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Happy New Year!

Yeah, I know I'm late, but better late than never, u know. I hope u all had a festive holiday season. I did. I had a great time. Got to fufill a lifelong dream for Thanksgiving and I enjoyed two beautiful days with many interesting and happy people, celebratin'. I'll get the pix up when I get a chance to breathe. My kid had a wonderful birthday and the cake was big and beautiful, she had balloons and music and everything. Cake was very rich, though. I had a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic New Year's Eve. So I hit the ground running for the New Year and it hasn't let up yet. So, let's get started...


*The real reason I am excited enough to post is because I just finished attending the Rally for Barack Obama here in Washington, DC. I had been in town over the weekend and was accosted to attend, so I woke up at 5am and got to AU at 9:30 am and the LINE WAS (I was told) 6.5 MILES LONG! Some had arrived at 5 and 6 am and others, (mainly students from other universities)had camped out overnight. Mr. Obama, charismatic indeed, drew a crowd of peeps from all over the country; Black, White, Asian, Latino, young, old, and not just Democrats but Republicans and Independents as well. It was so exciting to be in the crowd, talking to people and listening to tales of my 67 y.o. new friend J (who works out w/ pilates and runs for an hour each day and is a community activist since the 60's and looks 50) about the issues,the civil rights movement of the '60's, gentrification and the problem of 47 million taxpayers w/o health insurance, in the richest nation in the history of the planet. I also listened to several college students. I gotta say this...: Until I came to this rally today I felt young people were neither interested nor knowledgeable about the issues facing this nation nor in politics period. I was glady mistaken! I met youth who are activists and volunteering for Obama's campaign and understand full well the issues at stake who listen to Democracy Now and volunteer w/school-aged children in the inner cities and spoke eloquently and with great passion on the candidates and the issues that are defining our times. In 2004 I was so fired up about Howard Dean. I was hurt that he was not taken seriously. Politics, u know. I lost interest b/c I felt there was a grand cabal at work to sustain the status quo. I had lost heart for hope, as well. Well, I got mad. Then I got pissed off, b/c I miss my country! I miss going to other countries and being respected and revered as an "American"! Recently, we were looked upon as loud, ignorant and arrogant Americans! U know, "The Ugly American." Until they got to know us personally! That's what makes the difference! I didn't like them making fun of what they perceived as the typical bully-wild-wild-west-American. They learned of Pacifica/WPFW over the internet and we were able to catch airwaves of Air America Radio at certain times, too. No since in voting if u don't know why u are voting. Learn the issues, the real issues! The most adorable and beautiful were the tiny tots at this rally: a beautiful mixed girl of 3 sitting seriously awaiting Senator Obama; a young boy of 5 y.o. with a lovely mane of blonde hair chanting aloud, "Obama! Obama!" The camraderie was electrifying! I felt at home! Here is real change, b4 my eyes. I even spoke to a "glamour gal" of (ahem) uncertain age, with money and her jewels and fur (real, believe me honey I know real from fake!), her hair perfectly coiffed, her nails expertly done as she was regaling us with a tale of growing up across the street from Al or Tipper Gore (can't remember, I'm so excited) and how she is a registered Republican and she is voting for Obama, b/c she was against the Iraq war. Everyone I met was wonderful! I met several Africans who claim Obama as their own, just as White and Black Americans do. What surprised my small mind was all the Asian supporters there. Especially the young ones. Can he really Unite the States? I am really inspired and proud of these young folks who articulated very well all the finer points of this historic moment in time, for this nation and the world. O yeah, and Obama seems to have "groupies"! Can't blame them! He is handsome (better looking in person than his pictures would suggest) and accomplished and he has "reach-out-ability". I listened to young ladies from the campus wing of the Center for American Progress. I was intrigued by a young Black man who spoke with great articulation and comedic flair, who got great laughs with his black t-shirt which had a silver picture of George Bush's face and the caption underneath read: George Bush doesn't care about Black people". Kanye's quote lives forever. There were so many characters and so much goodwill that I felt like I was in a commune or something working toward a common goal. The line to get in stretched around the block and down the street! I've NEVER seen a crowd such as this, all pumped up! A volunteer told me that the arena/auditorium held a seating capacity of 5,000 and they had room for a standing capacity as well so we were bound to get in. Some people camped out overnight and I could just kick myself b/c we were at AU yesterday (Sunday) b/c an excited "Someone" told us it would be on a Sunday. We showed up Sunday morn' and no one was there! Like a ghost town. A security guard told us it would be on Monday, January 28, 2008. He would know, so again, I woke up at 5 am and ate breakfast and wasted time, thinking it wouldn't be a big deal! Honey people are ready for change!
Well, I waited in line with other hopefuls from all walks of life, every shape, size and colour-how beautiful!) and after we intermittently trekked our way for TWO HOURS to the "Promised Land", the police told us capacity (seated and standing)
was full! Our hopes weren't daunted b/c I knew the campus in and out and I had about 20 people following me through every nook and cranny. We finally got in to the Tavern and sat on the floor watching one of the two televisions, but after about 30 or 45 minutes, I got impatient and didn't want to watch MSNBC any longer. There were speakers to hear it, but... we wanted to see it! So we (a new friend [S] and I) ran around and suddenly we went to the ampitheatre outside by the dorms to the North. We waited to get in. Senator Ted Kennedy, Patrick Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy were here at this rally and it is here that they publicly endorsed Senator Barack Obama! I have chills right now, b/c I witnessed history! I love history, and herstory, so this was magical for me! Alas, we didn't get to see inside Bender, but The Good Senators heard how many of us came from far and near to see and hear, and how long we had been awake and riding and driving, standing, walking and running! So they had security (dogs sniffing and all) rope off the area btwn the cement "bleechers" and the stone stage outside, where Mr. Barack Obama himself, accompanied by the ba'y brother of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, stepped up on the stage to uproaring applause! They both spoke and I still have chills down my spine! I was "this" close to Obama! The only thing standing btwn us was the security and police and u know, the guys in the suits and ties with the clear earphone thingies on the ears. Obama is smooth and confident, and clean! His speech wasn't long, only 20 minutes, I guess, but it was enough that they didn't forget the people who waited outside for so long in the cold. Senator Ted Kennedy said that he came from a big family of 9 children. Whenever something was going on, they'd tell him to "go outside" or something (I understand the baby-of-the-family syndrome, very well). Senator Kennedy said that's why they were not going to forget those who waited "outside'! Trump du jour! Being a native Washingtonian affords me the opportunity to be a part of history all the time. I usually take my kid to all the Inaugurations and the parades, and anytime someone of intellectual or entertainment interest arrives in town and we are here, we go! I was more excited than she, b/c whatever the outcome, we witnessed history in the making. I am so inspired to keep going! I hope U R 2! (pictures will be forthcoming, gimme a chance, R-ite?) Luv ya!

Ooops! Almost forgot my quote for today's post: To live well is the best revenge.