In Our Wildest Dreams

[road2000]

Dear Friends,

I had to speak tonight because both a cliche, and a song, are pecking away at me. My heart is full. I will always pine for what might have been, had President Al Gore been turning over the reins of government tomorrow to his successor.

But that didn't happen, and never will. Barack Obama in less than 14 hours will become the first President who's younger than many of us. He'll also be the first President whose name ends in a vowel that is not E. Those trivial facts loom as monumental, for some reason. But I've always been a fool for trivia. And that's just the least of it.

I don't expect him to be perfect; in fact, I just hope he can hold his head above the water long enough to erase enough of the nightmare to be re-elected in 2012.

To see a Democratic President coming in, along with a sturdy Democratic Congress, gives me hope. I am not happy that the center has moved far to the right in recent years, and I am not happy to see the Party acting as though it's still in the minority, with the ghosts of Newt Gingrich and Tom Delay calling the shots. But maybe -- just maybe -- that solid majority will summon some guts to deal with the nuts and bolts needs felt by us working people and our children, the ungodly and unnecessary wars, the dire threat of climate change, and the crucial appointments to the Supreme Court. . .

I will continue to work to hold President Obama's feet to the fire, although I believe he's already removing the cartridges from the opposition's guns. Brilliantly. I hope to God I'm right.

I hope to God he'll bear out the hopes and work and support we've given him.

I hope to God that George W. Bush will spend the rest of his life, never being able to walk out his front door without a massive retinue of bodyguards. I'm not talking Secret Service; I'm talking mob bullyboys. He'll need 'em.

I hope the same for Dick Cheney.

Music and lyrics have always defined my life. And tonight, the Moody Blues seem to have nailed it. The song in my mind ("In Your Wildest Dreams") isn't political, but it does sync up where hope and wonder and faith are concerned. The world is touched with sorrow, perhaps for only the next 12 hours. Tomorrow will be the culmination of my wildest dreams. And I'm glad of it. Maybe the universe will be ours. Once upon a time, in my wildest dreams. And I hope in yours.

Natalie