Rick has changed substantially since I met him, religiously and politically. I never actually tried to change him but it happened.
For example, when Obama was up for his first election he was very interested, and we watched Rachel Maddow. Sometimes we’d get into debates. One time one of them started to get a little heated, when I said, “Wait a minute! Are you even registered to vote?”
He was not. Never had been.
“Then why are we even having this discussion? I’m not going to talk politics with you unless you’re registered.”
He got registered, as a democrat. After that election he was tickled and proud of himself!
I firmly believe that without my influence he’d be a hard right wing conservative. He’s easily swayed by emotional arguments, and less concerned with facts. He quickly buys into conspiracy theories, and is easily outraged by things he reads on Facebook. Even if it’s about Trump I have to suggest he take whatever with a grain of salt and do a little research. It pisses him off!
I was not an atheist when I met him, but I wasn’t a fanatic, either. He was completely against cremation. He said something once about “rising to face the east…all of that.” I was like, “Wow. You really believe that??!” But I didn’t say anything.
When my views changed I never discussed them with him, but it slowly dawned on him, and I know it’s set him to pondering.
Once we were visiting his mother’s grave, and he looked out over the acres of headstones, most neglected and forgotten and said, “Wow. All of this land could be used for something else. A park with a small lake or something.”
I just nodded.
I think he thinks more deeply now about different things than he used to.