Blues for the Blues

WHAT A WEEK IT'S BEEN. And Smartmom is very BLUE.

55.45 million people voted for John Kerry. But that many people plus a little more obviously voted for that idiot in the White House. And he remains the president of this dis-United States where an ultra-conservative, pro-Iraq, anti-gay, Christian right vision of America prevails.

It really sucks!

In Park Slope, everyone is so depressed and scared to see what the Bushies will do next. We are truly in a little blue bubble here in New York City. County by county, this country looks mighty red -- and you thought red was the commie color. At this point, all we can do is hope for the best and start figuring out what to blue next.

Lots of people are talking about moving to Canada. Toronto, Montreal, even Newfoundland.

In Smartmom's view, this is no time to be slinking off to Canada -- although Smartmom has always been intriqued by Vancouver. But Canada is not the answer. The Bluesters can't lose the momentum that started with Howard Dean's brilliant grass roots campaign. Nor can they drop Moveon.org's ball. The anger unleashed by Bush's victory must fuel the next campaign, the next progressive movement, the blueing of America.

And that's a fact.

More importantly, the bluesters need to let the world know that there are plenty of blue people in the blue counties and blue states who have blue values and want an end to the war in Iraq and support gay marriage, reproductive rights, stem cell research, an end to poverty, good schools, and health insurance for all. We must let the world know that there are plenty of blues with the blues right now.

Oh the blues ain't nothin' but a feelin' that will get you down...

To cheer herself up, Smartmom drank too much red wine last night at Best & Oldest's annual Chirstina Party. Christina is a clothing designer and shop owner from Berlin who comes to Brooklyn once a year to show her abundantly tasteful clothing. She takes measurements and orders from Best & Oldest's friends, who have made the Christina Party a festive tradition among those lucky enough to be invited.

Christina's clothing is simple, classic and beautifully made. Think affordable Armani. Her suits, dresses, pants and shirts are sure to make you look fabu. For that reason Christina, who is lovely, beautiful, and shy, has quite a following in these parts. And it's such fun to get her little packages from Berlin.

The talk at last night's party was a mix of "Oh I'm so depressed about the elections" and "Oh I'm so depressed about getting my kid into high school." There were other topics as well. And lots of trying on of clothing. But lately, Smartmom hasn't been anywhere in this borough where the conversation hasn't see-sawed from high school to the elections and back. Yeesh.

As always, Best & Oldest put out a tasty spread of bread, olives, wasabi nuts, and exotic cheeses including an ultra smelly blue Camembert. And it was great fun to see the Christina crowd and to chat with Christina again. Even buying a new scarf from Christina didn't make the pain go away. But it is a gorgeous scarf -- mustard yellow with burgundy polka dots. Smartmom wished it could have been blue.

Ah, but don't we all.

Finally, an E-Mail From Eli

SMARTMOM DIDN'T HEAR FROM ELI TODAY. And Eli is usually such a prolific e-mailer. He's been writing to Smartmom fairly consistently since, well, sometime during the Clinton Administration. But today, the day after Election Day: nothing.

How strange. Smartmom was sure she'd hear from Eli. Understandably he's quite disappointed about the election results -- who isn't? In New York City, the Bay area, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Iowa, Pennsylvania, most of the Northeast and much of the world, that is. Who isn't disappointed?

But still, it worried her a bit that she didn't see Eli Pariser's name or anything from Moveon.org in her in-box all day Wednesday.

While she tried to put it out of her mind, she still longed to hear something, anything from her frequent Internet friend. Maybe something terrible had happened. Perhaps Eli had decided to end it all. But that didn't seem plausible -- Eli doesn't strike Smartmom as the suicidal type. Maybe he was just too tired from staying up all night watching the returns on T.V., or staring at his computer screen. Perhaps, he'd had a bit too much beer, wine, or scotch (if he drinks at all) to soothe the stress of waiting, the pain of losing.

Whatever the reason, it was well past sunset on the East Coast when a missive finally arrived from Eli. And what a relief that was.

"I'll admit to being heartbroken by the outcome of yesterday's election. It's a dark day," he wrote in his e-mail to Smartmom. But he went on to tell her about a message he'd received from a friend who, in light of what happened on Tuesday, has decided to run for congress. This was obviously quite encouraging to Eli, the ever-energetic activist: "We have suffered a defeat but we are not defeated."

Smartmom was encouraged to hear that Eli was not defeated by this loss like so many of her friends. She's been getting e-mails all day from fellow Slopsters talking about the alienation, the rage and the depression they were feeling on this wicked Wednesday. Quite a few were even toying with the idea of moving to Canada. Smartmom was heartened by Eli's optimistic words. They reminded her that there are still milliions of Americans who believe in a healthy environment, a strong and fair economy, the end of poverty, health care for everyone, good schools, gay marriage, reproductive rights, stem cell research, domestic safety and the end of the war in Iraq.

In his e-mail, Eli thanked Smartmom and all those who'd put effort or money into the campaign to defeat George Bush. "You have proven that real Americans can have a voice in American politics. In the months and years to come, that revelation will change everything."

He also reminded Smartmom that George Bush only won by 3% nationally, which means that 55.45 million Americans (55.45 MILLION) voted the way that Smartmom did. "You are certainly not alone," Eli assured Smartmom.

Smartmom wanted to kiss the computer screen to thank Eli for his kind and reassuring words. Instead she just ran her fingers across her liquid crystal laptop screen and read on: "Today, we'll take a breath. Tomorrow, we'll keep moving toward the America we know is possible."

B r e a t h.

For Smartmom, it was such a relief to hear from her man Eli who has done so much to make this an election to remember. Just about everyday an e-mail from Eli was in her in-box telling her the latest news or unveiling a new anti-Bush commercial. He invited her to Bake Bush with a Bake Sale and a cell phone call-in in Prospect Park to register voters in Ohio. He told her about an all-star rock concert with Bruce Springsteen in the mid-west and buses to Pennsylvania to knock on doors. Eli and his team had so many great ideas. And he always asked Smartmom to come along.

Despite the sour feelings and rancor stirred up by election 2004, Smartmom is convinced that there are still things to feel optimistic about. She believes that there might even be a teeny, tiny silver lining to all of this. And that would be the coming together of people like Eli Pariser, Moveon.org, Howard Dean, Barack Obama, Americans Coming Together, everyone who marched (or thought about marching) in the August 29th protest against the RNC, Millionaires Against Bush, Michael Stipe, The Nation, Ricki Lee Jones, Michael Moore, Bruce Springsteen, all the good people of Park Slope and so many others who make Smartmom proud to be an American during this very tough time in our history.

Keep writing, Eli. Don't be a stranger. Smartmom still needs your daily messages of hope and action. She still needs you to remind her from time to time that there are over 55 million people out there who want "to keep moving toward the America we know is possible."

Depressed Beyond Words

Smartmom is too tired and disheartened to write anything right now. She got this e-mail from Best & Oldest which seems to express what she and a lot of Slopesters are feeling today.

Moving
by Best & Oldest

I’m depressed beyond words and trying to figure out if going back to Berlin would make me feel any better. I no longer feel like a citizen of this country – or let’s say – I am ashamed to be an American – astonished at the lack of intelligence – but even more by the lack of conscience – we have killed more Iraquis than Saddam Hussein – our vice-president used government money to pay his company to rebuild a country we destroyed – there has never been an administration this evil in the history of America – what could he have done worse in the last four years? And this guy can’t be beat?

I wonder how many rich people voted for Bush (even in secret) to keep their few thousand dollars in tax cuts – it seems to me that everyone votes only for their own selfish concerns – and I wonder if there are more than one third of Americans who are right wing Christians (as if that wasn’t enough) - are we really a gun-loving, gay hating, black hating, Jew-hating (let’s face it) country?

I guess we could also move to Canada if Berlin seems too far away.

Well, I said “beyond words,” so I should stop with all these useless words.

Gratitude

IF IT TAKES A VILLAGE to raise a child, then it takes a whole city to go on vacation without them. And thanks to the kindness of family and friends, Smartmom and Hepcat were able to go to San Francisco to attend Cousin Sarah's wedding.

Truly, an Academy Award-type speech is in order to thank all those who made Smartmom and Hepcat's Thursday thru Monday hiatus from parental responsiblity possible. Because while the vacationing parents were off drinking latte at the very boho Caffe Trieste in North Beach, checking out the Roy Lichtenstein show at SFMOMA, dancing the night away on the Tall Ship Balcutha, or visiting relatives in the hills of Mill Valley, the kids back in Brooklyn were having a royal good time.

First and foremost, the fact that Teen Spirit and OSFO were left in the loving and capable care of Beautiful Smile made everything possible. She even made her famous fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans for supper, in addition to other tasty specialties.

Groovy Aunt pretty much devoted herself full time to the needs and desires of OSFO and Teen Spirit. Thursday night meant playing the "homework heavy" and overseeing Henry's English and Science papers. She also helped OSFO study for her Friday morning spelling test. Each school morning, she met Beautiful Smile, OSFO, and Teen Spirit at the Mojo for breakfast. She even walked OSFO to school. What a woman!

Profuse thanks are also due to Groovy Brother-in-law, who provided copious amounts of root beer, ferried the crew to a sneak preview of "Finding Neverland" on Saturday night, prepared a delicious Sunday brunch for the brood, and put up with the ever-rambunctious and not always friendly OSFO and her chatty pal when they tore up the apartment in the throes of rigorous imaginary play. She thanks him too for doing without his groovy wife, Groovy Aunt, for most of the weekend while she was running around like a crazy woman.

And then there was Halloween.

Sounds like it was a 12-hour funathon. First Groovy Aunt got OSFO dressed in her elaborate Snow Queen get-up. The two then attended a Halloween party at a local private school. Later, she took OSFO and a friend trick-or-treating on every floor of her 6-story apartment building, in addition to stores on Seventh Avenue and some brownstones on the side streets. They ended the day at Park Slope's famous Halloween Parade where they ran into Teen Spirit, Beautiful Smile and many friends. Teen Spirit dressed in dungarees and a jean jacket, said that he was "an angst-ridden teenager, a 'muggle," himself, and a character in 'West Side Story." He walked the parade with Best Buddy who was dressed as a "Rocky Horror Picture Show"-style transvestite.

Groovy Grandma also played a key role in the care and feeding of OSFO and Teen Spirit while Smartmom and Hepcat were gone. On Saturday, she and Teen Spirit had a day of togetherness and memorable conversation. The two went to see "Ray," the new Ray Charles bio-pic, which they both loved. The next day Groovy Grandma joined Groovy Aunt, Groovy Brother-in-Law, and the kids for a Halloween brunch at Groovy Aunt's comfortable abode.

And let's not forget Groovy Grandpa, Teen Spirit's idol and kindred spirit. They went to see a terrible movie called, "Shall We Dance," but had loads of fun just the same.

On Monday evening, Smartmom and Hepcat jet blued to New York on the red eye. They slept most of the way and arrived at JFK at five in the morning on Tuesday. OSFO, Teen Spirit, and Beautiful Smile were fast asleep when they arrived home at 6 a.m. The two continental travelers collapsed in their bed and were joyfully awakened at nine in the morning by OSFO just in time to go to the polls to vote for John Kerry and John Edwards!

What a wonderful weekend for all. A chance for OSFO and Teen Spirit to hang with doting relatives. A honeymoon-like haven for Hepcat and Smartmom who were far, far, far from the madding crowd on Third Street.

Enchanted Evening

EITHER THE STARS WERE IN ALIGNMENT, luck was a lady, or God was on our side. Whatever the cause, it was a freakishly warm night in "fog city" and the sky was clear, clear, clear with just the right amount of clouds to make for a swirly pink-orange sunset. On board the Tall Ship Balcutha, the bride and groom quietly said their hand-written vows of love, friendship, commitment, and respect as the sun nestled into the horizon.

The 100 or so wedding guests could barely hear their whispered voices due to the harbor sounds of motor boats, helicopters and squawking gulls. But they were palpably moved when the big-hearted groom weeped openly as the two stared intensely into each other's eyes.

The reception was downstairs in the hull of the ship, a rustic and dramatic place to drink wine and converse. The crowd was a fascinating group of friends and family of the well-traveled, well-educated, well-liked couple. The two, who met by way of kismet and match.com, are a matched set in terms of joie de vivre, outlook, intellectual curiosity and life goals. On match.com the groom, who works at an educational policy think tank in Washington, described himself as overeducated and wacky. The bride, who is a doctor at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, described herself as tall, slender and honest. She responded to his blurb and, as they say, the rest is history.

Dinner was down a creaky ladder-like staircase to a candle-lit room of white tableclothed tables with exquisite centerpieces of thick candles and deep red roses the color of passionate romance.

Pirates were the theme of the evening. It was explained that on the couple's first date, the two planned to attend "The Go Go Puppet Show," an updated retelling of "Treasure Island" by a performance art group in Baltimore. They missed the show entirely because the conversational portion of their evening was such a success. The groom did give his date an eyepatch which she immediately put over her eye. This impressed the groom no end. Later in the evening he e-mailed a note to himself, in which wrote: "I think I met the woman I am going to marry tonight." And they did catch the pirate show the very next night.

Pirate eye patches for all were included in the charming party favor sack at everyone's place setting in addition to a tattoo and a generous amount of chocolate coins. After a meal of salmom, chicken and saffron risotto, there were eloquent toasts by the best man and the maid of honor. A Gilbert and Sullivan style pirate song written and performed by a college friend of the groom was a high point. Then the couple, clutching a microphone together, said their vows again because so many people had been unable to hear them the first time.

This time the guests were moved by the thoughtful intensity of the couple's words of love. Some swooned, other's sighed in wonderment at this union, which seems so full of promise and poetry. For the old-married Smartmom, their vows brought back memories of her own wedding day and the many years after. She would be the first to admit that marriage is a compelling challenge -- and that it is definitely not for the weak-hearted or the easily discouraged. But all in all, its considerable pleasures more than make up for the hard work and toil.

The crowd moved upstairs for cake and coffee (and more wine for those so inclined). They watched the bride and groom "perform" their first dance, a nifty disco routine they'd obviously rigorously practiced. Smartmom and Hepcat danced the night away to the seventies and eighties tunes picked by the excellent deejay. The two stole away every now and again to catch the view on-deck of the sparkling city, which was lit by a nearly full autumn moon.