by BJ Beauchamp
On November 4th I went on my nightly four to five mile walk to burn off some of dinner’s calories. Halfway into the walk I get a phone call from my mother asking if I had heard. “Heard what?” I asked. “Obama won. He’ll be number 44.” I looked around to see if there was any change in the neighborhood… No wild hoots, hollers, jumping about or partying going on that I could see. For the rest of my walk I paid attention to see if I could tell by the people’s behavior if the news was out…Nothing. I don’t live in Los Angeles per se, and Orange County is red although not where I live. It was however a very quiet night – all night long. I am very much on media overload and have no desire to see or hear or discuss what happened, or why someone else’s navel is more important than mine. I think everyone is on that same page as well, unless of course you’re Oprah. I’ve nothing against Oprah I’m just tired of her. I hear she has her own cable network now… great. Glad I don’t have cable. Hopefully I won’t need to go pitch anything to the “O” people. But you know it’s a cruel world…
This morning I checked all the hummingbird feeders, and it is official, the migration is over with and the few hummingbirds that are in my yard are here for the duration of fall and winter… everyone else had flown south…Bunch of lightweights.
Sales are up in the area – sales of foreclosed homes. I saw one house decked out for Halloween with a “For Sale” sign in the yard with the added signage of “Repossessed — Again.” Good to see humor hasn’t been completely exorcised.
I have an apple here on my desk which is going to be my lunch today. I now must anticipate what is coming November 27th – the Foodies day of the year – THANKSGIVING! I have much to be thankful for, I really do. I am extremely thankful that I have money in the bank to cover the household needs – can’t even measure that at this time. I am fully aware there are many who don’t, no matter how hard they struggle. I am also immensely thankful that in the last year I have not lost a soul dear to me and we will all still be gathered together to give thanks in 2008. Again, it can’t be measured, but if you saw the look in my eyes, you’d know, and you would definitely feel it.
I’ve stopped counting and coloring my gray hairs. Que sera, sera. I am now accepting what is inevitable and we’ll see how frightful this looks. I promise I shall always comb my hair and have it presentable for company at all times except perhaps when passed out asleep or so terribly sick I’m not crawling out of bed that day. I still have it styled in long layers and its past the shoulders, but I’m not cutting it shorter until after I turn 50 I don’t care what Miss Manners or Katie Couric’s mother thinks is age appropriate. I like my hair long and I have an oval face that goes with it. Besides, if it is gray enough and long enough, eventually I can stick it in a bun… it’ll be fine.
Yep, everything will be fine… eventually.