BLOGAHOMA

I have voted since 1970. In all that time I missed one regular election, I don’t quite know why, maybe we were out of town and didn’t think ahead to vote absentee. Most of the time I voted Democrat (but never a straight ticket) unless the Democrat was a stinker (crook) or the Republican better represented our local interests. I have been known to vote for a minority (woman, African American or Hispanic) without regard to party to give the minority more of a voice. My vote has never been swayed by who’s top in the polls. But what I haven’t done is sat in on a political party gathering.

We were asked to attend the Comanche County Democratic meeting and listen to and meet Andrew Rice, who is making a run for the Senate against entrenched Republican James Inhofe. Inhofe has not and does not represent my interests. The meeting took place at the Oklahoma Blood Institutes backroom. You actually had to go through a door marked EXIT to arrive. There was no sign on the door but we could hear people on the other side. The tables where set up like a classroom with a paper plate of spaghetti in front of the attendees. (We did not come for the spaghetti dinner.) It was pretty full but then again it was a small room. I wondered where all the other Democrats were. All the gray heads made it feel more like a senior meeting. However after the spaghetti plates were gathered, the “first-timers” were introduced to my relief several under 30’s stood up. (Not that I have anything against gray heads, I am one, married to one.)

Andrew Rice – Observations
1. He went around the room to talk to the people gathered. He squatted down to talk to the attendees instead of talking down to them. He seemed at ease.
2. He is young…okay at 34 he is my son’s age but with enough life experiences to run for the Senate and enough youth not to be jaded or complacent. (Jack Kennedy was 30 when he joined Congress and 36 when he made Senator)
3. His eyebrows where a pronounced up arrow. Giving him an inquisitive look. ^^ He had on red tie and dark navy suit coat.
4. He formed complete sentences that followed logical order. He was specific in his speech.
5. He emphasized his belief in honesty and demonstrated by giving us a brief history including the time he was lost and looking for direction.
6. He wasn’t afraid to say that he looked for building bipartisan relationships in order to get things accomplished.
7. I like his fresh views on Health Care and more specifically the insurance companies and the loopholes they find to avoid paying out.
7. He took questions from the floor and answered adeptly.
8. Lots of layers to this man. Most interesting.

Click here to go to Andrew Rice’s website.

I have been on the Hillary Clinton email list for a long time now….watching and listening. Yes, I have a Hillary bumper sticker on the back of our 11 year old Montero Sport. Now when Hillary is being blasted for words taken out of context I thought I’d contribute a monetarily insignificant amount to the campaign. Of course I don’t agree with everything she has done or said but I don’t need her to be dramatic, warm and cuddly or perfect. I still struggle with the fact that she voted to go into Iraq saying now it was a mistake. (Ah, imagine a president that will admit a mistake.) I need a candidate to acknowledge the fact that the US is made up of people not just corporations. I like her because she is tough and has been through a lot of experiences that would have done some people in. Interestingly one of the things I find strong about her, staying with Bill Clinton, when he was totally screwing up, other women criticize seeing it was the wrong decision. I ask in her situation “what’s harder cutting out or forgiveness”. But it is not why I have followed her campaign. My number one reason is Health. 47 million without insurance should not be ignored. And even with insurance so much out of pocket expenses can send you to the poor house. Health has been her interest since she was first lady and her plan was dumped. At least making the attempt to overhaul our health system has shown her some of what will work and what won’t. How do people learn anyhow? She was the first with a more detailed plan as a candidate. She has my contribution. Maybe my vote will follow.

I have detected spots… age spots appearing without warning. It’s like when I decided I was going to take my social security I was branded with age spots. And the jaw line (which was never much to speak of) began to sag. Oh, the hair had begun it’s graying several years ago, not alarmingly so, more of a real ash blonde. I am trying not to mind it. I like to think of it as a sophisticated taupe neutral which should go with everything. Trying to adjust. And then today as I looked for where to park my shopping cart a 30 something guy tried to help as if my gray matter had grayed even more. Wow.

Then there was the picture of Eric Clapton in the Esquire. He was looking very spotty. He is 62, a couple months older than me. So he is ahead of me in spots. I find myself looking at other women and trying to determine if they are my age. I suspect they often are younger when I think we are age equal.

But then at the Tavern a 20ish woman came up and ordered a Bud. She noticed my glasses and asked if they were retro. I said “No they are just Pradas”. She said they were cool. Alright then….here’s to aging gracefully but more than that here’s to aging cool.