Happy Days / Forget Your Troubles

I'm trying, Judy.

Last night in Grant Park was unreal. I don't have much to say except that I am thankful. And I'm glad to have been outside the fence -- the hundreds of thousands there without tickets had absolutely no reason to show up, they were not the elite or the chosen to attend an exclusive party, they were just folks who wanted to be together and not alone when the world changed. I've got a hell of a lot of respect for that instinct. I'm glad Obama's girls are getting a puppy, too.

It's hard to fully celebrate, given the news on Prop 8. Rationally I understand that it's good that Obama elevated this election above the culture war, that his mandate will be based on issues and not identity. But it would have been nice if the country could have accepted some identities too. I am certainly grateful that the regressive abortion measures were defeated, but have a hard time reconciling that with Prop 8 and the other defeated Equal Opportunity measures. Do you think people are people, or not? We've got a long way to go.

Keyser and I also hung out with Robyn Schiff and Eula Biss last night. Oh hey, great American literary figures, what's up. It is pleasant and strange to realize people are invested in you, in whatever capacity. The word for the day really is grateful, isn't it.