The last time I used my blog to contemplate bullies was last October. In that post, I told the story of Gary and his confederate Jean, the tyrants of my freshman year in high school. Their ruthlessness and aggressiveness were used against the weak and frightened just to gain a bit of pocket change and a sense of power. I concluded that post by comparing them to the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump.

Since October, two events have led me to reexamine that post. The first was a surprise, and the other was totally to be expected.

The first. I was sitting on the sidelines of my usual pickleball court, waiting for my turn to play. I was chatting with Betty, my partner in the previous game. We went through the usual routine of exchanging names, occupations, and a bit of history. To our surprise, we both attended the same Rogers Park high school.

When she told me her maiden name, my jaw dropped. “You’re Gary’s sister!” I exclaimed.

It was true. She was the sister of the nightmare of my youth. Without prompting, she said, “I know he was a terror, but he was really such a nice guy. And he was a great brother. No one EVER hassled me. Jean was a sweetheart too.”

I replied that I was sure Gary looked out for her, but in my heart, I knew there was no way I would ever think of Gary and Jean as “nice guys.” You are what you do.

That motto is also borne out by the other, less surprising, event I referred to above. The election of Donald Trump has given new meaning to bullying. Along with his pal Jean Elon, he has set his sights on remaking our country as a monument to himself, King Donald I. Instead of pocket change he tries to shake mineral rights out of the pockets of those he terrorizes. He lacks any empathy for those he attacks. He defends his tyrant buddies, but I doubt he can find one of them who would consider him a “nice guy.”

I survived my freshman year in high school by avoiding Gary whenever I could. The only way to survive now is to resist and fight back. I hope you can show me the way.