That Was The Week That Was
Well, that was a pretty big week, as they go. For me anyway.
That was the week I became a citizen. I could practically feel my teeth straightening out and becoming dazzling as I took the oath.
The week I early voted, grinning like a buffoon at the bored clerk handing me my “I Voted!” sticker.
The week I went to Washington as a shiny, new-minted citizen and saw the Lincoln Memorial. And on a beautiful day, in the alcove off to the side, I read the words on the wall. I leaned back against a huge marble pillar and felt the massive weight of history and people and ideas at my back. My fingers ran along the grooves cut into the marble and it felt very, very cold. I ground the back of my head into the chill and spent a little while with the old story and the cold dead giant at my back.
Noise was behind me, all kinds of people having their photos taken with Lincoln and talking in low reverent, cathedral voices. And it was the best way, a way I never imagined, to feel that behind the chilly pillar and the sculptor’s art and the reverence, the ideas were still warm and living and alive in the people who had come to look at him. I went back out into the main part of the monument and looked at collossal Lincoln gazing down the mall, beyond Washington’s imposing blaze; the steady gaze of history into the future, and it was calming. I thought that Lincoln’s wise, tired, grave eyes saw Barack Obama, were fixed on him, entrusting him to take back the big ideas and by leading through them, give them back to all of us.
This fanciful stuff might just come from being a new American,I don’t know. It might be the feeling that we’re on the brink of great change and an historical election. It might be wishful thinking for another great leader and the tantalizing possibility that we might finally have one again. But it wasn’t just me, there were many people there that day and they were all there to get up close to the beautiful ideas again. Or even if they’d just come to sightsee, like us, none of us could fail to be moved into pondering them. You could see it on their faces. It is a very powerful monument. And on the brink of this historical election I really, truly think a lot of people are hungry to live the great ideas and be led by a man who will animate them again.
I did that day anyway. No doubt, my customary news-fuelled, quotidian cynicism will curl and moulder the edges of that feeling soon enough but if it lasts through next Tuesday and we have a President Obama, then I think the optimism has a chance of continuing. And we will make the sacrifices we need to to get the country back on track. What’s more we will want to make them because that’s what great leaders inspire.
It was also the week I met some wonderful, wonderful people in DC but missed a lesbian transgendered wedding with my darling pal, Dev.
It was the week we went solar here at our house in Ojai. Bit nervous about the expenditure but it seems to make long-term economic sense and will cut our leccy bills by 1/2 to 2/3. The energy savings will be equivalent to the energy two cars burn in a year – regular, movee aboutee cars, even, not just parked ones. Besides there’s a rather soopah government rebate towards almost half the cost down. That’s jolly nice.
And it was the week I, Doofus-Woman, fell spectacularly on my arse down the hotel stairs in front of people who said Oooh! and Geez! as they watched. The autumn leaves have nothing on the rate my bum is turning colours. My own personal fall colours. Boo.
But also, Boo! Happy Halloween, chums! I’m just getting back into the way of things and will be round catching up on y’all damn near directly. Seeya out there!
October 30th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Lincoln was president during a civil war, Sam – if things get as bad as that, I suggest you do the smart thing and fly back to Lewis. But yes, Abe was something special. When a girl he was courting put on a lot of weight in his absence he said she had become “a fair match for Falstaff”. Heh!
October 30th, 2008 at 11:44 am
It can’t have been your newness, Citizen Sam. As a crusty old Amerkin, I was similarly moved. And why not? What’s the point of being hope-less? Why expend such energy pretending we’re not foolish? It’s impossible to stand next to Lincoln and follow his gaze and not grow big of heart. And that’s the only condition that gives us a hope of fulfilling our birthright. As for the hotel mishap, those Ooohs were the same ones heard at the Olympics. People were sure they had just witnessed a spectacular feat that would one day make the credits for Wide World of Sports. Many were craning their necks to see where the skateboard had gotten to. I know, I was there.
October 30th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Nanas, I have a crush on Lincoln so great it overcame a randy, Methodist church elder – a justice of the bloody peace for crying out loud – and strong Lincoln resembler’s unwelcome advances in a caravan on a North Yorkshire farm when I was 15. Even that asshole couldn’t put me off him.
October 30th, 2008 at 11:48 am
My goodness, Sam. I haven’t felt this hopeful or patriotic in years. What a lovely post to get me through next Tuesday. Thanks, You!
October 30th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Hey wally, missed ya, you were lurking deep in the innards of my moderation there. It was something, wasn’t it? I fell down the steps patriotically, I have decided, in a piece of performance art about how as a country we are on our arse. To drive home the point I made sure I fell idiotically enough to render my bum and elbows a country-luvin’ red, white and blue. There is no pain i won’t suffer for my country.
Sugar Britches, I feel apprehensive too though, on the other hand. I keep thinking something’s going to go wrong, some dirty trick or polling problem’s going to steal the thing for the GOP again. Fingers crossed! And toes and legs and arms and eyes and whatnots. Cross ‘em all, it’s not over til the fat lady signs a done deal (see? See? I’m even speaking like an American now! Oh happy immigrant!)
October 30th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Happy Hallow’een indeed and congratulation Darling.
October 30th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Welcome aboard, as they say. Now you, too, can take umbrage when all those damn foreigners start whining about “American hegemony” and stuff.
At least I hope the “goody bag” and buffet were decent.
Cheers.
October 30th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Remember: a noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.
October 30th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I love those ideas Sam. And last time out over here when you mentioned Stellar, I got all caught up in the moment and well…… But you’re right, you were correct back then and you still are now, and the rightness will last longer then next Tuesday. These are good times for the US, I don’t give a dam for Wall St., these are good times when good stuff will have the chance of happening. Good stuff hasn’t had much of chance over there lately. And lest there be doubt in minds about the better candidate, from next Tuesday you will have the chance for stuff to come right from a principled intelligent man.
And you Lincoln linked him you little darling Sam. Woohoo I say, woohoo merikans, you’ve got chances again.
October 30th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Awh well done you! I still laugh at the scene in the simpsons where Apu becomes a citizen and the fiorst thing he asks the guy is the way to the welfare office…hehehehe….he was only joking……
October 30th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
fmc, cheers, hun!
Rand’ I take umbrage everywhere with me in case of rain. And there wasn’t even so much as a sausage roll! You could buy a pleather certificate holder for 10 bucks though, 5 bucks if you didn’t want the ones with the Oath glued to the inside. It was good to note htey were made in America but bad to note that they were pieces of shit. Seriously, can’t we Westerners make stuff any more?
Bock, there’s many a small man in Lewis that’s emboldened by noble spirit. Friday nights are a particularly ennobling time up there.
Sniffs, you’re right, it’s been bleak for a long time. I’d just be happy if there weren’t as many forehead slapping WTF decisions on the go. I would be happy if our new president doesn’t talk nor dumb down. Next job after Obama gets in: pistol-whip almost the entire news media in the US to a pulpy pile of jelly and microphones, and start over without adverts and “Your Lifestyle” segments.
Manuel, thanks, m’darlin’. There were people from all over the world in the same room as me to be naturalized. 904 of them. It was cool to see us all, so different, and all doing the same thing. I stood next to a tiny man from Sao Paulo – we were in the back row and giggled excitedly like persons who are loony. At the end, before going our separate ways back out into America, we gave each other a big hug and some extended grinning handshaking and wished each other luck knowing we’d never see each other again. It was a funny day, alright. I wasn’t weepy at all, though some were, but it certainly felt momentous.
October 30th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
congratulations, sugar, we are a better country for having you as a citizen! xoxoxo
obama/biden08
October 30th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
So have you been summoned for jury duty yet? Heee.
Many congratulations Sam.With you on our team we can’t fail.By our team I mean American citizens who don’t know the words to the pledge of allegiance and mumble along hoping no one notices.I mean I still get nickels and dimes mixed up FFS.
Incidentally I proposed to Herself at the Lincoln Memorial.Oh..and it’s three blocks from my office Sam.Just sayin’ like. xxx
October 30th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Being able to vote for Obama surely makes all those years of waiting, red-taping and fingerprinting worth while?
Sorry about the stairs incident. I’m sure you look wonderfully autbumnal.
October 30th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Ha, quotidian. Where on earth did you lick that one from. I bet you have never said it in your life. Did they issue you with a new vocab’. Can you at a glance tell the poundage of the woman in the corner.
Congrats Sam.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:35 am
So were you going for a stars & stripes theme on your bum? Very patriotic
Congrats!
October 31st, 2008 at 3:35 am
I understand, Sam. Not everyone can win life’s lotto and be born a Spanish.
Does this mean you will have to learn their language, too?
October 31st, 2008 at 4:01 am
congrats Sam! and fun to hear a few more details of the hossfest, except, ouch for you!
October 31st, 2008 at 5:05 am
So, that thing at the Alamo… what was that all about?*
(first in a long line of questions I’ve been meaning to ask an American)
October 31st, 2008 at 6:39 am
Hey Sam, Sorry to hear you had a fall. I hope you weren’t hurt, and that your very patriotic bruises heal fast – because, as you know, they go from being bright, festive, flag-waving colours to gruesome purples and greens. It was great meeting you. Just sorry I couldn’t spend more time with you and the gang.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
savannah, thanks, darlin’. One more wee blue fish in a big blue state won’t do much for Obama, I’m afraid, but there are a ton of propositions I can have my voice heard in. It’s been so long since I could vote anywhere at all it feels great! I have a really bad case of voter narcissm, I’m afeared.
Devin, oh God, I know it won’t be long. We’ve lived here 7 years adn the PH has been summoned 7 times. have you got early voting over there? Are you going on the day. I kind of regret that I won’t get the buzz of queueing up and voting on the day – yip, voter narcissm, I got it baaaaaad, baby.
Sneezy, “Autbum – Season of mists and mellow arse-bruising.”
Vincent, why I use the word quotidian on an almost quotidian basis, you cheekster! I make sure to say it at least three times on a Sunday, as well. 4 on High Holy Days.
Kim, I think there’s a clause that new American’s are not allowed to lose their dignity for their first full year so I might be in trouble. Or maybe it’s virginity we can’t lose. I know that’s true in Mississippi anyway.
Manuel, Americans speak in a baffling series of clicks and slurps, but when they’re finished their meals I haven’t a clue what they’re saying to me.
Ah Cindy, we’d have loved it if you could have come. I would have lapped up your sympathy like an indignant cat. If I recall wally’s exact word’s when it happened: “Ahahahahaha! Are you alri…ahahahahaha, hoot hoot, ahahahahaha, oh, I’m sorr…ahahahahaha.”
Conan, i think it was just a big fight over who rented some car or other.
Terry, I have a very Halloweeny bottom indeed – gruesome purple and green galore. I could stick a pair of eyes on it and call it Igor.
October 31st, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Wowee! You look very different, and I don’t mean the bruising, although it is, in its own way, not unattractive. Aha. You’ve been naturalized, enfranchised, & Lincoln Monumented all in the space of a week? Well, there you have it. You must be right tuckered, as we say in New Jersey.
How profoundly heartening that your first vote is for the promise of the original premise.
And in such a brand spanking new, somewhat Gorey-esque wrapper.
I applaud!
October 31st, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Oh congratulations. Bet you’re pleased there’s no more forms.
And I so feel your pain for your public falling over, I once turned up to an English University Lecturer’s house, crew in tow, to do a story on comedy. Walked in and promptly fell spectacularly on my face. Everybody gathered around me anxiously asking if I was alright, I struggle back up assuring them that I’m fine whilst thinking, ‘Fuck me I hurt allllllllllll over.’ I think I illustrated what comedy was, though. I am not sure what I hated most, the falling over, or the attention it got me.
And I hope your treat-a-treating was successful.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Or trick-or-treating. It’s not some weird Halloween thing we have in New Zealand.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:12 am
YOU TRAITOR TO THE CROFTER WAYS YOU!!!!
did you have to surrender your boban socks and wellies? they might not let you on the ferry without them….
seriously congrats and all that….at least your vote will nullify Dave’s McCain vote
November 1st, 2008 at 11:36 am
Yay for voting!
And your citizenship.
Happy Day of the Dead, Sam.
November 1st, 2008 at 2:45 pm
seaDreams, it’s wierd, I just looked out my copy of Gorey’s illustrated Belloc this morning! How could you have know this? Do you work for the government? And cheers – I’m mighty pleased to come on board.
laughy – we cleaned up trick or treating. But, just between us, you know, how bad would a mother have to be to nick a fun size Milky way from her child’s candy bag in the middle of the night? Awfully bad? I’m not asking for myself, you see, but for a friend. Yeah, a friend.
Weebro – The very first thing I’m going to do when I get my new passport is to put it in a sheepskin cover and spill some whisky on it. So as not to excite suspicion of my defection next time I go home. I had a weird thought the other day. The are growing up with out the pleasure of ever wearing wellie-boots. A childhood without wellies…that’s kinda sad.
Medbh, There was a great thundery Day Of the Dead storm here this morning, it was fab – straight from central casting. Happy one yourself, darling!
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I barely know what to say I’m so excited for you. They say the best way to make changes is from within, and now you are within the world’s superpower. Well done that girl!
November 2nd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I’m patriotic. I like to hug the Spire at LEAST once a year. Get well soon, Problem Butt Bruise.
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
sugar, never, ever get bored with voting, stay excited and know you’re one of us now!!! *cue dr. evil laughter sound track* but, seriously, we will do good things here again and it will start november 4th and continue into the future! xoxox
i’d be happy dancing now, but i’m too tired!
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:05 am
Is there such a thing as a Gettysburger and can you get one with fries?*
*(second in a long line of questions I’ve been meaning to ask an American)
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
oooooo love the new website Sam ( I know I’m a bit late!)
Hooray for the citizen thing… but surely you will always be a Scot or more importantly an Islander?
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:46 am
My, but I had forgotten that I had put a shot of the moon in to the system. It is the first time I’ve seen it, outside.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Hi. Im new here and ill be back. Here in Portugal we dont celebrate the halloween but we should to forget the other rest…
November 4th, 2008 at 4:21 am
You made me wish I’d gone to Washington when I had the chance. Congrats on becoming a citizen but you’ll always be a Brit at heart. Hopefully our ’special relationship ‘ will thrive with a new president and our hopes and wishes come true.
November 4th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Oh Sam,
I think I almost recognize the shore of your picture above! I like the new look.
I am watching Bulgarian TV at the moment, funny enough our University president is live at the studio and I am half asleep waiting to hear who he’ll support. Anyway, I can’t vote although I gave my ballot for Obama at facebook, but I support you in your pursuit of change.
Oh, and I am sorry for your bum, really. Give the wee ones a hug for me, I miss them.
November 4th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
it happened! he did it! happy dancing and packing and goddamn delirious with joy!!!! President Barack Obama!!!!
November 6th, 2008 at 11:59 am
What a great time to become a Merkan! Your vote tipped the balance, Sam. Just like MY vote for Blair in 1997 was the landslide. According to Harold.
November 6th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
your state broke my heart this week with its banning of gay marriage. though what cracked it completely in two was arkansas banning gay couples from even adopting. for every step forward, it feels like we slide back twice as far.
December 27th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
http://www.joeway.co.uk/blog/post/Celebrities-support-Joe-Ways-story.aspx...
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