INAUGURATION

I did not think that it would be possible for anything to overshadow my son's birthday. This year, I truly think that he has something to celebrate. Cliff is twenty this year (how the hell did that happen). He has always been a political animal, I guess it was too many years of quizzing him on capitals, senators, and electoral votes, but this election has energized him like nothing else.

A year ago he was working for Hillary in Iowa. Disappointed at her campaigns self-destruction, he quickly transitioned to an Obama supporter. Agree or disagree with our new President's views, you must agree, he has energized a new generation. All we can do is pray that the momentum is kept.


"Never in our national history has there been so dramatic a coincidence as this simultaneous transfer of power and the complete collapse of a system and of a philosophy."

The above quote seems as though it is perfect for this day, it is actually from FDR in 1933, and I found it in a great article by Katrina Vanden Heuvel
which is definitely worth a read.

When I was Cliff's age I had already worked on MLK's March on Washington, ad had found my causes: equal rights, women's right to choose. My generation spent alot of time arguing, questioning, and championing causes. I broke into school buildings and put up signs for abortion clinics (yes, this was illegal). Through acts like these and others we now have these rights, and our current generation takes them for granted. It is easy to take something for granted that you have always had.

II am thrilled to have lived to see this momentous event. I am thrilled to see a President who can read, write, and speak intelligently. That, alone, will be a pleasure for the next four years.

My hopes for my son for the coming year are as follows:

I truly hope for him that he remains energized and politically active.

I truly hope for him that he continues to take umbrage at injustice.

I truly hope that he continues to stand up for his convictions.

I know that he will always make me proud.

THE CALL HOME

Many of you who have children who go away to college go through the communication withdrawal. You were with them every minute. You saw them all the time. They needed you. Even if that need extended to a roof over their head and food and transportation in their view. In your view, they needed guidance your wisdom and the ability for you to help them map out the course of their lives. Reality is probably a little bit of both.

Remember the scene from the movie ET..."phone home."

Cliff phoning home has been the topic of conversation for days. From Henry...he is incommunicado...something is wrong. From Betsy...he has not answered my emails. From me...don't look at me he is not responding to me either.

Then it happened. The phone rang. Caller ID said Cliff. I could not get the phone to my ear quickly enough. I was thrilled. I could report that he called. That we had a "conversation"; actually spoke. OMG! A miracle. His voice filled the airwaves: "Mom, who does James Spader play on Boston Legal." "Alan Shore!" I replied. "Thanks."...and he was gone.

That is it. I have become the person to call if you no longer have a Blackberry and can google IMDB for James Spader. I am the repository of trivial information regarding television shows, movies, and books, past and present. The person who knows the six degrees of separation for everyone in a tv show...and for this, my friend, I am ecstatic that I was the recipient of the Cliff call of the week.

Perhaps, I should just tell everyone that he called and that we spoke at length. A little white lie wouldn't hurt anyone, would it?