A few days ago marked the beginning of the holiday season- Thanksgiving. Around the country, people gathered together to enjoy food, fellowship, and football. Indeed, in my family I was fortunate enough to break bread with one of my uncles, his girlfriend, her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend, my sister, mom, dad, and grandfather. We spent time at the table, giving thanks for all we had, all we are, and all we can be. It wasn't until the day after Thanksgiving, however, that a series of events gave me real reason to pause and feel fortunate in this season of thanks.
On Friday I planned to meet a family friend for lunch in Portsmouth, NH on my way back to Providence. As so often happens in my family, plans evolved up until the last minute and the result of this scheduling metamorphosis was my sister, dad, and mom joining me for lunch with our family friend. I was excited. The more the merrier is an adage I try to hold dear, and when my family is involved with any social situation, the result is almost always an adventure.
My mom rode in my dad's car, and my sister rode shotgun with me. Being in an enclosed space with my sister for 55 minutes hurtling 69 miles per hour on asphalt creates a level of excitement that may not otherwise be experienced, save being on the shuttle rocketing into our planet's atmosphere. My sister, knowing me better than most in this world, managed to touch every document in my glove compartment, center console, and above the car visors, providing commentary for all items found. My blood pressure was steadily rising, as was the speedometer, and then my sister managed to find my latest parking ticket.
"Ah haaa!!!" she taunted.
I managed to contain my skyrocketing blood pressure in a healthy range, and keep my car on the road. No sooner did I explain my parking ticket did my sister look above my rear view mirror and make a face not unlike the one you may make upon running a stop sign you failed to notice until the last minute.
"Robbie, your inspection sticker is wayyyy past due!" she explained with a sick mixture of glee and anxiety.
And so it was. We soon managed to glide my vehicle ever gracefully into a parking spot near the restaurant. It was so great to see our family friend, whom I haven't seen in many months. Unfortunately, the table talk was dominated by everyone's attempts to find a garage that would inspect my car on Black Friday. It was not to be. Instead, after ending our luncheon, I drove up route one, frantically looking for an open garage before I was to meet another friend, from Saint Mike's, for lunch in Portsmouth. Upon finding a closed garage and trying to turn my car around to go back to Portsmouth, I received a call from my sister.
"Robbie, is your car even registered?" my sister asked.
I parked the car, walked to the back and looked at my license plate. Moments later, the right side of my face began to quiver, my heart pounded with force, and my right eye ball no doubt filled with blood. The registration had been expired for three months. I was driving an unregistered car without an inspection sticker. Instead of meeting my friend in Portsmouth, she graciously agreed to ride up to South Portland with me so I could get my car registered, and hopefully, inspected. Instead of enjoying each other's company over a nice craft brew and catching up on old times, we sat together, with my mom, in the waiting room of a car garage, surrounded by snow tires with the faintest scent of motor oil hovering in the air.
As this year's holiday season commences, I have much to be thankful for. Along with my health and that of my family, I give thanks for my family friend and his efforts to find me a garage that would inspect my car. He was so helpful in my time of need. I must give thanks for my sister noticing my irresponsibility. Without her provoking a near embolism in the left hemisphere of my brain, I likely would have been stopped for driving an unregistered car with an inspection sticker far past due. I am thankful for my college friend. As often in the past, she was by my side during a stressful time, and was gracious enough to accompany me to Maine to register my car and sit in a garage, catching up in a scenery dominated by the ambiance of screeching tires and the scent of gasoline. I must give thanks for my parents. They paid for my car registration and inspection and, without their financial support, I surely would have walked back to Providence.
I hope this story churns in you, my faithful reader(s?), a recollection of times when you too have given thanks for what others have done for you. During this holiday season, I'm sure we will all come to benefit from each other at one time or another.
Happy Holidays!!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
SURPRISE!!!
This past Saturday I had a surprise party to celebrate my girlfriend Sarah's birthday. It was so awesome to have about a dozen of her close friends as well as Kevin and Diane, her parents, come down to celebrate such a wonderful occasion. I planned it for about two weeks and I must say, I was so glad when the day came- it was hard to keep everything under wraps! Sarah is very intuitive and I struggled to maintain the element of surprise as the day came closer.
I must say, at the risk of boasting a bit, that I am proud of being able to organize the party. Indeed, it never would have happened without Kevin and Diane, who not only brought food and party supplies, but also helped set up the apartment while I had Sarah out of the house. But for me, someone who's organization skills include losing a pair of shoes for much of the Fall, pulling off this party was a step in the right direction.
The day started out at the market, where Sarah and I were both working. (I got a new job, which will definitely receive a post in the soon future!) After I finished up with my job, I had about an hour and a half to kill before Sarah was finished with her work. My mom was down from Maine for her high school reunion, so I was able to run some last minute errands with her before Sarah came back to the apartment. I didn't tell Sarah my mom was down, and she received quite a surprise when my mom came to the market! At about 3:30, Sarah and I left for the RISD museum. It was such a cool place!! The art was incredible, with some awesome furniture and design concepts that really blew my mind. The museum closed at 5, so I had to kill about 20 minutes before taking Sarah back to our place for the surprise. We went to the coffee exchange, where I bought a hazelnut flavored Italian soda. Yes, I know. Pretty weird and random, but I had to kill some time and I didn't want to have an espresso moments before cracking open a beer. Sarah and I walked into the apartment at around 5:20, and the party supplies were on our breakfast table, with a "Happy Birthday" sign hung over the sink. Soon after she realized what was going on, thirteen people spilled out of our "man cave" television room and screamed "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!", filling Sarah's eyes with small tears, and my heart with much joy.
I want to write, so anyone who may be reading who was there, thank you! You all helped me make such a special day for Sarah. It was such a great evening with great food and great friends. Kevin and Diane provided the food and drinks, and I can't thank them enough for their help with this great occasion. I was so happy to do this for Sarah, and I wouldn't have been able to do any of it without the help of Kevin and Diane and our friends.
I must say, at the risk of boasting a bit, that I am proud of being able to organize the party. Indeed, it never would have happened without Kevin and Diane, who not only brought food and party supplies, but also helped set up the apartment while I had Sarah out of the house. But for me, someone who's organization skills include losing a pair of shoes for much of the Fall, pulling off this party was a step in the right direction.
The day started out at the market, where Sarah and I were both working. (I got a new job, which will definitely receive a post in the soon future!) After I finished up with my job, I had about an hour and a half to kill before Sarah was finished with her work. My mom was down from Maine for her high school reunion, so I was able to run some last minute errands with her before Sarah came back to the apartment. I didn't tell Sarah my mom was down, and she received quite a surprise when my mom came to the market! At about 3:30, Sarah and I left for the RISD museum. It was such a cool place!! The art was incredible, with some awesome furniture and design concepts that really blew my mind. The museum closed at 5, so I had to kill about 20 minutes before taking Sarah back to our place for the surprise. We went to the coffee exchange, where I bought a hazelnut flavored Italian soda. Yes, I know. Pretty weird and random, but I had to kill some time and I didn't want to have an espresso moments before cracking open a beer. Sarah and I walked into the apartment at around 5:20, and the party supplies were on our breakfast table, with a "Happy Birthday" sign hung over the sink. Soon after she realized what was going on, thirteen people spilled out of our "man cave" television room and screamed "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!", filling Sarah's eyes with small tears, and my heart with much joy.
I want to write, so anyone who may be reading who was there, thank you! You all helped me make such a special day for Sarah. It was such a great evening with great food and great friends. Kevin and Diane provided the food and drinks, and I can't thank them enough for their help with this great occasion. I was so happy to do this for Sarah, and I wouldn't have been able to do any of it without the help of Kevin and Diane and our friends.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Welcome to Hell
Although I have lived in Rhode Island for over a year, my heart has always been, and always will be, in Maine. In the wake of midterm elections, now seems like an appropriate time to acknowledge the disaster Maine has voted itself into, and comment on the likely consequences of the recent elections, paying close attention to the gubernatorial results.
Receiving 38.33 percent of the votes in the gubernatorial election, the people of Maine have spoken: Paul LePage is the person they want for governor. Sadly, Paul LePage is the wrong choice, and by electing him to lead our state, Maine has chosen to step back and retreat from many problems that plague our communities, rather than form plans for policies that will address and confront these issues.
The first issue that Paul LePage clearly has no idea how to address is welfare reform. Mr. LePage's story of growing up in poverty and finally exiting its cycle is inspirational. Sadly, this does not mean he knows how to reform it into a working system for the state. Mr. LePage's most blatant misconception in his policy of welfare reform is his plan to place residents who receive benefits on a five year cap. With this in mind, Mr. LePage is creating unnecessary stress and pressure on families that already, obviously, have much to deal with. His insensitivity to the plight of people who benefit from welfare is captured in his statements during his campaign that focused on his desire to send people who are still on the system after five years to Massachusetts, where they can then start over. This is not the mindset of someone we can trust to help our brothers and sisters who suffer from poverty. Rather, it is one that exists in the mind of a businessman looking to cut dollars, putting people's lives at stake along the way.
The next issue that should repulse Maine voters is Mr. LePage's comments on transgendered students made on an Aroostook County radio show in the midst of the gubernatorial campaign. His comments reflected his view that transgendered students have no place in Maine public schools. Couple this with Mr. LePage's view of the traditional family as that being headed only by a man and a woman, and the bigotry and hatred are not hard to see. Soon after this comment was made, Mr. LePage retracted and did not recall making those comments. For me it is simple, and it should be for you too. Mr. LePage's lack of respect and education on issues within the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning) community are rife with misanthropy and delusion. Call me a socialist, call me a Marxist, but I for one do not stand for a leader who tramples on the rights of other human beings and side steps issues of rights for students. The issue is simple, as it was for black men and women not too long ago in our country: do we want to provide an inclusive community where all people can live together without fear of discrimination, or do we want to perpetuate the myths and ignorance surrounding the issues of gay men and women and continue to oppress them in our state? Mr. LePage's view is as scary and pathetic as it is clear.
I should note the positive aspects of Mr. LePage's policies, however few they may be. His plan for education is particularly positive, despite his comments on transgendered students. He supports vouchers and charter schools, which together can make a drastic difference in the landscape of our state.
So welcome, my fellow Mainers, to Hell. Don't worry, though. This should hopefully only last four years and with any luck, no harm will be brought forth by the misguided policies of this ignorant miscreant who has slithered into the Blain House.
Receiving 38.33 percent of the votes in the gubernatorial election, the people of Maine have spoken: Paul LePage is the person they want for governor. Sadly, Paul LePage is the wrong choice, and by electing him to lead our state, Maine has chosen to step back and retreat from many problems that plague our communities, rather than form plans for policies that will address and confront these issues.
The first issue that Paul LePage clearly has no idea how to address is welfare reform. Mr. LePage's story of growing up in poverty and finally exiting its cycle is inspirational. Sadly, this does not mean he knows how to reform it into a working system for the state. Mr. LePage's most blatant misconception in his policy of welfare reform is his plan to place residents who receive benefits on a five year cap. With this in mind, Mr. LePage is creating unnecessary stress and pressure on families that already, obviously, have much to deal with. His insensitivity to the plight of people who benefit from welfare is captured in his statements during his campaign that focused on his desire to send people who are still on the system after five years to Massachusetts, where they can then start over. This is not the mindset of someone we can trust to help our brothers and sisters who suffer from poverty. Rather, it is one that exists in the mind of a businessman looking to cut dollars, putting people's lives at stake along the way.
The next issue that should repulse Maine voters is Mr. LePage's comments on transgendered students made on an Aroostook County radio show in the midst of the gubernatorial campaign. His comments reflected his view that transgendered students have no place in Maine public schools. Couple this with Mr. LePage's view of the traditional family as that being headed only by a man and a woman, and the bigotry and hatred are not hard to see. Soon after this comment was made, Mr. LePage retracted and did not recall making those comments. For me it is simple, and it should be for you too. Mr. LePage's lack of respect and education on issues within the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning) community are rife with misanthropy and delusion. Call me a socialist, call me a Marxist, but I for one do not stand for a leader who tramples on the rights of other human beings and side steps issues of rights for students. The issue is simple, as it was for black men and women not too long ago in our country: do we want to provide an inclusive community where all people can live together without fear of discrimination, or do we want to perpetuate the myths and ignorance surrounding the issues of gay men and women and continue to oppress them in our state? Mr. LePage's view is as scary and pathetic as it is clear.
I should note the positive aspects of Mr. LePage's policies, however few they may be. His plan for education is particularly positive, despite his comments on transgendered students. He supports vouchers and charter schools, which together can make a drastic difference in the landscape of our state.
So welcome, my fellow Mainers, to Hell. Don't worry, though. This should hopefully only last four years and with any luck, no harm will be brought forth by the misguided policies of this ignorant miscreant who has slithered into the Blain House.
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