Old News Really Fast

DC: Glad to sit down at last

Thank you for your patience, Dear Readers! Our journey to the Stewart/Colbert Rally For Sanity was a six-day trek to the most happening (some say, irrelevant) event of last week, via the distant past. The day after this weary shot, our hostess led a tour for us of Fredericksburg, VA--a charming little town that has more Revolutionary and Civil War history per square foot than any other I've ever visited.

I'm watching MSNBC moments before the polls close on the East Coast, wondering if sanity even has a shot tonight. The Rally was fun, both relaxed and energizing. There were either 215,000 (CBS) or 6 Billion (Stephen Colbert); whichever, there were more people than we'd been led to expect. Well-behaved, nice people with great senses of humor. Okay, there were some kids who didn't hear the cop say to get down from the wall (see first picture), but that was the only misbehavior I saw.

More sane humans than I'd expected

This was not my first Washington rally, so I knew the drill: you focus on the people you came with, try not to lose them, try not to trip, say "excuse me" a lot, be satisfied to add your presence to the whole, and don't drink much before or during. I couldn't see the stage. Frankly, my hearing is going and it was hard to differentiate the amplified program from the ambient noise, so I can't say I heard a lot. But I was deeply gratified by the turnout. And the reliability of my bladder.  Let's face it, when it comes to marching on the Capitol, I've still got it.

Captain America loved our sign!

I met a nice man about my own age who carried a sign that read, "Bob" with a big arrow that pointed down. He really needed to sit down, so he borrowed some time in one of our lawn chairs and seemed reluctant to give it up. The sign was to help his wife find him if they got separated; apparently she was prone to leave him behind. We were both amazed to find someone else from South Carolina. In fact, our sign drew Southerners to us: Texans, Carolinians, Floridians, and one woman from Kentucky. Dozens of people wanted pictures of The Sign. Some wanted their picture made with our sign...without us. Would the kind of people who'd gone to the trouble of attending The Rally To Restore Sanity actually claim our sign for their own on Facebook?  I don't think I want an answer to that question.

We left early for a lovely late lunch...four old people who felt lucky to be in D.C. on such a beautiful day and lucky to avoid the exit crush. We caught a cab back to our car and learned more about being American from our Sudanese driver than from the Rally. And we didn't feel the least bit shortchanged.

Very clever, but bad for American voters

We found this sign the cleverest...clever being the order of the day...but I fervently hope that Democratic voters overcame their apathy today. Right now, I'm signing out to devote myself to the tube and the returns, so I'll post the pictures of Historic Fredericksburg tomorrow or the next day. Depending on the mood. If you're reading this, I know you voted and good for you, good for us. As of 8:05 p.m., Alvin Greene has gotten 40% of votes counted against Jim DeMint's 54% here in SC. I call that a statement of some sort, but I have no idea what the hell it means.

The Rally Take-Away: A marvelous example of Americans enjoying First Amendment rights.

P.S. Looking forward to catching up on your posts.