veteran's day, voting, and how my dad rocked my world

Veteran's day .... I always pause and am awed at the people who make the decision to support their country in that way.  I am so thankful for all of you and those folks in my family who were a part of it long ago and hope that in the moments I get to spend with you, you feel my awe of what you do.  I thought I could do what you do, but I can't.  I'm not that brave.  I can help in other ways and try really hard to do that.  So, when you come home, I'm here for you and know that I support you and, will take on any person who gives you lip.  I throw a mean right hook when need be.

For the first time in a many many months, I feel hopeful about where the American people are going.  Funny given that we are at war and the economy is hurting.  However, the amazing dialogue that started during the primaries and continued throughout the election is still growing.

I had perhaps the second best conversation of my life with my dad the other day when he told me the reasons he voted for Obama and why he as a lifelong Republican thought this was such an important choice.  I was humbled hearing how he made his decision because I, as a hardcore Obama supporter, had wanted to cast Republicans of my dad's generation all into the same bag and write them off.  He proved me very wrong.  There is dialogue happening in this country.  Things are changing.

And while I am FURIOUS about Prop 8 passing, I blame myself for not doing more.  It didn't occur to me that people would choose to deny civil rights in this day and age or give more rights to chickens than their fellow human beings.  Am disgusted that Prop 8 passed but am going to fight it tooth and nail.  Again, in talking with my dad, he gave me the inspiration to keep moving forward.  He was thoughtful in this election and had many conversations with his peers,  so not only did he vote for Obama, some of his peers did too.

Let's not forget these dialogues.  We can move the USA forward in a whole other way now.  We are all Americans and need to show the world what our country can do to support people all over the world.  We are all human beings, together we can do all of this.  Then, we'll leave the world better off for my absolutely wonderful nieces and nephew. 

So who is joining me in DC in January?  Let's ring in the start of great changes together because we are all a part of this.