I realize I am seventeen years late to the game but lately John and I are enjoying the series West Wing. There was no time to watch it back when it first came out, as I had seven children, including a one year old son with autism and had to scramble to keep up with eight therapy sessions a week. Watching television was at the bottom of my to do list, just above running for Congress. Still the show is shoring up my political education, perhaps too much since things get muddled when I listen to the actual radio trying to remember whether Obama or Bartlett is in office. 

There was a filibuster on the episode last night, and I learned what a ridiculous waste of time that can be. Standing, without leaning, speaking without pausing for water, for eight or ten hours a single senator locked up the legislative branch of the government by reading recipes. Everyone's plans were hijacked, for what can only be described as a pointless and expensive ploy.

Why was this elderly man blocking the passing of a law which provides medical aid for children? He insisted that a clause about autism be tagged on, and endured the exhausting task of nonstop talking to somehow further that end. 

Then someone took a recess from annoyance or ignoring him to be curious. She figured out that this elderly statesman had a grandchild with autism. He cares not for hypothetical reasons. but from the depths of his heart. 

In a quick sequence of events, the senator was relieved of his marathon and other grandfathers stepped in with support. His grandchild, and thousands of others including mine, would be able to benefit from the bill. 

Oops. It's not real. I forgot. 

The next time I encounter someone being unreasonable, petty, or mundane maybe I will remember to find out what he or she truly cares about.