Community Pride and Inspiration

It's been a year since I've posted or blogged- but I am eager to get back at posting here.

Alex asked at his site thatindiedude.com What Inspires you? And it was just after the 4th of July Celebration ( which was actually on the 3rd of July) in our community and here's what I said:

July 8, 2008

What is inspirational to me is when I see the joy of others’ hearts and faces from doing something they love with their whole hearts. I had a very inspirational time at the fireworks in Hillsdale at our fairgrounds, not because I was watching the fireworks, ( I had intended to leave when they started but didn’t) instead I was watching the faces of three of the event organizers, all big names and personalities in our community, who all could have devoted their time to something else, but watching their faces light up not from seeing the fireworks, but from hearing the crowd’s reaction the fireworks, that was the moment for me that made me happy because they did it out of love for their community. That is what brought them joy, and knowing such incredible, warm and generous people like that makes me not only feel inspired but rich and honored to be able to call them friends. I have to say it was the best fireworks display I’ve been to in many years because I was able to watch their faces when they heard the crowd ooh, and ahh over the fireworks, they were energized by the joy of the crowd, and I was inspired by their generosity and success and love for their community.

I am also inspired by those who believe in the future, of the community, they give me hope. I stopped to visit a friend who owns a local business, and he showed me plans for the future development, and what he showed me was gorgeous. I cried all afternoon ( Happy Tears) thinking about this person and his hope and belief in our community to be able to commit to such an undertaking, I still get teary eyed thinking about it because it is so inspiring to me- a belief in the future of the community, vision for progress and the future. Such faith in our community gives me hope and makes me proud and that is what inspires me. I don’t think that I will ever be what these people are to me, to anyone, but they give me something to strive for.

DOOR TO DOOR DISSAPPOINTMENT

Well, I spent most of the cold wintry day today going door- to-door to get signatures in order to be on the ballot for the upcoming special election for city councilperson. Of course it's my own fault because I waited til the last day to actually get going on this, but I've been buried in work and busy with stuff and not home at good hours, so I spent better part of this day going door to door in my neighboorhood and I had a good set of signatures, but then when I took the petitions over to city hall four of the signatures were invalid. So i rushed around trying to get five more before 4 but I didn't make it back in time ( 4:07) and so I was fucked. I feel bad about disappointing the people who did encourage me along the way.

However, one person said that she disagreed with 'everything I say" so she wouldn't sign it. One guy with a huge American flag flatly said " I'm not signing anything you're peddling" without even hearing what it was. By signing the petition it only helps someone get on the ballot, and isn't that what our so called democracy is all about? it in no way obligates anyone to vote for the person circulating the petition, nor does it mean you agree with them.

People in this town are wary tho, about signing petitions after the city a bunch of folks just before our last major election.

I guess what astounds me most is how many normal people have no idea about how our democracy works, and how to participate in it.

and I have failed in my quest.

Maybe I'll try to be a write-in. You don't need any signatures of support for that.

WORST VALENTINE"S DAY EVER OR WHAT THE HELL AM I , CHOPPED LIVER?

I came downstairs and found the cutting board that he had refinished for me, with a bloody (raw) beef liver heart in center of it, and the house keys I gave him on the bottom on either side. So I guess he's breaking up with me on fucking Valentine's day. I didn't expect roses and candlelight dinner out, or even that I might see him today because after all he does have a wife, but I didn't expect for him to try an break up with me in chicken shit way like that, ( I was home sleeping, and he didn't wake me up). I should've stayed in bed.