To Pieter Hanson...

This Shout-Out is for you!

I remember many years ago, watching a baseball game, featuring my hometown team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Who remembers who they were playing, or exactly when or what circumstances.  What I remember was Craig Wilson.  Wilson, largely a pinch-hitter and role-player, stepped in the middle of a dispute between two of his teammates, one aggressively verbally attacking, the other firing back...and just stood there.  He didn't say a word.  He didn't make eye contact with either player.  Indeed, he seemed to be watching the game as if his life depended on it.  But while doing so, he just kept moving between his warring teammates so that they couldn't see each other.  After a few minutes, the aggressor wound down, and the whole thing was over.  As a career loudmouth myself, singularly lacking any form of subtlety, needless to say, I was very impressed.

I had a similar feeling when reading this piece on slate.com.  It seems a mom tweeted that maybe this #MeToo's done got a bit out of hand, and that because of it, her son was suffering a lack of a social life due to the "current climate of false sexual allegations."

What followed was typical: vociferous agreements and some ironic and amusing rejoinders, featuring various furbabies and sundry scaly and feathered members of the animal kingdom, poking gentle fun at/mocking this good woman.

Then her son himself, Pieter Hanson, weighed in.  And folks, I have no doubt Pieter is everything his mom said he is.  But what is awesome is that he is much more.  He is a man in the mold of Craig Wilson, a fellow who gently disagreed with his mother, while still honoring and respecting her, and all women.  He spoke the words that could bring both sides together, poured balm on the wounds.  A man like this one gives me hope for understanding and healing.  A soldier, yet a peacemaker.  Classy.  Handsome, too!

Fear not, BlueStarNavyMom3, your son is the best, and he will find the best, because he deserves the best!  Kudos to you, Pieter!