Shaing the commonwealth

We have in our house today the residents/natives of three different commonwealths: Puerto Rico, Kentucky and Massachusetts.

Janice's old college roommate, a Commonwealth of Massachusetts native, is visiting with her husband, who grew up in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. They are now residing in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Near as we can figure, being from the commonwealths of Mass,(like Emily and I), Kentucky (as well as Virginia or Pennsylvania) is absolutely no different than being from any other state. Being a "commonwealth'' is apparently just some insignificant nomenclature difference that separates the quartet in no important way from the rest of the states.

But in Puerto Rico it is a big deal, since citizens of that commonwealth can't vote in national elections, have no representation in Congress, pay no taxes but are eligible for welfare and other federal benefits. The only political issue of importance there is whether the island should try to become a state or maintain the status quo. Go figure.

We also did our best to drag some information about their youths from the former roommates today. We have developed a theory that after, say, five years it's OK to hear that kids while in high school helped themselves to a little booze when we were out and then added water to the bottle to bring the level up, and maybe even skipped school now and then.

By now (a decade after college graduation) it's OK to hear about a South American adventure when they accepted a boat ride from a couple of locals to a deserted beach. That turned out to be fun, if more than a little bit reckless.

There's probably much more, but more time has to elapse for us to hear the full stories. I have to admit there are some things I thought it best that my own parents never heard about.