au revoir, monsieur president-dope
Written by patty on October 27th, 2008
I’ll be away next week.
I absolutely adore Cannes and I count myself lucky for traveling there on business every year or so. But the prospect of being out of the country for the presidential election is making me increasingly anxious.
I’ll be sending in my ballot this week. I’m not anxious about making my choices, I’m not anxious about change. I think it comes down to a twinge of sadness. We’re on the cusp of the most important election of my life and I won’t be here to celebrate.
I remember being on a flight from London to Paris two years ago, on the eve of when America finally realized none of it was working. The war in Iraq, the war on terror (for we had long since realized they weren’t the same thing), WMD, the neocon movement and its endless ethics scandals. It was all bullshit. I was reading the editorials in the London papers, all of them about America finally rejecting George W. Bush and Europe’s profound hope that America would get it right in the midterm election. The flight crew noticed me listening to their well-informed discussion about the election. With the most genuine smile, one of them looked at me and wished me good luck.
So much for passing for European.
On the bright side, there are few places I can imagine (outside of the Upper West Side, Berkley, and, increasingly, my home town) where the end of Bush: The Stupid Years (all eight of ‘em!) will be so welcomed. I’ll be with several Americans, citizens and ex-pats alike, who share my fervent hopes for my country. And what with the global recession, there’s always a chance that the Dom Perignon will be a little cheaper.
I plan to toast my new President Elect with the good stuff.
28
AM
You did not just say “Cannes” in front of me. I freakin’ love the Cote D’Azur. I’ve been lucky enough to have been there twice- Frejus and Ste. Maxime on the coast, and Puget sur Argens and Roquebrune a little more inland. Did lots of driving around with the people I stayed with, so got to see a ton and speak a lot of French. I love French. Love it, love it.
Bon voyage and I hope you return to President Obama.
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AM
I agree with you - although I don’t get to go to France and watch it all unfold, you lucky duck! And if folks on Twitter unfollow you because of that, who cares? The rest of us are still here <:-)
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CT Mom, believe me, I am not losing sleep over being unfollowed.
I did, however, lose sleep over giving that idiot my support as he bamboozled us into Iraq.
Talk, I wish I had time (and money!) this trip to go see the mountains and the rest of the area. I adore France and if not for the family and the job (and the money!) I’d love nothing more than spending a few weeks on the Coast and slowly making my way back up towards Paris. Ahh, to dream…
patty’s last blog post: au revoir, monsieur president-dope
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i actually think that if he wins, the party over there will be just as great. safe travels.
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