Life Is Sweet

Above the aloe vera plant that sits on its own marble table just to the left of my computer, there is a shelf with little stuff. Some of the bits that live there are Good Show gifts, like the mouse candle that I was given during "Mousetrap," some are from my kids, and some are from friends.

This cute little monkey is a gift from Nadine. Nadine lives in California, and I have never met her in real life, though I hope to, eventually. She has a grown son, a classic car, a husband and a home. Her mother, who lived with her, passed away within the past year. Being on the west coast, she is usually still up while I suffer from insomnia, and we type hilarious and touching conversations, sometimes far into the night. She has sent me other presents, but this is the one that is up there, in plain sight, with the teletubby that was rescued from the cats and a picture of me with red hair. Every time I look at the monkey, I remember how very lucky I am to have friends.

Tonight, as I sit in my stubbornly red state, I realize that tomorrow might be depressing, except for the fact that Jim and I are going to watch the returns with a nice person who lives just a few miles away, to whom I was introduced by another friend, Milo Johnson (Jones Alley Magazine), in Kansas.

I love the internet. Living in this Republican town, with its virtually inactive Democratic party, I really love the internet. Most of the print media around here is all about the GOP. If it weren't for KUT radio, and the Austin Chronicle, and the internet, I'd feel so isolated.

And, of all those things, the internet is the only on in which I can make my voice heard.

I have always written, but the material was kept in boxes, until it would get lost in a move, or shredded for packing material. With this blog, I get instant gratification.

Thanks, Al Gore!