Cosmetics Counter

Naomi: What are you doing?

Me: Putting on mascara.

Naomi: Why? You only will get it dirty at work.

Me: Probably true.

Naomi: That's why I don't wear make-up. I would only get it dirty at school.

Me: Good thinking. You're also a little young to wear make-up.

Naomi: Why?

Me: Make-up tries to take older women and make them look younger.

Naomi: Yeh. But that trick doesn't work for you.

Me: Mascara doesn't make me look younger?

Naomi: Not really. Your face always looks more like a twelve year old (pause) just with a whole lot of wrinkles.

Me: Thanks. I think.

Necessary Solitude

I woke up late some time last week, buried my cold nose under the covers and thought: “Humpf, I guess its fall.” Sadly, the warm weather had crested and my cold nose is a harbinger of colder temperatures (and appendages) to come.

Bare branches, shortened day-light, migration and deep-sleep hush the noisy summer chatter. Cold weather inspires a necessary kind of solitude to clear my head a little. With the election behind us, I'm trying to reconcile lofty conversations of politics with my more immediate surroundings. An ambitious goal, I know, but worth a try. Because at the center of each of us lives a small, soft animal trying to survive the cold.

Early Voting

Over my lunch hour I cast an early-ballot at the Lancaster County Election Commission office. The line was long, but things clipped along at a good pace. Stem to stern the line was a 30 minute time commitment. No "I Voted Today" stickers though which was a notable down side.

To sound like a complete geek, I have to say I generally find election days exciting. This year has a particular groundswell but it only offers thematic variations for me. That kind of butterfly feeling I got at the polling booth isn't entirely attributable to the McCain or Obama ticket. Its the sense of being part of something bigger than myself. Voting conjures a similar sense of wonder and purpose I get when standing in a large forest. Its a moment where my place in the fold of something feels exactly right.

On my way out of the Election Commission office I pressed through the heavy glass door. A dry wind kicked up around me and I reveled in a moment of confidence that I had just helped elect the next President of the United States. Not too shabby.

Fall Back

Enjoy sleeping in, folks! Tonight is daylight savings.