Priorities

You have to have priorities in life. Here are mine in order

1. My Family
   a. Those under the roof of my house
   b. Those related by blood
   c. Those related by relationship (Marriage, Civil Union, Domestic Partnership or whatever.)
2. Friends
3. Career
4. Feeding my mind, body and soul
5. Improvement / care of domicile
6. Civic involvement

As you can see, the priority that this blog falls into is at the bottom of the list. So the question is, do I continue to keep this blog? Write to it only when I can, or when something going on in Town Hall or the Lincoln Center Hearing Room sticks in my craw?

I can understand why people in the past have resigned from civic duty. It is a second career. You cannot be a decent spouse, parent, employee and civil servant all at the same time unless you intend on having no time for sleep or the enjoyment of activities to feed and care for you mind, body and soul.

So, what is really important in life? Is it refuting message board gas bags and risk becoming one myself, or keeping track of my priorities? I think that question has an easy answer.

In an effort to at least remain relevant, my writings here will be more spontaneous, and off the cuff. I read something recently:

"Perfectionist striving can paralyze constructive action. Do something; you can always apologise tomorrow." - Jim Burgin

A Witness To History

Someday, I will be telling my children, "I was there when..."

All during the day yesterday, from when I awoke, to waiting in line in the early morning to vote at the Mahoney Recreation Center, to listening to the radio on the way home from work and then watching the returns on the election coverage provided by PBS, I felt that I was a part of and a witness to history being made. Last night, I stayed awake while most had already gone to bed. After the announcement of victory had been made, I had to hear President Elect Barack Obama's speech as it was given live. I only wish I could have been in Grant Park to feel the elctricty that must have been in the air.

As I worte earlier this year, Barack Obama gave me a sense of hope that we desperately needed as a country. The opening comments of his speech last night spoke directly to what I believe:

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

Who ever you voted for yesterday, I pray that everyone can believe in yesterday's answer.

Someday, when my children are learning US history in high school, I will be giving them a little bit of extra credit homework of my own. I want them to read these two speeches by Barack Obama. I believe that at least one of them will be tought in history classes fifty or one hundred years from now.

A More Perfect Union - March 18, 2008
Yes, We Can - November 4, 2008

I look forward to teaching my children about yesterday. Teaching them about the dream of our forefathers, why we are all so lucky to be citizens of such a great republic, and that my vote yesterday was to pass along my hopes and dreams to them as they grow up in this world that we are all creating for them.

Yesterday gave me my answer. Yes, we are all in this together.