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A Beautiful April Saturday Stroll on the Highline in Downtown New York

Connecticut Pride

I live in Connecticut. My state has been the punchline of many jokes, including one that a New York friend of mine recited recently; "As soon as I cross the border from New York into Connecticut, my loafers grow tassels."

Yes, Connecticut is reputed to be Waspy, conservative and staid. Since Jan. 07, we've also had a Republican Governor, Jodi Rell, who by all accounts, has been a hard-working and effective leader. She attracted business and industry here. She's an advocate for health and education initiatives. And, if McCain had chosen her rather than Palin as VP - there's a good chance I might have pulled that Republican lever.

But McCain never would have considered this intelligent, forward-thinking, hard working woman as his running mate. Why? My tassel-loafered, conservative state is only one of two in the nation that permits Gay Marriage!

Whatever your stance on gay marriage (mine is pretty liberal, considering my first two college roommates "came out" shortly after rooming with me....hmmm, wonder why I had that effect on people?.... and one is still a good friend and has one of the most loving, caring families with two daughters and a "spouse" of 20 something years), you have to admit that it is not the downfall of society. The fact that one of the most productive, well-adjusted, no-drama states in the country is a gay marriage zone says something about the institution and its effect on society. It's pretty nil.

So next time religious fundamentalists want to cite G-d's retribution, take a look at the stats. No fires, tsunamis, earthquakes or hurricanes (lately) of biblical proportions in Connecticut. Just residents of a quiet state going about their business, helping their neighbors, taking initiatives and marrying the loves of their lives, no matter what gender they happen to be.

My Civic Duty

My favorite color has always been purple, which probably explains why, up until the very last minute, I debated with myself about who to vote for. Blue? Red? Blue, red? Oh screw it, I'll just swirl them together to create, yes, purple. Of course, I couldn't really fill in both bubbles on the old-fashioned, chadless, lever-free ballot; I had to choose one. But, and here's the thing, despite who wins tonight, I'll wake up tomorrow, make my coffee, read the NY Times before Jacob gets up for school, then sit down to write at 7am, just as I do every day. No matter who sits in the White House, the sun will rise, the autumn trees will burst in color right outside my window, I'll laugh with some friends and comfort others. Day to day, in my little old life, not much will change. I had an epiphany this morning, when, standing on line to vote, I greeted and hugged a bunch of neighbors I hadn't had the time to see in awhile. These are the same people who have been in my life for many years, through many administrations, and economic ups and downs. My friends and family are my constants; Presidents come and go.

Politics Aside

While friends and members of my family took off precious time to stump for Obama this weekend in Pennsylvania, I was visiting here for another, rather embarassing reason; to check out a newly built indoor water park. As a travel writer, I never know where I'll be off to next, but suffice it to say, in this economy, it's within 150 miles from home and luxury-appointmentwise, never comes close to the Ritz Carlton. The H2oohhh!! park was completed by the time I arrived (photo shows structure in process of construction), and my son and his friend, both 16, deemed it "awesome." While I took notes on the "Flow Rider" - a reverse flow waterfall upon which kids and overweight adults alike took turns wake-boarding and hanging 10, and the 41ft. tall twisty slides shown in the photo, my politically active (re: more conscientious) friends were knocking on doors, attempting to change minds. While I was wading in faux ocean waves, my nephew was probably getting his ass handed to him by McCain supporters. I'm not proud to admit it - but this weekend, the most crucial weekend before a historic election, I fluffed out and wrote this puff piece.

My World

As if I don't have enough to do, I'm adding this blog site to other, less personal forums for my writing. If I keep adding these extraneous channels for my thoughts, there will be no time to actually go out and live life. So, I will post every so often, and use this to document only the gems of each day; which, I suppose is what everyone else is doing. I promise that subsequent posts will not be as predictable and boring as this one. My life - with a accident-prone husband, two older teenage boys, a group of interesting friends and myriad activities - is not a boring one at all. Welcome to my world......