Saturday, December 13, 2003

Day Seventy-Three.

December is a busy month. I have slacked off in my blogging duties. I tell myself I’ll get up early to do it, and of course, do not, not being a morning person.

But last weekend was pretty great. If I don’t write about it now, it will be eclipsed by this coming weekend and the ongoing-ness of life.

Saturday I visited my friend Dean and his wife Melinda and brought her an "I See Dean People" T-shirt. I got there just in time for us to watch Howard Dean’s C-Span speech at the Florida Democratic Convention. After the speech, Melinda, a Republican, said she really liked what he had to say, and that she will wear her T-Shirt proudly. So that felt good. As I was leaving, the Houston city election returns started to come in and it was looking like Bill White had won, and Annise Parker for controller, but that the other two Democrats in City Council contests were going down to defeat.

From there, I went with Eddie to Bill White’s election night party at the new Hilton downtown. We got there in the middle of his speech; the food was all gone; but there was still the bar and I had a couple of gin and tonics and walked up to total strangers to talk to them about Howard Dean. The word circulated that another of the Democrats, Ronald Green, had won his City Council race, which was really good news because his opponent, Bert Keller, the "law and order" incumbent Republican, is a drunk driver who tried to use his position to talk his way out of an arrest.

We went up to the 24th floor bar in the Hilton with a few connected Democrats from the White campaign and drank some more, and I talked to people about Howard Dean some more. One of Eddie’s friends, a Kerry or Clark supporter (he goes back and forth) was there, and according to Eddie, though Eddie had told him I was hardcore for Dean, was taken somewhat aback by my boundless enthusiasm and ceaseless campaigning. Eddie just found it amusing. He knows me too well.

So, I had a fun night. Democrats won some significant races, and that was good.

Sunday morning, I drove to the airport to see my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and brand-new niece for a couple of hours during their layover on their trip to Hawai’i for Christmas to see their friends and my parents. I got to meet and hold my sweet little six-week-old niece (who is adorable), and hang out with my three-year-old nephew. It was so nice to see them, even for such a short visit.

But here’s the amazing part. I am lousy at goodbyes. I always get choked up. I have never been to an airport to see someone off without ending up with tears in my eyes. This time, saying goodbye to my brother and his family, I was lighthearted. I didn’t get sad. And that made me happy, because for so long, living with depression, everything would make me sad. The idea that watching my brother’s family head off for their vacation didn’t feel like some kind of loss to me was...well, amazing.


9:33:59 AM    comment []