Be it ever so humble...
Happy to be back in Arlington, after an epic cross country journey. Flew out to Seattle by way of Atlanta, where torrential rain in Washington turned what should have been a two hour lay over into an eleven hour layover. Fortunately made the standby flight to Seattle, where Monday morning set out for parts east. Had a wonderful day in Yellowstone, and another wonderful day in Badlands, before starting a cannonball run from South Dakota through MN, WI, IL, IN, OH, PA, MD & DC back to Virginia.
This morning was a prime example of what I had missed about Arlington. While enjoying my coffee at the local farmer's market, the next woman in line is asking for samples of the different coffees. She asks if there are any politicians about to bother, and Baranoouji helpfully points out the Arlington County Democratic Party booth. She says that she is a Democrat, but if they are the only folks about, she will bother them on principle. When I express my approval of her bothering the local Democrats, she incredulously asks if I am a Republican. I admit to her that I am, and in fact am one of the last three in the county. She expresses surprise that Chris Deeds is down in the polls to Bob McDonnell. I point out that she has just illustrated why Creigh Deeds is down in the polls as no one in Northern VA knows anything about him. After I make a few more points about the political geography of the state her jaw drops lower and lower. She had apparently been under the impression that Republicans were as a rule incapable of intelligent discussion. I finally admit that there were actually four of us at the last Republican meeting, but one was actually a Libertarian, and beat a hasty retreat, coffee in hand.
This morning was a prime example of what I had missed about Arlington. While enjoying my coffee at the local farmer's market, the next woman in line is asking for samples of the different coffees. She asks if there are any politicians about to bother, and Baranoouji helpfully points out the Arlington County Democratic Party booth. She says that she is a Democrat, but if they are the only folks about, she will bother them on principle. When I express my approval of her bothering the local Democrats, she incredulously asks if I am a Republican. I admit to her that I am, and in fact am one of the last three in the county. She expresses surprise that Chris Deeds is down in the polls to Bob McDonnell. I point out that she has just illustrated why Creigh Deeds is down in the polls as no one in Northern VA knows anything about him. After I make a few more points about the political geography of the state her jaw drops lower and lower. She had apparently been under the impression that Republicans were as a rule incapable of intelligent discussion. I finally admit that there were actually four of us at the last Republican meeting, but one was actually a Libertarian, and beat a hasty retreat, coffee in hand.