Liberals, Conservatives, & Imaginings
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
The morning following the election, Collette was pleased to see that the governorship was held by Matt Blunt, and that Akin, Bond, and many other Republicans were taking the senate all over the country. And most importantly, President Bush seemed to hold the presidency once again, by one of the largest number of popular votes, even above Reagan, (granted the population had grown since the 80’s). While Ohio still seemed to be undecided, the media and talk shows all over the country were declaring President Bush as ‘winner’ of the 2004 presidential election. Collette let the black flag fly high awhile longer, and only wished the celebration could be complete with creme puffs and sodas. However, the morning was not for such things. The country seemed to still love their Mr. President who knew the sun would rise the next day, no matter what came.
She switched off the talk radio, compelling as it was, and turned the dial louder on the Riverdance disc. Today could be Irish, she thought, as she let the fiddle fiddle furiously beyond reason. After all, she was not terribly interested in the votes from St. Thomas and Guam. She had other considerations at that moment.
She thought of Carrie-Bri and Lucia, and Elizabeth, how New York City lit their date book, perhaps to be moved to the spring when the blossoms glowed in the park, and its greenery reflected in the sparkling skyscrapers. South America with its mysterious Andes, warm Uruguayan beaches, and shopping in Buenos Aires, would not be able to happen until one of the upcoming crew was twenty-one. So instead it would be “The Phantom of the Opera”, Tavern on the Green, the Metropolitan, and shopping for the latest European trends on the streets of New York… Feeding pigeons, listening to street musicians and artists, a pretzel in Central Park. They would find fun wherever they went.
Hmmm… she thought to herself, time for a little imagining. She had already spent the previous evening thinking on miscellaneous things to incorporate in her stories… such as, “two nickels lying unheeded on the path, an amazing amount of money to have been lost. But, hark, see there is no one near to have lost them. Slip them in your cotton pocket; perhaps they will be needed elsewhere, or the owner will search for them later. Continue on the path. See, over there. There are two dwarves playing at the ancient chess. Could they have lost such nickels? No, they could not. Their purses are kept tucked in the stone caves. Notice their lunch, a tree platter. Ah yes, many miniature herb and vegetable-sized trees. There are willows and oaks, even a few berried branches tucked within the stuffed plate, rooted in the stuffs that spice them so well. Delectable treats – herb trees. But never mind them; they do not see you. Continue on… you are in a world today of singing in the winds from eastern lands and castles above, Narnian times, where nymphs and dwarves and elves sing and dance in the forest and feast on fruits and herbs of the earth. Why there is an elfin maiden preparing a forest salad of soft and tiny green flowers and snow peas. A Rupunzelen-tower grows high beyond where a company of merry folk gather. The snow-peaked mountains and lavender fields mixed with forest and ocean coves, lie in the sweet air…”
Or perhaps she found herself playing Clue, as she had with Rose the night before, yet this time she finds herself within the game, wondering at the unsure guilt of her fellow companions, as she, Miss Scarlet, perhaps, in crimson silks and black tresses, gathers among the detectives and friends to solve the mystery of unassuming Mr. Body’s death…
Collette paused and laughed at herself. She ran a hand through her hair; it had a golden chocolate glow of sorts, with a sea of stormy moss blue beneath, from the true color of her hair contrasted against the new. Oddly, she and Carrie-Bri had always had a gray light in their hair.
The text sitting on the coffee table was taken up once again, and the studying proceeded over the morning hours.
The skies had been gray for days, and Collette loved it. Following a quick lunch of Italian pizza, she awaited Kerry’s concession speech while keeping up with psychology and Russian history. It was a day to follow the media, and for once, it did not bother her to flip on the television in the middle of the day.
She wondered what her old friend from college last fall, thought about the election results. A communist herself, this girl had certainly been fiery but friendly, a die-hard socialist history buff, and worked at Paul’s Donuts. Prior to the start of geography class every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, they often talked on politics and religion, she being a Catholic and Collette being a Presbyterian. While Susan Button had been very much against the Iraqi war, she still respected Collette’s opinions. Although Collette thought that she was likely dunking donuts and blending chocolate shakes a little harder than usual that particular morning… and the day went on with her thinking.
Christmas was coming. A good old-fashioned Silver Dollar City, mugs of cocoa around the fire, holly-berry, Christmas Carol, mistletoe Christmas… that’s what Collette wanted. Streets of snow and lamplight, chestnuts and Bing Crosby singing “Silent Night”. It did seem to be a perfect prospect.
But before the holidays came, there was a little time left to think about the end of the year and the changes that Collette wished to make. She realized more greatly as every day passed, that she had so much to learn and understand and focus on – things that nearly baffled her mind. And they weren’t to be left to trivial New Year’s resolutions either; they were issues she would need to address daily for as long as she lived, she imagined.