I thought I just approved a comment by Peter but I can't find it.
Peter said, "I agree with Joe. I guess I should lick your hand now."
No, Peter, you can't lick my hand but can kiss my ....
Oops, I keep forgetting this is a family publication.
Go ahead and say it. It's your blog after all and it's painfully obvious to the rest of us (at least to me) that if you don't pat poor Peter on the head and reinforce his belief that he's teacher's pet he gets a tad grumbly.
Mark, I just saw it as Peter and me exchanging some rough guy humor.
But I do appreciate your coming to my defense.
Your backing is a personal boost to me. As I say, Mark was just being
wry and I'm sure he enjoyed my reply.
But your defense was welcome. I have developed a hunger for people who
were a bit touchy on my behalf. For decades I have stuck my neck out
and then watching the respectable conservatives and Southerners and
white people who should have been backing me hide as soon as they were
threatened with really offending established opinion.
I march against the enemy, he says something like "racist" and all the
people who were bravely marching with me are cringing under the table,
leaving me in the open alone.
Taking the enemy on regardless of all this has been my function, but it
is not fun.
So Peter and I were exchanging some rough humor, which I enjoyed, and
Mark jumped to my defense, which made me feel good.
All in all, a good exchange!
Ruff! Ruff!
(Ears perk up happily, tail wags enthusiastically, knocking over glasses of lemonade; starts lapping up lemonade.)