Yes, We Can!

We did it! We made change happen. Now the really hard work begins...to restore the reputation of our country thoughout the world, to repair and rebuild the economy, and to revitalize the dreams of our citizens. Yes, we can! I can hardly wait to help. It's time to shake hands with our neighbors around the world instead of shaking weapons; it's time to listen and respond instead of spewing rhetoric. Godspeed to Barack Obama as he begins this journey and brings America along with him into the world.

1968

I have been washed by waves of nostalgia the past couple of weeks. Why is that?? I think some of it has to do with being of a 'certain age.' It's hard to be nostalgic about anything when you're 25; it's only with age that you accumulate worthwhile memories. And it's only with age and experience that you can place those memories in perspective. So, my next few blog posts will focus on some of those 'waves' that have come my way recently. Echoes of 1968 reverberate. This picture of Bobby Kennedy was taken by a friend of mine...actually in 1966 during a Colorado speech. Art was a still photographer for CBS back then; he made me several copies of photos he took of RFK that year. Bobby was my first political 'love.' I was too young to vote for his older brother and still too young to vote for Bobby in 1968. Inspite of not being of voting age yet, a friend and I went to hear him speak in San Diego a few days before he was assassinated in Los Angeles. I wept when I heard the radio announcement that he had been killed.This was only one of the tumultous events of that year. The Viet Nam war was raging, Martin Luther King was assassinated, there was violence at the Democratic National Convention, the 1967 summer of love had given 'way to the 1968 summer of hate. Listening to 'Hearing Voices' this morning on NPR, I was mesmerized by those events and others. I wept as I heard Martin's "I Have a Dream" speech. Forty years...we're almost there...hold on, Martin! The music of the era was the underpinning of the radio program. The Beatles, Joe Cocker, Aretha, Cream...songs of my young adulthood. I wept again...where did that idealistic and youthful time go?

Is this what nostalgia is about? Feeling sad, shedding tears, wondering if things have really improved in the past 40 years? Maybe...but I intend to pull out my DVD of the Monterey Pop Festival and watch it this evening. Let's see if the 1967 'summer of love' can lift my spirits! I'll get back with you.....

Almost There

Senator Barack Obama spoke today at noon in Des Moines. It was my plan to walk the 4 or 5 blocks from where I work to hear him. No matter what your politics are, I think everyone can agree that this is an historic election. I wanted to be a witness to this history. You know what they say about the best laid plans...well, mine went astray as well. At the exact time I needed to walk out the south door of the hospital, I was deeply involved in a critical and time-sensitive personnel issue. I had to be at my desk to make phone calls and send emails; it couldn't wait. So, I did the next best thing. I sent the email, grabbed my cell phone and headed to the roof. That's one perk of being the boss of the Life Flight program...I'm authorized (and I have a key to the elevator to prove it!) to access our rooftop helipad. This is what I saw. The glass building is the Pappajohn Education Center. There were huge American flags hung at either end of it. Senator Obama spoke from the opposite side of the building and that's where most of the crowd was as well. Estimates put the number in attendance at 25,000. (click on photos to enlarge and see the people) Since the Senator was speaking away from my position on the roof, I couldn't hear his words distinctly. Only when he became animated and spoke loudly could I understand all his words. I could, though, hear the crowd clapping and cheering.

It was a warm bright day...Indian summer and I heard on the news that the Senator spoke in shirt sleeves, rolled up. Even though I couldn't hear him well, I could feel the excitement. It was like the difference between watching a football game on TV and being there in person. In person is SO much better even without great TV shots, instant replay, and color commentary by the announcers. Excitement, hope and change colored the air even from a distance. And as the crowd cheered, I lifted my arms and chanted softly under my breath..."Yes, we can!" with them. Hope no one caught that on the rooftop security camera!

I was almost there today; Senator Obama is almost there as well. Please vote on Tuesday, November 4th. This is an important election.

A Long Week

This has been such a long week. I usually don't use my blog as a forum for whining, but whine I must today! Not only has the economic news been dismal, the Presidential campaign is making me crazy. I'm so tired of it. I really could simply tune it out, I guess, as I've already voted by absentee ballot. The pundits say that negative campaigning, as repugnant as it is, works to sway voters, but I think we're better than that. Let's delete those email stories, let's leave the room when negative ads come on TV, let's turn off the radio rather than listen to more smear stories.

On top of all this national nonsense, my hospital, for some unknown reason, not only does budget this time of year, but also requires all performance evaluations be completed now. Feel my pain! I hate the numbers game, and much as I like the wonderful people who work for me, giving their evaluations is exhausting. I'm an introvert; sitting and talking to people non-stop all week has totally drained me of all my energy.

I'm in dire need of a glass of wine and an evening curled up on the couch watching "French Kiss" for the umpteenth time. I'll fantasize that I'm Meg Ryan kissing Kevin Kline in a wonderful Provencal vineyard....that should perk me up