Election Day

I am wearing my hope for a return to a civil society, right here on my sleeve. This is one of those times, like World Series games, when being three hours behind Washington DC, is a plus. There is so much riding on this election and for me, and my family, I choose Science and the Value System that is built on The Golden Rule.

In 2008, we were in Baltimore, for Stitches East, having a nice dinner at one of the restaurants in the Inner Harbor. The place was pretty dead, because it was ELECTION NIGHT and a pretty amazing election night, it was. Growing up in Oakland, in the 50’s and 60’s, Baltimore felt like a wonderful place to be on such a night. I got to hear that Obama and Biden had been elected, as I was drifting off to sleep, in our hotel room and I just felt so much hope for our country, at that very moment. The next morning, when we ate breakfast in the hotel dining room, I just could not get over how calm all of the black people were, because I was beyond excited. They were probably jumping for joy, INSIDE, or at least, that was what I imagined, as I tried to catch the eye of our server. I, personally, was so proud of my country, for electing the first African American President. Looking back through Pete Souza’s photos, I am missing that kind of family in The People’s House; one that has a dog and has fun with one another. You know, a REGULAR guy who goes to the Kennedy Honors and has fun with the children of staffers, on Halloween. I want THAT again.

This time, I am so happy to see all of the new voters, who finally feel as though they are voting for their lives, whether they are young or of my generation. Folks who never felt engaged have been voting and boy howdy do I love seeing the stories of the elderly getting their ballots in.

Personally, I just want to be able to sleep, the way that I slept before this night, 4 years ago. I feel like an abused person, with wave after wave after wave of bad things that keep coming so fast that we can’t even adjust to the news of the first, before another terrible thing is lobbed our way. I want to see our country come back together, to vanquish this virus, and to do that we need real leadership and a compassionate administration that will give as much as the First Responders have been giving, especially as we get to January.

It is after 3 pm, here in California. I am going to try to get the day’s errant dye off of my fingers and go over to the house to listen to the news.

Stay safe, everyone. Hydrate and get some rest.