Soon before I was married, my husband took me to meet his grandparents.

Based on what I’d been told, I made sure I was on my best behavior – but I am an honest person. I found out that Grandma was too, sharing her feelings about some rude family members that had hurt her feelings.

Eventually, her refreshingly blunt attitude came my way. She wanted to know my thoughts on gay marriage.

Zoikes! How does someone in my position answer that?

In my case, I kind of expected this. (My dad’s a priest, so people ask me church questions a lot.) And as the grandson’s fiancé, I thought I should answer. Knowing up front that we probably disagreed didn’t make it easy. But I know that my Grandma-in-law is a church-going lady and we share faith, although it’s a slightly different brand.

My answer: When we walk down the aisle, we are going to ask God’s blessing on our marriage. We can only ask. Can’t they ask too? I don’t presume to know if God will bless our marriage, or what He would decide for a gay or lesbian couple. But I think that any couple that endeavors to ask for God’s blessing on their life together should be given that chance.

I could have gone on. I really believe that any couple that wants marriage should be able to have it. I grew up knowing the wedding ceremony to be the public display of a personal commitment between two people. The wedding ceremony is a request to the couple’s closest friends and family for support of that commitment. A civil marriage license grants some state and federal bonds between two people. A religious marriage service asks for God’s blessing.

As for legal rights, why shouldn’t gay and lesbian couples be given the same rights as other people that spend their lives together? This is America and all people are created equal. It seems very simple to me.

But I left it at that. Grandma seemed disappointed, but she didn’t argue with me. Grandma and I get along just fine, two years later. We have more in common than this issue. Like chocolate and cats and family.

I’m just reading now about how Obama has chosen Rick Warren to speak at the Inauguration. Obama has chosen other people for his Cabinet (much more powerful positions) that aren’t Democrats, but people seem much more upset about this choice. Different is not bad. We know that. But Obama has found things in common with Warren that he likes. Look for the similarities, and remember when you were the different one.

Washingtonians don’t like tourist season. Those of you who live outside the beltway may not believe it, but there are some of us living and working here that do take pause every now and then to look at the Washington Monument, or the Watergate, or the White House or even a Presidential motorcade that is such a waste of time. We are proud of these symbols of our Nation, and would like to keep them to ourselves. At least if given the choice between sharing them and sharing the Metro with screaming children from Nebraska during rush hour.

Let me turn that around into some back-handed Southern hospitality: ya’ll are welcome, as long as ya’ll keep out the way. We are currently having a bit of a problem with crowding on our subway (we call it the Metro around here) during rush hour, and even though this summer you might be on vacation, a lot of us will still be working.

If this summer is anything like the last 15, thousands of American families will flood into our city, making an honorable pilgrimage indeed. I salute the moms and dads who put up with the whining kids who have no idea how much this will mean to them later.

Meanwhile, I am holding out for the first message anywhere in visitor literature that while Metro use is encouraged, peak use is 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. inbound and 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. outbound. Please plan accordingly.

I’ve listened closely to the confirmation hearings for both Judge Roberts and Judge Alito. At times I’ve been able to listen to them straight through for hours, giving me time to enjoy the minutae, frustration, and interesting judicial expressions like “stare decisis.” (Yes, I had to look that up. I would rather have spelled it starry desysis, but it’s Latin, what can you do?)

Listening to the questions our Senators are asking is making it even clearer why these lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court are so important, and why two or three days of questions are not at all out of order.

It’s also interesting to hear the Senators talking amongst themselves, noting how many hearings they have been a part of – it seems their post on the Judicial Committee is pretty much a lifetime appointment, and apparently so is their election to their Senatorial seat. (Nice for them.) It actually has worked out well for us, I think – many of these seasoned gentlemen on either side of the aisle know what to ask and are not letting some young 50-something try to slide by.

Still, the pressure is now on. The reality of the process is that this is the second ball Bush has thrown their way. If this is a strike two, what curve ball would he throw next?

Then again, what curve balls does our new Supreme Court lineup have up their sleeves? The future of our country is never certain.

I look back on my life and realize that my ethics come from my parents, my family and friends. Spending time with small children gives me hope that whatever decisions are made at the top of the political chain, it’s those close by that shape people’s lives the most.

Personally, I think my parents would make better Supreme Court Justices than either of those I heard being interviewed. But maybe I’m biased.