31 October 08
Angie's
I’ve hurt my back, a minor but occasionally stop-in-my-tracks tweak that has me reaching for Ibuprofen, doing cat stretches on the floor at work, and generally walking like Frankenstein. Washing my hair was going to be out of the question, so I went last night to the hairdresser across from the Coop for a quick wash and trim.
Angie owns the place. She is Mexican — Angelina — and so are most of her staff. I’ve been going there since we moved to Davis — it’s cheap, it’s a perfectly fine cut for a long-haired greylag like me, and it’s the one place where I get a good solid chunk of time to speak in Spanish.
I asked last night whether they’d voted. No, they said. I recommended getting to the polling booths early on Tuesday because a record turnout is predicted in California: they’re expecting 80% participation, way higher than ever, including Reagan’s two landslides in the 1980s. Obama has a 25-27 lead in the polls here, but a heartening (and almost tearful) phone call from a friend yesterday with reports of lines of students at the Memorial Union to vote may be indicative of an even higher margin. (The big issue in California is Prop. 8, the gay marriage ban initiative, VOTE NO and please donate.)
Oh, but what can he do, said Angie. Look at this mess. Business has been dead for three weeks. She’s worried — they all are. Las que tenemos y las que no tenemos. Ana María’s husband had a stroke three weeks ago; her daughter is pregnant. Health care is a huge issue for them. They are frightened and despondent. (But they will stand in line to vote.)
The Republican self-destruct machine would be something to rejoice over if they hadn’t pulled us all in to the mire — in California, in the US, in the world. Voting them into the dustbin is only the first step in a long, painful process of potential recovery. And it’s going to take all of us working hard to do it — no quick fixes.
Roll up your sleeves…
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Hope your back gets better quick, Pica! Me, it’s my knee acting up. Probably stressed by following your elections. We’re all watching and praying for the best up here in Canada.
Hope your back is back in operation soon! And yes, there are a lot of stressed people around these days. In my yoga classes, formerly limber people are limping and moving with stiffened limbs and drawn faces. We do a lot of restorative poses, with lots of breathing — and always end with a chat about the importance of informed voting!
Lovely post. Yes, we’ve all got a lot of work to do.
(& I wish I could do some on your back!)
“Almost tearful” friend here . . . again this afternoon, stopped in at the MU early voting polls (this time to deposit my own absent voter ballot). At a bit after 3pm, the line was double yesterday’s length. According to the tally on the whiteboard in the room, as of 2:30 today, 2,100 people had cast a ballot since that polling place opened Monday morning. And there were still all those people in line.
Thanks, all. Back is much better, and Dale, that first day wouldn’t have borne any work, but it’s ready now.
:)
Dear “almost tearful,” see you shortly for breakfast!
Glad to see from your update that your back is better! I’m glad to hear too that your hairdresser friends will vote…very important! I’m thrilled that IN has early voting (dh and I both did it already).
We have been early voting for at least a week here in Florida and the lines are extraordinary. Today the poll where we went opened at 7:00am and they told us that it was non-stop all day. We were there around 3:00pm!
Sorry to hear about your back, Pica…mine hurts non-stop these days. I fear the inherited bad back gene from my mother.
You are eloquent, as usual, with the sobering reminder that there is a lot of work for all of us ahead to dig out of this horrific mess!