Hi, Page:)

Thanks so much for your kind words - they are truly appreciated.

Love the "tire kicking" image and have done that literally, although I could not tell you why we kick tires on a car before buying it ... maybe to see if they are ripe:)?

That ability to see other perspectives on an issue is one I have carefully nurtured over the years -appreciate you noticing.   While some feel that one should stake a claim based on a particular viewpoint and defend it vigorously, I have found that more progress is made when the other person realizes you "get it" from their point of view as well as your own.

You lose nothing by acknowledging someone else's position.  I actually believe you are even strengthening your own position by doing so.

John