Much Thanks to be Giving

I have a lot to be thankful for this year. My mom is healthy, and we're all looking forward to a mighty fine Cookie Weekend! The rest of the family is healthy too; for that I'm very grateful.

I'm grateful Erika was able to make it home this year for the holidays, and proud of all she's accomplished. I know too that we were so lucky to be able to share that trip-of-a-lifetime to Greece; it was amazing! I'm grateful Peter is doing so well in school and in life, and I'm so happy he was able to join us this Thanksgiving week. And today, as every day, I'm so grateful to have Karen in my life. I have amazing friends and "family", and I know I'm lucky to have them in my life too. My cup doth runneth over!

I have a job, healthcare, a house, and food in the fridge. Beer too. I can travel, I've been able to see so many new things this year. I can read, write, and express myself in ways that others understand. I am allowed to vote, rant on this blog and on Facebook. I can write letters to the editor! I know how lucky I am, truly I do.

I've been listening to Hilary Rodham Clinton's autobiography, Living History, and I've been reminded of the history of the 1990's. In this year of rancid politics, it's given me hope. But it's reminded me too to be grateful for one more thing--intelligent leaders. And I am grateful. I'm grateful that our president is very smart--much smarter than me. That's how it should be. I'm grateful that he's traveled outside of our country, and I'm especially glad he's lived outside of this country--contrary to what some believe, the world DOES NOT revolve around the United States. We are not "it on a stick", and it's only to our benefit that our president knows this. And it's good that President Obama has hired others that share this world view. While there are some who are so narrow-minded and short-focused to believe that because they have all they need, screw the rest (yeah, I'm talking to the Tea Party), we need leaders who see beyond the tree to the rest of the forest. This year, I'm very grateful we still have them in power. And I'm hopeful, still very hopeful.

When You're Down and Troubled

I'm writing this before the election results have come in; it's sort of a pep talk to myself, but I thought I should put it here in case others need a pep talk too. I sincerely hope all of my candidates win (!), but I'm afraid that a few of those I'm rooting for will fail to get elected. Le sigh...

I may need a few days to recover; to see that the sun does indeed rise again, and no matter what, my family and friends are still here. And I'll hear that fine refrain, "I will survive".

But back to the pep talk:

1) Your candidate may get elected. Good for you. Do not gloat.

2) Your candidate may not get elected. I'm sorry. Fire up that e-mail machine, and get ready to hold the "winner" accountable!

3) As a past candidate who thought she knew everything, and then got elected, there's an immediate, very steep learning curve for the newly elected. They will find out that they weren't so smart, and if they are wise, they will shut their mouths and start reading. Reading about budgets, laws, guidelines, chains of command, the office they are moving into. It's really all fun and games when everyone is cheering for you; when reality hits and you get your first nasty e-mail from a pissed off constituent, it's a real eye-opener. Or when you find that the law prevents you from doing something--and that law is there for a very good reason. You HAVE to know real stuff, not just sound bites, or your time in office will be every short indeed. [As an aside, if your candidate lost to a real nut-job, that nut-job will have no real clout, because really, everyone knows they're a nut-job].

4) Our new office-holders will be forced to listen to the "other side". They will have constituents to answer to, fellow office holders to get along with (even if it's just to hold the door for them), and some level of dignity to maintain. When you're forced to listen to the other side, most of the time you learn something. First you find out that things aren't just black and white. You might have your "trusted aid" whispering in your ear most of the time, but you've also got to listen to that vet who needs some help, to that constituent who has family overseas and needs to have questions answered and you're the only one they can turn to, and to those thousands and thousands of people who are in your state and district and who are now e-mailing you (see # 2) and calling you and who are telling you to LISTEN!!!

5) If your new office-holder believes in God and you don't, there's a good chance that the imaginary thing they are praying to will actually give good advice once in a while. It's the law of averages or something like that.

6) Our new office-holder will need staff. If they are in Congress, they will need lots of staff. Hopefully they will hire the most competent ones; the ones who have had some experience and who honestly believe in trying to make this country the best it can be.

7) There is another election in 2 years.