That experience left a mark on him -- or at least that is how I rationalized his behavior.
Later that night, when I rationalized my behavior using the North Beach Pizza example, my boyfriend looked at me, point blank, and said, that was not pizza, Jackie.
Or at least that's how I rationalized standing in front of a mirror downstairs with a cavernous Stella McCartney for Adidas khaki weekender slung jauntily over my shoulder.
"One of the things that turned me off to Trump the most was his bullying, but then I rationalized that as that's part of being a businessperson.
Romantically I became schizophrenic, smashing hearts on purpose or falling head over heels with a one-night stand, exhibiting neediness that disgusted me — yet I rationalized that becoming a self-loathing depressive could be filed neatly into my persona as a tortured New York artist, material for stories I would surely write someday.
I rationalized that smoking in front of 11-month-old Katherine was okay because she would never remember it and she would be unable to tell on me.
I wanted to tell him not to worry about it, that it didn't matter, but it did matter, and I rationalized that paying me back would help teach him something about responsible American citizenship.
I rationalized that Spain, with its top-ranked tennis players, would surely be an easy place to follow the tournament.
I envied some of the things their money let them do or buy, but I rationalized that I was happy with the life I normally lived.
Fearful of a future without a functioning olfactory nerve, I rationalized that of all the senses to lose, smell seemed the most expendable.
