Happy Birthday to me, Part 1

My early birthday gift from Sir Paul arrived today! Turns out I am an Emerald VIP for his upcoming concert at the United Center. I'll be honest: when I was finally admitted into the Ticketmaster "room" to purchase my ticket, I clicked "best available" and all I focused on was completing the transaction before the timer hit 00:00. I really didn't care what "best available" got me. 

As an Emerald VIP, I get a box of swag!

 

That's a lanyard with a VIP pass, a "cross body belt bag" (aka a fanny pack you wear across the chest) and my favorite – a Paul McCartney wristwatch. The black/white cat on the floor on the left is Roy Hobbs. While I was squealing over the tour merchandise, he was plotting against the black/pink mouse toy on the floor on the right. 

Is this worth what I paid for the ticket? Nah. But then, I can't possibly put dollar value on seeing Sir Paul end his world tour in Chicago just days after my birthday – and from the 11th row of section 101! He's 83 years old now, I'll be 68. I don't know how much longer we'll keep meeting like this. I'm going to savor it.

 

 

All is not lost

It's so easy to get depressed about the way things are going in this country. I can't believe that a full 42% of Americans have a "favorable" view of Donald Trump. It makes me sad, as much as it made me sad to hear my countrymen dismissively say things like, "If Trump thought he was a king there wouldn't be any No Kings protests." Don't these people ever stop to reflect on tea in the Boston harbor and why we don't speak with a British accent?

Well, I do.  I believe in Madisonian democracy. I follow elections. I work campaigns.

It took me three months, but I wrote 225 GOTV postcards for the Pennsylvania judicial race. Judges at the state level are important. Because these races are often off year and/or down ballot, they don't get much attention or voter participation. That makes it easy for big money and corporate interests to insinuate themselves. That's where I come in. I'm unpaid labor! I can't sing or dance, but my one talent is my penmanship. It's attractive and legible and I'm ready to use it for campaigns that that don't have money to spend.

On Tuesday November 4, my efforts were rewarded. The judges I supported were retained by the good people of Pennsylvania. It was very satisfying. 

I want to give a shout out to Postcards to Swing States and Postcards to Voters.  They have given me a way to serve and make myself heard. All it takes is time, stamps, and the willingness to contribute.

This matters. Not only to my country but to my peace of mind.