Susan's Blog

Thursday, November 9, 2006

See?

Warning: If you are not a Democrat, you might not enjoy this posting. My apologies to my conservative readers, I still love you and I hope you still love me, but I have to crow a little bit about how the pendulum swung left nationally the other day.

Last night I called Mom and Dad to see how they were doing. Mom was jubilant over the election results. She told me that she had spent four hours at the polls and had handed out leaflets for candidates that did not win. Still, she was pleased about the nation. I felt very proud of her for becoming politically involved that way. I, too, stood at the polls but I do that on every election day, local or otherwise (I am no longer on the School Committee but I am a Town Meeting Member and a town macher nonetheless. I am not bragging, I am saying that with a half-frown. I did not intend to become a town big shot; all I wanted was to help the town run things the right way, and that meant I had get really, really involved. My issue, by the way, won. We defeated the CPA ballot question, ((Community Preservation Act, which would raise taxes by 3%, get matching state funds, but only which could be spent towards affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space. I am not opposed to those causes, but they are not priorities and affordable housing is not about the money, it is about neighborhoods not allowing in affordable housing projects!!!!)) )

All of which means we really have our work cut out for us to persuade those who voted against the CPA simply because it is a tax, to vote for a different tax that will mainly help the schools. I hear that I am not allowed to refer to them as the “anti-tax crowd,” and must come up with a more positive and accurate label. I asked them to help me with that. I am going to try to be a bridge between conservative and liberal forces, and use my Libra-given skills to mediate and explain, cajole, sweet-talk, and listen, to make this tax increase happen. People move to this town for the excellent schools, and they ain’t going to be excellent if they have to sustain cut after cut, as they have in the past 5 years.

I will succeed. I am determined. I believe that people are natually good deep down and become afraid or are misguided. Sometimes they need to be heard, validated. I believe I learned this attitude from my father, who is a natural optimist. Mom is, too, but it is Dad who is the bigger mouth of the two of them. Dad always used to say, “See?” with a knowing smile, eyebrows up, all of which means, “Didn’t I tell you it would be alright?”

Last night when I spoke to Mom I asked her if Dad had said, “See?” But she said, “No, he was doubtful the entire evening, figuring that Rove would somehow prevail! I’m the optimist, here!”

I found both these things hard to believe. Mom gets all fired up angry about political stuff, and about people not being their best in general, and I said, “No way! You’re the optimist? What happened to Dad?” She laughed and put him on the phone. He sounded like himself, except all this cautious stuff, too. This political era has taken a lot out of him. (Plus he has had to listen to my mom’s vitriole every day as she reads the New York Times aloud to him!)

So I said, “Dad, come on! It’s all good. See?” I was doing an impersonation of him.
He laughed. That’s a good sign.
I will give him a few days to get back to himself.

Sometimes good things really do happen. See?

10 comments

I wonder who Autism Speaks is going to get now that Rick Santorum has gotten the boot out of PA? It does my heart good to see the end of him, but I don’t really think it is the end of his career in politics, but the end for now anyway.

— added by Anonymous on Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 10:52 am

It is weird. Nearly every time I read your blog I get an idea in my head early in the reading and end up skimming through the second half because I have the idea for my response in my head and I have to focus on that while I skim so I can remember it. Something here reminded me of that idea of moving to another town/state/well, even country sometimes in search of something better, more opportunity. I don’t want to look back now, I just want to continue in my fantasy and so…I was just wondering, Susan, where you would move to to maybe make things better? Have you had any more thoughts on this? I am in the mood to think about it again. It is one of those days when my horoscope is awfully on. 😀

— added by mrs. gilb on Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 11:46 am

Some of the other ideas are usually related to making clothes.

— added by mrs. gilb on Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 11:48 am

I’m with Mrs. Gilb – speed reading is a habit that’s hard to kick. Any ‘relaxation tips’?

— added by Maddy on Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 1:32 pm

And now take a look at your horoscope! (No wonder I have felt miles away from home lately!)Emotions are running black and white today, which will be refreshingly simple. It should be easy to make decisions that used to be real head-scratchers for you — that’s the good news. However, the bad news is that this duality could trap you into making the wrong choices, because you’re lulled into a false sense of security. Just to be safe, you might want to put off any major life decisions for a while. Making a major geographical move is definitely not something to commit to right now.

— added by mrs. gilb on Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 6:06 pm

I was a “red” voter for 8 years. I voted straight “blue” this election. I’m pleased.

— added by ASDmomNC on Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 10:46 pm

Jan –
Regarding Rick Santorum: Good riddance to bad rubbish. A bad person.
Mrs. Gilb — I don’t know where you live right now; I can’t advise on that. I personally would love to live in Manhattan, in Chelsea or Union Square. But I have kiddos and one of them, as you know, has a lot of specific educational needs…

Mccewan — How do I relax??!! Do I look like a person who relaxes???

— added by Susan Senator on Friday, November 10, 2006 at 11:49 am

I’m pleased my state turned a but bluer. The best thing to happen was Blackwell getting his butt handed to him by the populace. And I am giddy that nut case santorum is out of a job. Sure, he was advocate for autism, but his intolerance in other areas out weighs that.

Schools, roads, decent housing costs money, when will people start realizing that? Oh don’t get me started!

— added by Someone Said on Friday, November 10, 2006 at 2:50 pm

Oh, Guy Rude,
Start, Start, Start the activism!!!!! Especially if you are in a newly blue state!!! Keep the momentum going…

— added by Susan Senator on Friday, November 10, 2006 at 3:30 pm

My state now has 2 oases of blue in the sea of red. Odd, but happy. 🙂

(Now if all the stuff between the two would go blue, that would be lovely.)

— added by Julia on Saturday, November 11, 2006 at 3:12 pm