Friday, November 28, 2008

Lookout, the Holiday are coming!


It is still warm enough to swim in my pool and yet here comes Christmas. What a wonderfully warm October and November in Las Vegas we have enjoyed. I fear it is a sign of global climate change and desperately hope not to experience the same 10 or more, above normal temperature degrees during the summer of 2009. Hm, I wonder what our planet would now have looked like after 8 years of a President Al Gore?

Our turkey feast prepared by my stepson Billy and his lovely wife Bridgette was an exceptionally delightful culinary extravaganza. The gauntlet has been passed to the expertise of the two of them. His culinary skills combined with her welcoming gestures are a dynamic force that has no rival.

Ready or not, this weekend I will have my husband assist in dragging out all of the Christmas decorations. I love to decorate the tree and make one of a kind centerpieces for my tables. This years dilemma is exactly where to place the tree? The backyard make over will be blocked from view if we cover the french doors from the formal area as in years past. In the blink of an eye it will be 2009 and the sad ritualistic task of repacking the tree, lights and decorations will be upon us.

In spite of all the Thanksgiving and Christmas joy I cannot help but to think of my dearly departed mother and father. Such is the stuff of Holiday nostalgia. My mom has been gone for 8 short years and yet I miss her more now in many surprising ways. It comes out of nowhere, the ache for her presence at special moments. She would so get a charge out of her great grandsons. The night Obama won the election made me wish my dad had lived to experience the pride I know he would have felt. We have come so far in my life time. There is much in which to be thankful.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Finally Time to Exhale


After almost eight long tortuous years of Bush bungling, my body mind and spirit are getting the message that it's OK to breathe. At last an end to this global embarrassment and bastardization of all our founding fathers stood for so long ago. Behold the frosting on the victorious cake is even sweeter, for Barack Obama is soon to be our president, leader of the free world and living in the White House with his lovely family.

It has been a joyous honor to donate money and food, house staff, make phone calls, knock on doors, attend rallies, register voters and participate with like minded Americans.

Standing in a sea of strangers on November 4th, in front of a gigantic screen with the MS NBC live feed abruptly announcing the outcome of our long hard battle completely knocked me off my feet. I was not prepared for the intensity of this historic moment. The Rio ballroom exploded with screams, spine tingling chills, elation, thanksgiving, disbelief, unbridled emotion, gratitude and spiritual significance. I cried the ugly cry while hugging complete strangers unable to wrap my mind around the astounding news.

Hope and change prevailed, crushing Karl Rove tactics. exaggerations and outright lies. I have never been more proud of my country. Love, right mindedness, justice and intelligence has conquered fear, bigotry, greed, small mindedness and selfishness. The air feels cleaner, the sun shines brighter and for this moment all is right with our planet. I agree with the world consensus, it is good to be an American!