from fire, air strikes, and has plenty of Chips Ahoy.