Jed and I went to the Viand early Sunday morning to have our usual bad coffee and so-so English Muffin.
The better cafes open a little later on the weekends so our choices are limited. We drink the coffee from hell only because being up and out before 7 is such a peaceful time since the world hasn’t really commenced yet…
After already being there a good half hour, I brought up President Obama and his reelection.
“I can’t believe we haven’t mentioned Obama winning yet.”
“I’m certainly relieved, that’s all I can say,” Jed said, polishing off the rest of his decaf.
“Didn’t Romney look shocked that he didn’t win?” Something that more or less shocked me.
“That’s because he was told hands down he’d win by a landslide,” said Jed. “You’d be shocked too.”
“I know, but didn’t he at least see the loss coming at some point during the night?”
“You have to understand, the guy lives in a bit of a bubble.”
Just then a very tall man with a curious comb-over got up to pay, saying to us as he went by,”Nuclear terrorism, that’s what we need to be afraid of now.”
Jed and I looked at one another not knowing that we were about to be hit by a sudden stump speech in the middle of breakfast.
“Yeah, you’ll see,” he said, “not to mention how the economy is going to get worse and more people won’t have jobs…Americans are suffering goddammit.”
“I’m suffering,” I said, thinking that would get him to at least take a breath but I was sadly mistaken.
“I’ve been a democrat all my life (another thing I found hard to believe), but not anymore and if you think Iran is not building a nuclear bomb right this minute then you’re crazy.”
We’re crazy?
Suddenly another man in lime green corduroys and red curly hair standing straight up says, “I too am disappointed in Obama but still voted for him. We’ll just have to see how he does this term.” Of course the big guy was still talking and didn’t hear a word he said.
I couldn’t help wondering why neither one of these men had combs or wives who said, ‘Honey, please don’t go out looking like that.’
Jed, to my surprise, said nothing unlike silly me who attempted rationality by chirping, “Isn’t it great that we live in a country where we can agree to disagree?”
He didn’t hear me either having no interest in anything else but his own volatile opinion which was starting to piss me off.
Someone forgot to tell me, never argue with a drunk or a disgruntled former democrat.
The truth of the matter was, he was a very wealthy fellow, one that I’ve been seeing in the neighborhood for years who was just angry that his candidate lost.
He was still carrying on when Jed paid the check and we practically ran out of there.
I have no idea what will happen in the next four years or the next four minutes for that matter though I think a shower is a pretty good bet, but my plan is to practice optimism where our government is concerned. We need to be hopeful because what’s the alternative? Pontificating over bacon and eggs while eavesdropping on someone’s private conversation?
We need to believe life, for everyone in this country, will improve sooner than later.
Yes, I’m a political Pollyanna…
what can I say?
SB
