Exhale
Remember Dances With Wolves - the Kevin Coster film in which the Sioux Indians assigned names to members of their tribe by characterizing a behavior? Kevin Costner was ‘Dances With Wolves’ because well, he danced with a wolf. There was Kicking Bird, Wind In His Hair, Smiles A Lot. I gave myself a Sioux name four years: ‘Sleeps With Fists’ because I started balling my hands up under my pillow at night.
But on Saturday I unclenched them.
Last week, I skipped my weekly blog for the first time since I started it 5 years ago. To ask that attention be given to a new song or dwindling digital royalty rates seemed frivolous. And to jump back in this week without addressing ‘what-just-happened’ (and still is!) would be tone def as well.
Let me first say that all my life I’ve voted primarily blue but I’m actually a registered Independent. I like keeping my options open. In fact I have a few conservative leanings that may surprise even my closest friends. For instance, I believe that 1- an unborn life is initiated upon fertilization and 2- leaving a fetus alone in a womb will (most likely) result in a human being. That said, bottom line - no one other than a woman herself should make decisions about her body. If there wasn’t such an organized effort to dismantle Planned Parenthood I might be more empathetic to the cause.
Anyway, for me this election wasn’t about one issue. It was about a man. We’ve been sharing articles that support what we believe about him. Twenty minutes of unrelenting rhetoric can have an open mind considering what they know not to be true. And so, I decided to look literally at the man. See what he says and how he acts. Because unless a clip is doctored it’s not an opinion. Even if I embrace and am passionate about all of a candidate’s policies, behavior can be a deal breaker. It matters to me. Call me crazy. Case in point…
Joe wasn’t my first choice. I’ve cringed through speeches. I’ve questioned his age. But no amount of slurring or praying that he won’t fall asleep in the middle of a sentence is more concerning than someone (much less the leader of the free world), who thinks that this is an appropriate response to the head of the American Nurse’s Association who came to the White House representing his colleagues and the dangers they’re facing…seeking some Presidential empathy at the very least.
Sigh
Watching Election Coverage Night #1
After the results came in on Saturday I took a 3 hour nap. And on Sunday I blasted the Better Call Saul Soundtrack from every speaker in my house. I cleaned out my closet. I went for a long walk. When I made dinner I kept reaching for the TV remote — out of habit. But then I remembered. And I put it down, dimmed the lights and lit a candle for the table.
Oh, it’s not over. I’m not naive. It’s ugly. But for now, those of us who have unclenched our fists can feel some relief. With a vaccine on the horizon along with a leader who takes the pandemic seriously we see some light at the end of the tunnel. The sooner we get through Covid the sooner we can get back to traveling, hugging our daughters, waiting tables, going to concerts, loading-in to Hotel Cafe.
I look forward to getting back to musing about creativity, Wet Ass P*ssies and the blurred lines of infringement cases while the country tries to find its new footing. I’m aware that 2016 wasn’t a fluke. There’s a lot of support for conservative values. And then there are tons of Americans desperate for a system (and a candidate) that can pull them out of struggle. I’m keeping my eyes and ears on the latter.
For 4 years I didn’t have a President. He said as much. Don’t we all deserve a President even if it’s one we didn’t vote for? I remember all the social media posts after the 2016 election urging everyone to “let the healing begin.” But how can healing begin with a leader who doesn’t promote healing? Now we have one. If we want one. I’m not holding my breath but maybe, just maybe, if we can make it until Jan 20th, there is hope.
Thanks for reading, my friends. Have a listen to my new album, 2.0 etc... For fun stories about how my songs came to be get a copy of “Confessions of a Serial Songwriter.” If you'd like to receive my blog via email, please click here. Follow me on Twitter and Insta. Visit my Serial Songwriter Facebook Page. Stay Safe! ☮️