A Break Today

Let’s take a break from funerals and death today.

First, yesterday’s elections. No elections took place where I live, but I did pay attention to prominent national elections. Reflectionary and RevDrMom both express well how I feel.

Second, an unusual friend request on Spacebook—an ex of mine from whom I separated almost 15 years ago, who left me practically penniless, hugely in debt, and who stalked me for over a year after our separation, thought that now we could be “friends”. Not. I just hit “block” and went on. What an idiot!

Third, my knee. I took a lovely four mile stroll on a bright autumn day with my new neighbor early last week. That was the first real walk I had taken for a while. That night, my left knee hurt like no one’s business and when I looked, it was moderately swollen. Oops. I happened to have a doctor’s appointment the very next day, which was lucky as the pain kept me awake most of the night. A complicating factor in all of this was that a month prior, a windblown car door slammed on that knee. I was surprised that it took so long for the injury to make me lame. The doc also was puzzled and sent me to physical therapy. After my evaluation yesterday, the physical therapist said the injury was a red herring. Instead, I have tendonitis of the IT band that flared up after my stroll. The therapist said I have one of the tightest IT bands he’s ever had to work with.

Great.

That means I’ll be in PT for a few weeks. The knee remains very painful; the doctor gave me some moderately strong pain medication that really helps. I take it fairly regularly. I’m actually most comfortable when I am sitting; that may explain why I have blogged more lately.

Last week while sitting, I read That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo. I had planned to read it after Mom died; it became almost urgent after Dad passed away. The book grabbed me from the very first and only put it down once. Recommend it highly.

Done electing a bishop

And I cannot tell you how exhausted I am. Our diocese is large in a physical sense and I drove 400 miles round trip in a 26 hour period to go cast two ballots. There are many who drove much more than I did.

I'm okay with the bishop elect. He was not my first choice, nor my second. But as I stated in my last post, he was strong on paper and he should be a fine bishop.

My best friend in high school, an experienced priest, is looking for a new cure and I just emailed her to tell her of the opening created by this episcopal election!

I am too tired to write much more. I trust the Holy Spirit's workings in all of this.

Electing a bishop

Last Friday evening I sat in a crowded parish hall and listened to Q&A with the four candidates for the 10th bishop of South Dakota. I'm a lay delegate to the electing convention which will be held in Pierre, SD tomorrow, so it particularly was important for me to be there and to listen intently. I took copious notes. The diocese provided me and the other delegates with detailed information about the candidates prior to the presentation, which I read carefully and asked Taciturn to read as well. It was interesting how different a couple of them were very different in person than on paper. I had rank ordered the candidates based not only on what I read on the bios but from what I could get from Googling them. In person, one was much more eloquent than on paper--very well spoken and quick on his feet. One who was excellent on paper had one heck of a time getting his words out unless he was passionate about something. That one had been my #1 choice until I heard him speak as well as some of his answers to the questions put to the entire group; he dropped to #3.

Having said that, I think that three of these candidates would serve the diocese well as bishop--as well as represent our diocese well in the House of Bishops. One I truly think is all sizzle and no steak (very superficial both on paper and in person), and is looking for a nice place to serve out the remaining years until he retires. I know I'm not the only one who thinks that about this particular candidate; one retired priest mentioned that this candidate is in "over his head."

I will not say in this public space whom I support. I'll write about that afterward. I've engaged in several conversations with interested people in my church and people who know me know where I stand as well as why. Please pray that I continue to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

If you are interested, two Q&A sessions are on YouTube. Search bishop walkabout and you will get links. Since they both were three hours in length, I can't really link to one video.

My neighbor, also a lay delegate, and I will leave for Pierre in a few hours. Please pray for us and our diocese as we engage in this process. Pray that we truly discern the will of God and listen to the wisdom and guidance provided by the Holy Spirit as we elect the next bishop of this diocese.

Thaw, and another type of chill

Today I actually got out of the house. The roads in my neighborhood are not clear, but they are passable. I picked up a new prescription and some groceries, including some yummy chard to saute with garlic tonight to have with supper. Safeway, the grocery, was a total madhouse. There were absolutely no places to park with many of the parking spaces piled with snow. I parked at the adjoining strip mall and ambled over.

We called Taciturn's mom and her husband the Angry While Man this am. I must preface my remarks by reiterating that T and I profoundly disagreed on this election, and I noted yesterday that as soon as the press conference came on television, he left the room but later had nothing good to say about what our president-elect said. I have a feeling he will get all of his news about this new president from secondary sources.

AWM not only relies on secondary sources but also his main secondary source is Rush Limbaugh (what a surprise). So you know how he feels about this election. Anyway, while they were talking on the phone, T said that the only reason Sen Obama won the election was because he looked good on TV.

I'm kinda annoyed. That certainly is a slap in my face, and an insult to all people who voted for him. Since many are rather glib with the right to vote, I'm sure someone somewhere did vote for him because he is a good looking man with a nice smile. There are many reasons to vote or not vote for a candidate.

I guess it is difficult to think that someone who mulls things over, reads articles and books, and ponders deeply for whom the vote will be cast, could in good faith come to a totally different conclusion than you might. So the easiest thing is to marginalize that person as "unthinking," "a traitor," "someone who doesn't care about our troops in harm's way," or worse. And yeah, let's lump Gen Collin Powell and Warren Buffet in with those folks.

I also think those who would blame "the liberal media" are saying that the American people are just sheep who can be led willy nilly. But these same people marginalize a good education, which teaches critical thinking skills, which in turn would keep people from following something sheep-like.

Sheesh.

Off my soapbox now.

I have had a cold yucky feeling in the pit of my stomach all day. Taciturn, however, if he truly thinks that Obama's victory is carte blanche for terrorists to attack the US en masse, may feel awful that he has found himself married to a traitor.

Blizzard Warning

We are under a blizzard warning where I live. If not for that warning, I would be at work right now. But, if there is a blizzard and I had gone to work, I would not be able to come home until Friday am. So I had a chat with the boss and so I am at home.

I'm feeling kinda lonely though. No matter where I would have been today, either at work or at home, I could not celebrate the new president elect. My husband thinks that Al-Quieda will strike at will because he doesn't care about security (which Gen Powell effectively has repudiated); the people at work think he is the anti-Christ predicted in Revelation. I tried to talk to a friend on the phone with similar political leanings today and each time either my husband was in the room or someone came to the door.

Makes me think about the places I would be if not for my relationships. If I owed no one a thing, I would live in Vermont. A few years ago we started out for a trip to Maine. We got as far as Vermont and stopped, staying there for two weeks. To me it is a magical place. I like the vibe found there, where there are community meetings and people rely on each other. I also like Green Mountain Coffee, Magic Hat Beer, and Cabot Cheese, all made in VT. I like the fact it has mountains and it has water. It is a lovely, inspiring place.

Yeah, if I could choose anywhere to live without thinking about other people, I'd live in VT.

If I could live anywhere I wanted without having to consider Taciturn, I'd live in Columbia, MO, by Only Son and the Grandchildren. Even though Only Son and I have serious disagreements in both politics and religious practice, I need to be with him and his family at least 3 to 4 times a year. But in Columbia, a town with 3 colleges/universities, there is plenty to do besides play with the grandkids. There is an amazing trail system that allows one to ride a bike or run from one's house clear to St. Charles, just outside St. Louis. There are lovely parks no matter where one lives in town. Basically, there is anything anyone wants, including a revitalized downtown.

But I don't live in either of those places. I live in "what is mine is mine, if you need help screw you" South Dakota, where most downtowns are rotting, people don't speak to each other except to tell others how to live their lives (to a point), and where education is valued not at all. Our teachers are on food stamps, and judging from the letters to the editor in the paper, most begrudge teachers even the pittance they make. This is where a huge church in a supposedly progressive town advertises that "if you are looking for mystery, don't come here."

What a crappy place to live. If I didn't love my husband, I would have been gone from here long ago.

But, we do have nice scenery. This is a great place to visit. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is absolutely all. (That is enough for Taciturn, which is why we are here.)

Look at the election results. Except for the rejected abortion ban (people here hate government interference), the story is all there plain for all to see.

And a blizzard is coming.

Pollsitting and other election stuff

I was a pollwatcher yesterday.

I had a list of voters provided by the county Democratic organization who had been vetted somehow (Lord knows how) and shown to be friendly to our goals. I was to mark off each as they voted, then take a list of the ones who hadn't voted to the precinct house for further phone follow up. Also, I was to monitor for electoral malfeasance. Unlike the experience of Mark Harris at PRELUDIUM, who did the same thing as I, there was no Republican pollwatcher.

I'll get back to that.

But I will tell you now that being amidst all of the people who had turned out to exercise their rights as citizens was incredibly buoying. I was there at 0645 and when I heard the head poll judge shout at 7, "The polls are open!" I felt a thrill flash through my entire body. Four precincts were voting in the same large space, and I know that the two precincts I was aware of ran 300 voters through in the first hour.

Totally insane, but so great.

The election judges with whom I worked were very aloof at first (who can blame them?), but softened as the morning went on. They became annoyed with me toward the end as I answered a question from a voter that they thought I should have referred to them, which I probably should have, but since the information had been on the front page of the paper that morning it did not occur to me to not answer it. They glared at me until I apologized.

I realized that there was no Republican pollwatcher because of the supreme confidence they had that they would win all of the local elections. Which, unfortunately, they did. Some local Democrats even lost their seats. I do live in Republicanland.

Maybe if we hadn't been so distracted by the abortion issue, we could have worked harder for our local progressives. But, we did win the Big Prize!

Finally

It is 9 pm in western South Dakota and I am weeping tears of joy and relief.

I just heard on two networks the election called for Sen Obama. And, the draconian proposed abortion ban in my state in going down to defeat.

A new day is dawning in our nation.

I just wish I could share this with Taciturn, who presently is upstairs sulking in our bedroom.

Tomorrow I'll blog about the great time (and it was!) I had pollwatching this morning. I'm just too happy right now!

Voting as sacred act

The Booth is a thought provoking (at least for me) article on Trinity Wall Street's website. Take a peek.

Also, the Rev Peter Carey has a prayer for Election Day on his blog:

Almighty God,
to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges:
Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives;
that, by faithful administration and wise laws,
the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And to think

He was my candidate in 2000. And it's all come down to this. Sad.