HOPE

I felt something Thursday night that I haven't felt in a long time. HOPE. Hope for this country and hope for our political system.

I know I'm gullible and I've been fooled by politicians before. "I am not a crook", "No new taxes. Read my lips"," I did not have sexual relations with that woman" "Iraq has weapons of mass destruction" No surprise that we have become cynical when we have been consistently disappointed with great men who have great power. My cynicism of our country's leaders has spread to cynicism of the process with which we elect our leaders. I'm sick of the disagreeable disagreements.

Talk radio and 24 hour cable news has been a breeding ground for blow- hards, talking heads, cynics, fear mongers, polarizing left-wingers and right-wingers. The louder and more outrages the better. With my values leaning mostly to the middle, I've been frustrated with both the left and the right. My personal values are very conservative, yet I believe that I can not force my values on others.

Four years ago I listened to a remarkable speech at the Democratic Convention by a man I had never heard of, with a funny name I soon forgot. I was impressed with his speech, but it was just a speech. Speech writers and political experts know how to turn a phrase, they know what the people want to hear. So I wished that it could be so, then filed it away as just another empty promise.

A couple of years later I heard that speakers name being mentioned as a possible candidate for President. Wouldn't it be nice, I thought, if he were the real deal and this crazy political system could actually get the real deal elected. So I started paying attention to what Barack Obama was saying. I liked what I heard. I read his book "The Audacity of Hope". I liked what I read. He was not running with the party of so called "Family Values" and "Conservative Christians" yet he values family and considers himself a Christian with deep faith.

So I am hoping. I'm hoping that this politician will not disappoint me. I'm hoping Barack Obama will become our next President. I'm hoping his plans are implemented and that our 2 party system will work out the differences with reasonable compromises so that everyone wins instead of ending in a stale mate where no one wins and nothing gets done. I'm hoping that if he looses the election it will be because the voters are well informed and vote on the issues not on manipulated emotions.

Most of all, I'm hoping that however this election turns out, our country and our world will be better for it. I'm hoping that my grandchildren will continue to have the freedoms and prosperity that I have known and hopefully more and better.

Go Obama!!! God Bless America!!!
That's all I have to say about that.

End of Summer

We had a happy sad week last week. A close friend passed away. We busied our selves with doing what we could to help with the funeral etc. I was so happy that Laura and John could come out for the weekend. I am always happy when people think enough of my singing to ask me to sing for a funeral, but when it's a close relative or friend it is just about the hardest thing to do. So difficult to controll emotions. So I was thrilled that Laura could come to my rescue and sing with me. She took the high notes and I took the low notes and I think we did pretty good. I'm twice flattered when people compliment Laura's singing, because I know how she came by it.
So a crazy sad weekend with a funeral, but because the grandkids were here it was happy and fun too. Love those kids. We even got a quick trip to poke a toe in the Pacific Ocean. Wish they weren't so far away. So now it's back to work Monday. Crazy, busy time of year in a school office, but I love when the days fly by.

I'm Blogging

Just a couple of years ago I didn't know what Blog ment. Now I'm doing it. This is one of the things I wanted to learn how to do this summer. I so enjoy checking the blogs of my kids. Especially when they post new pictures. Don't know how often I'll up-date this but hey, I've gotten this far.