When I was young my Grandmother used an old world expression to get us to eat our vegetables.  She’d say “promise to eat your greens”.   I’d smile and nod because corn, broccoli, carrots, even spinach was just fine and dandy to my young palette.   All my “greens” were consumed with out fuss, or threat of sitting at the table til they were gone, or going hungry at least until I was 6 years old.

Then it all changed.   I hate Lima beans.

I first encountered the legumes after being served Mixed Vegetables for the first time that included corn, green beans, carrots, peas and a food item I’d never seen.   The only description I can use after eating one was it tasted like sand and the tactile experience was equal to munching on grit…basically dirt in a shell.  I knew my only option was to separate the little suckers from my plate, keeping them away from the other veggies.  Lucky for me, my Grandmother also disliked them, so we came to an understanding.  I would eat everything else, except for the Lima’s.  Problem solved.

To this day, when a recipe calls for the mix, I still carefully pick them out and toss them to my dog.  The ironic thing is, I never fathomed my Lima bean experience would reflect our choices of whom should lead this nation and become President.

Keeping with the herbaceous analogy…

The Republican party has been accused in the past of having a diversity problem, but that changed in 2015.   A GOP field of 17 men and women, African-American, Latino & White, old and young, Business owners, Governors & Senators and a Neurosurgeon came together to create the ultimate mixed bag of vegetables.

I even heard a new version of “promise to eat your greens” during the first GOP debate in August when the question was asked “will you pledge to support the eventual nominee no matter who it is?”  I actually smiled and nodded at my TV, the way I would at my Grandmothers dinner table, in acknowledgement that I too would support the eventual GOP Nominee.  I was confident that the right choice would be made, so it wasn’t an issue.  Problem solved.

Starting after the first debate candidates were separated, picked and tossed to the side much like my Lima bean experience.  The electorate was acting like a vegan in a produce aisle, while some of the candidates acted like the very vegetables that were being perused.

I mean seriously, tell me you don’t think of a boring piece cauliflower when Lindsey Graham speaks…but I digress.

There has never been an election cycle quite like this one, and I know I’m not alone in that thinking.  Early favorites were kicked from the table before the meal even started and the ones left were fighting to remain on the plate.  Well, all except one, and yes, he had to be my version of the Lima Bean.  As inexplicable as it is, the one candidate I didn’t like, and never believed had a chance, was soon to be the last at the table.  If someone told me this would happen back in August, I probably would have laughed in their face, and in case you haven’t figured out the analogy yet,  Donald Trump is to me the very dirt in a shell I had refused to eat years ago.

After Trump’s win in Indiana, and the suspension of the Cruz and Kasich campaigns, I realized I had two choices; Digest something I truly don’t like, or walk away from the table all together.

It was then my Grandmother’s words came back to haunt me.   Every candidate had been asked to promise support for the eventual nominee, much to their chagrin and mine, it turned out to be Trump.  I made a silent promise starring at the TV that August night, and I will keep my word.  I may not like what has been left on my plate, but I will not risk what Hillary Clinton may try to shove in front of me if she win’s.

So Mr. Trump, I will eat my greens…You will have my vote.

Problem solved.

Thank you to Doug Ross for Linking

Thank you Grumpy Opinions for Linking

Thank you to the Watcher with the Watcher’s Council for nominating Donald Trump & Lima Beans in the Watcher of Weasels weekly contest under Non-Council Member category.   I am very honored.