Yesterday was a day of not-so-good news but morning today brought better news.
First, I learned that a dear friend in NC who is 28 weeks and three days pregnant was hospitalized with contractions. Two years ago she delivered a baby boy very early - perhaps at 20 or 21 weeks - that did not survive, so this pregnancy has been very closely monitored. As Kathy says, she just wants the baby to "bake" a little longer before making his entry into the world.
Her email message today said that everything has stabilized and if it continues, she will go home tomorrow. She has been given medications to stop the contractions and the goal is to keep baby in until 32 or 33 weeks. Her spirits are high and she said that she feels good except for a "numb bum" - did I mention she's a Brit?
Second, last evening horrific storms moved through western Tennessee where I have relatives on my father's side. As I watched the primary results, they broke in to talk about a tornado in Jackson, Tennessee, where my father's cousin Paul lives. This morning's news was awful - numerous deaths and injuries. Before I left for my weekly gig in A's classroom, I sent an email message to my mother and my brother to see if someone could get in touch with Paul.
I returned from school to a voice mail message and an email message from my brother, stating that he had reached Paul, and that he and his wife, Mildred, were safe. Their house sustained some damage but nothing catastrophic. They have no power, no water, no landline telephone service and many trees in their backyard where knocked down; the church behind them, however, sustained major damage. Paul also said that their grandson had moved out of his dorm at Union University over the weekend into an apartment, and although he and his apartment were fine, his former dorm was severely damaged. All told, 1800 students at the university have been displaced but none, thankfully, were killed.
So in terms of my friends and family, good news all around.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Super Tuesday
Today is Super Tuesday, when 24 states will hold primaries or caucuses, with 52 percent of all pledged Democratic party delegates and 41 percent of the total Republican party delegates available. Georgia is one of those 24 states, so J and I will be voting today.
This is the first time in quite a few years - okay, honestly, since Bill Clinton was a candidate - that I feel pretty good about the choices. Although I am an independent, it is no secret that I vote more with and for Democrats, and I like both remaining candidates. I was all set to vote for John Edwards when he announced that he was dropping out, so now I am faced with a decision: do I still vote for John Edwards and essentially throw away my vote? If not, do I vote for Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton? I like both of them, their policies, their ideas and their stances almost equally, so I really do not know what I will do until I am standing in the voting booth later this morning.
I like to vote. I think it is the single most patriotic action I can take. And who someone votes for is less important to me than if they do not vote at all. I hear so many people say that they don't have the time to vote, or that they don't care who wins, or that they don't like any of the candidates. I can't imagine NOT voting - it is one of the privileges that we as citizens of the United States enjoy and something that people in some countries can only dream of doing. Sure, I don't always like the candidates and it is rare that I find one with whom I agree on all issues, but I vote because it is my right and it helps my shape the future for my son.
And while I have never been a fan of Jesse Helms and certainly never voted for him when I lived in North Carolina, his words on voting are very good:
"My first reaction when asked to discuss this topic was to reverse the question and ask 'Why would anyone not vote?'
I vote because it is my birthright as an American citizen to live in freedom under a democratic and representative government.
I vote because there is no brutal tyrant blocking my way or rigging the process to gain or maintain power that has not been willingly given.
I vote because that right was secured for me by the blood of patriots and protected by generations of their successors – to this very day.
I vote because those who rule at the pleasure of the electorate are responsible to those whose support they have courted to fulfill the promises they have made.
I vote because there are millions of people in this world who would willingly risk their lives for our most basic privilege.
I vote because I am a citizen of the United States of America – the land of the free, and the home of the brave."
- Jesse Helms, former U.S. senator (thankfully former and not current!)
And this election year, my vote could possibly help make history: perhaps the first female president, or the first black President of the United States!
This is the first time in quite a few years - okay, honestly, since Bill Clinton was a candidate - that I feel pretty good about the choices. Although I am an independent, it is no secret that I vote more with and for Democrats, and I like both remaining candidates. I was all set to vote for John Edwards when he announced that he was dropping out, so now I am faced with a decision: do I still vote for John Edwards and essentially throw away my vote? If not, do I vote for Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton? I like both of them, their policies, their ideas and their stances almost equally, so I really do not know what I will do until I am standing in the voting booth later this morning.
I like to vote. I think it is the single most patriotic action I can take. And who someone votes for is less important to me than if they do not vote at all. I hear so many people say that they don't have the time to vote, or that they don't care who wins, or that they don't like any of the candidates. I can't imagine NOT voting - it is one of the privileges that we as citizens of the United States enjoy and something that people in some countries can only dream of doing. Sure, I don't always like the candidates and it is rare that I find one with whom I agree on all issues, but I vote because it is my right and it helps my shape the future for my son.
And while I have never been a fan of Jesse Helms and certainly never voted for him when I lived in North Carolina, his words on voting are very good:
"My first reaction when asked to discuss this topic was to reverse the question and ask 'Why would anyone not vote?'
I vote because it is my birthright as an American citizen to live in freedom under a democratic and representative government.
I vote because there is no brutal tyrant blocking my way or rigging the process to gain or maintain power that has not been willingly given.
I vote because that right was secured for me by the blood of patriots and protected by generations of their successors – to this very day.
I vote because those who rule at the pleasure of the electorate are responsible to those whose support they have courted to fulfill the promises they have made.
I vote because there are millions of people in this world who would willingly risk their lives for our most basic privilege.
I vote because I am a citizen of the United States of America – the land of the free, and the home of the brave."
- Jesse Helms, former U.S. senator (thankfully former and not current!)
And this election year, my vote could possibly help make history: perhaps the first female president, or the first black President of the United States!
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