We’ve all heard the saying, “oil and water don’t mix.” Well, as I found out yesterday, neither do politics and friendships. Even lifelong ones.

Last night I opened my Facebook Messenger app so I could message a friend. I tapped her name and when the screen came up, it said she was not available on Messenger. Right away my Spidey senses kicked in. I closed the messenger app, and then opened my Facebook app. I typed her name in the search box and it didn’t come up in the results. Right then, I knew she had blocked me, but I texted her in case I was wrong. I wasn’t sure if she would answer my text, so I sent her a message on Instagram as well. And yes, she did have the courtesy to reply. She confirmed that she had indeed blocked me on Facebook. She also said some things that were hurtful.

Now we had been friends since high school and were very close. As close as sisters, or so I thought until I read her reply. She is team Trump, and I am Team Biden. I respect her choice, and I thought she respected mine, but clearly, I was wrong.

I have written several poems and song parodies about Trump. I usually post these in a specific group I belong to on Facebook, and also on the app formerly known as Twitter. Recently I decided to post them on my Instagram as well. I knew there would be people who follow me on Instagram that would not like these poems and parodies, but I have a right to post what I want on my Instagram.

In her reply to my text and my message on Instagram, this friend said she was appalled that I would post something so degrading about a human being. She said she was disgusted with me and and asked me to refrain from contacting her or communicating with her. I told her I would respect her wishes. And just like that, a friendship that started in high school is over.

Ironically, there were many times that she posted negative things about President Biden on Facebook, and I didn’t like what she posted , but I let it go without saying anything because we were friends. Clearly, I valued the friendship more than she did.

I am sad, hurt, and even a little angry. I’m not going to chase after her or her friendship. She’s made her choice and I have to respect that. Which is more respect than she has given me.

The cost of losing this friendship? A night’s sleep and a little heartache. Now it’s time for me to square my shoulders, hold my head up high, and move on.