Rhys Might Ramble...

RHYS BOWEN: Dear friends I'm writing this post with one eye on the TV set on election day. Frankly it's hard to concentrate, so if I am writing nonsense please forgive me. I don't know about you but I haven't managed to breathe properly for ages.I can't wait for it to be over (with the right outcome. I'd better not say which that is or I'll get hate mail).

As for what I'm writing, I have just finished the first draft of next year's Molly book. It's a Christmas book that will come out next November. The title is THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST. It's one of the few books I've written that I have pitched on a premise. The problem with that is that you have to deliver. I had this intriguing idea: what if a small child walked out of a house into the snow years ago and simply disappears. No other footprints but hers. Never seen again. Her body never found.

It was intriguing all right and I looked forward to writing it. However, when I started to write it I realized what a challenge I had given myself. What did happen to the child that was plausible? So my story brings Molly and Daniel to a mansion on the Hudson for Christmas. There is a definite atmosphere of tension in that house. Somebody there knows what happened to that child--or thinks that they know, and for good reason cannot tell.

Molly has her own agenda. She's battling her own demons (and I can't tell you about that part) so it becomes doubly important to her to find out what happened to that child. Well, I've finished it and I'm really pleased with the way the story turned out. But I was holding my breath about that as well... not sure I could bring off the story until I finally did.

Here's a small snippet when Molly learns a hint of the family's story at a party (which, incidentally is given by Carrie Chapman Catt, leader of the suffrage movement!!!).

“So are you staying near here?” I was asked.

            “She’s staying at Greenbriars,” Sid said. “You know, that estate we can see from our windows?”

            Two of the women had moved over to make room for me on the sofa. I sat and was handed a cup of hot wine punch. The warmth of the punch, the warmth of the fire, and the warmth of the reception sent a glow through me. I felt the tensions in my body ease away.

            “Greenbriars?”  The tall, rather severe-looking one called Josephine said, frowning as she stared out past us across the room as if she was thinking. “Isn’t that the Van Aiken place?”

            “That’s right,” I said.

            “And she’s finding it rather gloomy and tense from what one gathers,” Sid said.

            “Just today because the hostess has not been too well,” I said hastily. I glanced around uneasily to see if Miss Lind was within hearing distance. I didn’t want her to think that I had been running down her family’s hospitality.

            “Well, no wonder it’s gloomy and tense,” Josephine went on.

            “Why do you say that?” Gus asked.

            “Well, that was where it happened, wasn’t it?” Josephine said. “Greenbriars. Don’t you remember? Everyone was talking about it. And it was at Christmas too.”

            “Oh yes,” the chubby one—Annie, I believe—agreed. “Of course. The Van Aiken child. I’d forgotten all about it.”

            “A child?” I asked. “The Van Aikens had a child?”

            Josephine nodded and I noticed that the group of women had drawn closer together, as one does when sharing a secret. “A little girl.” Josephine had lowered her voice. “She wandered out into the snow right before Christmas and was never seen again.”

Now I'm getting back to the TV set and may do some pacing and nail biting in the next few hours. 

"Oh, Kaye!" Chats about what we'll all be doing on Nov. 8th

November 8th.

It's almost here.


Finally.


What took it so long??


There's not a person among us who isn't ready for this election to be over.


So, I hope, we'll all be voting on November 8th, if we haven't already done so.



But I'm not here to campaign.  


I mean . . .  whose mind isn't already made up?


I'll just quietly tell you I've already voted.

This is an election that got me out of the house and actually working for my party at the grass roots level.

The Watauga County Democratic Party is the most hardworking group of people I've ever had the honor and pleasure of getting to know.

There are a lot of stories here in my little corner of North Carolina - some of them you've even watched being reported by Rachel Maddow.

We haven't been alone.  The stories have been widespread, sadly.

Voter suppression has been real.

And soon, it'll be over.

Pretty soon we'll all know if the candidates of our choice will be serving.

Or not.

Will we have our first woman president?

Or not?

All elections are important.

But am I exaggerating when I say this is the most important one of our lifetime?

I don't think I am.

So, like many of you, I'll be sitting in front of the TV Tuesday evening until this election has been decided.

Until I know whether or not we're going to finally get to hear people say the words, "Yes, Madame President" for the next four years.

Either way, there will be tears.

A great deal of tears.

And I imagine I'll be chatting with a lot of you via Facebook Tuesday night.

And I'm pretty sure we'll all have a box of tissues close at hand.

And me?

Chocolate.  A lot of chocolate.

And pizza.

And alcohol.

How 'bout you, Dear Reds, will you be watching the election returns, or waiting until the next morning to learn who our new president will be?

Anyone hosting an election party?  If so, do tell - what are you serving?

Or, planning a quiet night at home eating things like chocolate and pizza and having your favorite adult beverage?

ON OUR CIVIC DUTY

"This is essentially a people's contest... whose leading object is to elevate the condition of men - to lift artificial weights from all shoulders - to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all - to afford all, an unfettered start and a fair chance, in the race of life."

*** Abraham Lincoln

HANK: Do you remember the first time you voted for president? I--don't.

In 1972, the first year I was old enough to vote, I lived in Washington, DC. I had left my job at the US Senate and was working for Rolling Stone Magazine. I tell you, I must have voted. I love voting, and would not have missed it. (Not that it would have mattered in the final vote count...) But try as I might, I don't remember doing it. Was I too young to know how important it was?

In 1976? I was in Atlanta. Working as a reporter. Again, trying to reconstruct the actual moment of voting. (Again, not that it would have mattered in the final vote count.) I did vote. But I can't remember pulling a lever or punching a card or anything. Was I too busy to know how important it was?

I remember 1980, still in Georgia, because I was making a statement with my vote, and maybe that wasn't a good idea. So I remember that vote, because I still feel somewhat guilty. Not that it would have mattered in the final vote count.

I definitely remember 1984. I definitely remember going into the voting booth in Massachusetts (not that it would have mattered in the final vote count) and wishing I could somehow emphasize that I was voting for Geraldine Ferraro, a woman. I had tears in my eyes. I do remember that.

And this election, I bet I'll remember. I have pals who are bringing their children into the voting booth with them so they can plant a memory for them. Whoever you plan to vote for--please, go do it. And urge your kids to do it. And urge them to remember. And you know, you vote WILL matter.

DO you remember your first time?

HALLIE: I must have been in NY, and the vote I cast must have been for Eugene McCarthy (I still have a button and a scarf). I remember getting out the vote in Harlem, and how forlorn and sad the headquarters looked as it was clear early on that it would be a rout.

Oh, to live somewhere like Ohio where the result isn't such a foregone conclusion.

ROBERTA: I definitely remember voting in 1972 for the first time. What can I say? I was young and still heavily influenced by my father, who was a lifelong Republican. So that first vote went for Richard Nixon...groan...And worse than that, I went to his inauguration on a bus sponsored by the Young Republicans. We froze our keisters off standing in downtown Washington to watch the parade. Joe Garagiola came along and interviewed me and a pal--I very much doubt I had anything interesting to say!

This current election is stressing me out like crazy. Crazy enough that I'm making calls for my candidate. Yes, those calls I hate to get myself--I'm dialing, I'm dialing! One thing you can say for the Obama machine, their web campaign is incredible. If you need a laugh, feel free to check out my "yak for Barack"--it's a pitiful little rap created in response to one of the campaign's many emails. Let's just say I won't be invited onto Saturday Night Live any time soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qQPncQgDuI

RO: ACK! I love it! Jungle Red has its own Amy Poehler...you just have to work on your hand moves a little. Did anyone see McCain on SNL this past weekend? I gotta say, he was a good sport. And even the scary Cindy, doing her QVC wrist moves..pretty funny. But it's not making me change my vote.

I don't remember who I voted for first, but I'm pretty sure Bill Clinton is the first presidential candidate I voted for who actually won. (I remember having a McCarthy daisy sticker on my bedroom wall, but I don't think I was able to vote that year.) Like McCain and Obama I have "crossed party lines", but only once and it was a while ago.

I really can't wait for Tuesday. For an election party 4 years ago I made cookies in the shapes of all 50 states (I really do have cookie cutters in the shapes of all the states)and decorated them with red and blue icing. Maybe this year I'll make 44 blue and 6 red.

JAN: I don't remember the first time I voted, but I do know that I've yet to vote for a president that has won. I'm an Independent, a centrist, who reads and listens to both the right and the left. (and I don't think Democrats are any more noble than Republicans. I think any politician you vote for is an incredible leap of faith.)

But as I've been agonizing with my decision --I have read extensively and listened to about every expert on this financial collapse. (I'm obsessed, really) It occurred to me, it doesn't really matter who I vote for -- thanks to the electoral college and the fact that Massachusetts is overwhelmingly Democrat.

But I'll still go vote on Tuesday. As Hank says, it's my civic duty. And even if my vote for president doesn't matter, at least I get a say in the state referendum.

HANK: Yes, Jan, the marijuana question. And no state income tax. (Another blog for another time.) Roberta, you rock! And yes, I saw The McCains, and I thought they were terrific. Shades of Tina Fey, I kept wondering who was playing John McCain, since I was surprised he seemed so at ease.

So, Jungle Red voters--do you remember your first time?