Global warmth

I can't help but admit that I'm feeling pretty fine these warm and rainy post election days- giddy even. I'm stunned that our flowers look so great up on the top deck, even now in November. Perhaps this is another awesome benefit of global warming...flowers into December! I imagine there have been times at this latitude where early November could be covered in snow- but not this year. So we have a new president and that kicks ass! I'm so psyched for things to be different, for an administration that can bring progress and good will to the country, after 8 looooong years of war, secrecy, and expanding executive power. And while I'm just a crazy-assed liberal for sure, I truly believe that this administration will be good for children, health-care, and the environment, which are things we can all care about that if improved will boost the quality of life for everyone in this country.

On election night I ran upstairs at midnight and woke up Teague and brought him down to watch Obama's acceptance speech. I was kind of loaded, to tell the truth, having spent the better part of the night across the street drinking beers at an election watch party. The Obama supporters outnumbered the McCain supporters at the party, but the atmosphere was congenial and everyone there imbibed, laughed and enjoyed the suspense. The end came suddenly, and half out of my mind with excitement, I ran home before Obama came on, because in fact people were kind of obnoxious at the party, flipping that channel all over the place, providing ludicrous critiques of hair and fashion, and anyway, I wanted to be with Mira and Teague at this historic time. So, I dragged the poor little guy down out of bed and he was dazed and baffled for sure to find himself up at that late hour. He quickly warmed to the situation though, and began to cavort about the room, throwing books and blocks around, glancing only occasionally at the television screen, and exhibiting very little interest in the oration. Still, he was there for it in case he ever cares about such things in the future. My folks woke me up for the moon landing, and though it is only a very faint fog in my mind decades later, I'm glad they sensed the import of it and woke me, and it makes me feel good for reasons I can't quite explain. Finally, I'm just really proud that my boy will grow up in a world where it just seems natural that anyone can be President, no matter color or creed (and let's hope gender someday), for it will never have seemed otherwise for him.