A New and Glorious Post-Election Morn

It's like finishing the second Harry Potter novel.  You're grateful that the forces of Voldemort have been defeated but you get the feeling that they'll be back.  In the never-ending skirmishes of American politics  I am so relieved for the victories that were received, but I know the battle is hardly over.

The President's victory was remarkable, and I am so grateful for it.  His margin of victory was not quite what  it was versus McCain, but it was decisive enough, and exceeded the expectations of most pundits.Honestly, I cannot picture what would have happened had Romney/Ryan been elected, but at least now I can confine that to the speculative annals of alternative history.

The Affordable Care Act has now survived it's last great challenge, and will hopefully be a gateway to even greater reform in the future.  The Supreme Court may now eventually be wrested from the hands of those who favor the wealthy and big business over average folk.  We are less likely to have a Supreme Court that will try to reverse social engineer us.  We are less likely now to be drawn into foreign conflicts.  We can proceed with green energy, which I still see as the bedrock foundation of building a 21st century economy.

The Senate held for the Democrats, which was my prediction. As of writing this, they may have gained three seats.  It was a great election for women, as we gained Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Baldwin in the Senate (just to name two).  Elizabeth Warren is a progressive superstar, and I greatly look forward to her debating the likes of Mitch McConnell and James Inhofe.  On the dark side, Republicans still hold more than forty seats, and under current Senate rules, they will continue to filibuster and run roughshod over the public will.

The House had very modest gains for the Democrats, but these numbers are still in flux.  Regardless, the Republicans maintain control of this body, which will further slow the progress we are able to make.  The congressional districts are heavily gerrymandered in favor of the Republicans, but as demographics shift, I predict this will be harder and harder to sustain.

I know very little of local races.  My guess is that most Democrats in this area lost.  I heard that Amendment One, an effort to promote private schools over funding public schools won, and I find that result completely baffling.  Even conservative extremists in our area opposed this one.  The bottom line is, that for us small group of progressives in this area, life will continue to be uncomfortable and unpleasant.  I imagine my son and other Obama kids will continue to be bullied and harassed.  I had hoped that some people around here would be slowly waking up, but I see little sign of that happening.

I extend an olive branch to those who have so bitterly opposed this President, and a desire that we can work together to solve the many problems we face.  But if I offer that olive branch, and you instead start to chew my arm off, don't expect me to be quiet about it.

Young Robin Hood Starts This Friday!

Once again, here is the great cast of Robin hood!

Flying Dragon Arts Center is bringing Sherwood Forest to Waycross in November! Kids from ages 2 - 18 are gearing up, dressing up and bringing the Merry back to Merry Men or uh... Merry Kids! Waycross’s children’s theater’s next show will be “YOUNG ROBIN HOOD” and will showcase the talents of 35 youngsters from Ware, Pierce and Brantley Counties. There’s a little Modern times mixed with Medieval. A

...story of Robin Hood told like no other but with some VERY familiar song tunes. The story’s writers, T.M. Strait and K.D. Cook are directing the band of Merry Kids, the Sheriff and his Henchmen, Maid Marian, a fine group of Villagers and of course, Robin Hood, Little John and his unique crew of supporters as he stands up to the Bully Sheriff of Nottingham. The play will show for 2 weekends: Friday, November 9th, Saturday, November 10th and Sunday, November 11th. Then Friday, November 16th, Saturday, November 17th and Sunday, November 18th. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:00 pm and Sunday shows are at 3:00 pm. Concessions sold before show, intermission break and end of play. Tickets will be $6.00 for ages 6 and up. Ages 5 & under are free. Pre-Sale tickets available at theater. Season Tickets on sale now at Flying Dragon Theater’s NEW LOCATION, 405 Tebeau St, Waycross beside Downtown Sandwich Shoppe. Above written by K.D. Cook.

Stones Into the Ocean and Other Monday Musings

Doug & Ramya's special wedding at the beach on St. Simons.  It was perfect weather, a beautiful day, and a very sweet and memorable ceremony.

Benjamin is able to take advantage of his dance skills learned at Cotillion by dancing with a very special young lady at the wedding reception.

What a beautiful weekend!  I now have a married son, with a beautiful daughter-in-law.  Both ceremonies, the one at the Hindu temple in Atlanta, and the one at the beach at St. Simons, were very special and meaningful.  I'm not sure any other couple will have as many great  memories to cherish.  There were moments of stress, to be sure, but they were quickly set aside and replaced with the overwhelming joy everyone was experiencing.

On the beach, everyone was given a stone at the start of the ceremony.  Then, after the vows were read, all the guests went down to the edge of the ocean and together threw their stone into the waters.  It symbolized the letting go of the old and the beginning of the new.  It was an awe-inspiring sight to behold.  so awe-inspiring that I forgot to take any pictures.  But when I see them from others, I will post them here.

I had to take my foot off Young Robin Hood for a bit during the wedding, but now that that is over, I have it back down again.  My co-director, Karissa Cook, has done an excellent job of keeping things moving forward, but now we have to dedicate the next week to making this the best show we can.  So for any cast members who have read to this point in the post, I have a special message:  DON'T MISS PRACTICES and LEARN YOUR LINES!!!

Our plans to move are continuing forward.  Our house is sold, and we have purchased a new one.  Unfortunately, the new one will need three to six months of work, and we will have nowhere to live in the meantime,  So somehow, we have to solve that problem in the next few weeks.

The election is almost finally past us, and what an unpleasant election season it has been.  My long standing prediction has been that the President wins by the same margin or greater than he did against McCain, the Democrats hold the Senate, and make gains in the House but do not take control of it.  

It looks like the Presidential race may be closer than I expected.  The margin in the South is higher for Romney than the margin for Obama in other sections in the country, so the election may appear to be closer than it actually is.  I still believe firmly that Obama will win fairly decisively in the electoral college and more narrowly in the popular vote.  And just like in 2010, on the Senate level, most of the tea party whackjobs should go down to defeat.  When all is said and done, though, there will probably still be 40 plus Republican Senators who are willing to use the filibuster to stop any progressive agenda.  Oh, well.  Can't have everything, I guess.

But now I can have a married son and a beautiful daughter-in-law!  Yay!

Bible Verses Important to Me 10

                       Now the whole group of those who believed was of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.  With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.  There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.  They laid it at the apostle’s feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

From Acts 4:32-35

I find it absolutely fascinating that, if taken literally, after spending forty days with the resurrected Jesus, experiencing Pentecost, and then coming together to form a community, this is the first thing they do!  Could it be that this is where they knew they were supposed to wind up?  If so, it appears from the next passages, concerning Ananias and the withheld property, that they had discovered they had severely jumped the gun.  But I think they revealed where the Holy Spirit was taking us, if only our belief in the resurrected Jesus was strong enough.

                 

For myself, I try to think of a creed of practice to complement and support our creed of belief (Nicene and/or Apostle’s Creed).  The following are elements I think it could contain;

Love God.

Love your neighbor.

Feed the hungry.

Clothe and shelter the needy.

Heal the sick.

Those who have should give to those who haven’t.

More Pictures From A Very Special Wedding

Alison, Benjamin, Tom in front of the Hindu Temple.  Yes, we are barefoot.  Temperature probably in the high fifties to low sixties.   The sun was out and despite the slight chill, it was a beautiful day for a beautiful wedding,

My son Doug shows off his traditional Hindi wedding  clothes, as the garlands and gifts are gathered behind him.

Doug & Ramya get ready to place garlands on each other.  There is a contest to see who can place the garland around the other first.  Dug won one, thanks in part to his brother Greg lifting him up, Ramya won one, and a third attempts results are in dispute.

We enjoyed the Hindu ceremony very much.  It was very lively and active, and told a meaningful story.  We had read some about ahead of time.  Sometimes even with our reading, we got  a little lost in the ceremony.  But that didn't dim our enthusiasm, appreciation and respect for it.    It was a special memory we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

Doug & Ramya's Special Wedding

Doug & Ramya at their special Hindu wedding ceremony.

Doug prepares in his special dress.  It was a very special and meaningful ceremony, with an elaborate and special story behind it.  Doug was a great participant, telling the story of the ascetic scholar who finds something even richer than bachelorhood, with his joining together of  his beautiful bride.

Ramya awaits the ceremony in her  traditional Hindu wedding attire.  I am so happy to finally have a daughter, and  so proud of my son for finding the best match in all the world!

This is Alison, gorgeous in a Sari.  I feel like the luckiest son of a B on the planet.  Well, next to Doug, of course.

This was from the Hindu ceremony performed yesterday (November 1).  There will be a more Americanized ceremony this Saturday (November 3) at St. Simon's.  More pictures to come!

The Fading Away of Someplace Else

It wasn't here
It was someplace else
Someplace I may never get to go again

A place that was once sharp and vivid
Receding from my mind
A place that I could taste and feel
Is now a bitter sensation

I could not help but go there
In so many ways
But now the langoliers of memory
Are chomping it away

Away
Away it goes
Was it ever there

A pond
It's name escapes me
A village
I no longer know

I know
There was someplace else
But where
Is beginning to fade