Health Care Reform: Yes HE did!

In typical Obama fashion, the chant following last night's historic health care reform vote, on the floor of the House and in messages across the country, was "Yes we did!" And it's true, a whole lot of people fought for this day to come. But let's be clear. Our leader, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, has accomplished what none of the other 43 presidents before him could -- sweeping health care reform legislation.

And I need to offer a personal apology to my President. I had begun to doubt you. I worried you were too ambitious, that you were going to lose the American people by fighting on too many fronts with health care reform too much in the forefront.

I was never mad that you weren't aggressive enough (for me) about LGBTQ reforms; I was never mad (just sad) that you let go of the health care public option -- I do understand politics a bit. But why this complicated bill now -- why push so hard on something that was stirring up a frightening backlash of fear mongering, hatred, and straight up racism among the conservative right? I worried you had lost your way.

I apologize for ever doubting your brilliance, tenacity, and for insisting on holding on to what's right. The same qualities that made me fall in love with you in the first place. The same qualities that got you elected President. You keep your eyes on the prize and never falter. You are a champion for our times.

You held strong in the face of adversity and doubts even among your most loyal and politically powerful allies. You demonstrated for us all and reminded us all:

This is what change looks like. Feels like. Tastes like.

Yes you did.

Now, on to the next step.

Feeling Nina Simone

I am feeling Nina Simone today.

This morning on my way to work I was playing my Nina mix of favorites and the drive was delicious. The heavy, overcast, rainy midwest March morning was a perfect backdrop for her sultry, soulful classics.

I had the good fortune to see Nina Simone in concert sometime around about the mid-nineties. Third row seats. She was brilliant and difficult (classic Nina). She threatened to leave the stage and in fact quit in the middle of a song because the crowd wasn't feeling the music (in her defense, she was in Minnesota).

Well Nina, in case you ever doubted this fan, I was feeling your music then and I feel your music now. All the time. You carry me through. You are, after all, the high priestess of soul. Of my soul.

I hoped to post a video of a live performance of my most favorite of her songs - Feeling Good. None were to be found, so here is the best I could do.

But I did stumble upon this gem -- a rare live performance of Here Comes the Sun, Barcelona, 1988.

Feeling you, Nina.

This video says it all: Embrace Your Age! You're Living!

I hope to make it to old age and to be living out loud when I get there. I hope whoever eulogizes me says simply this: She LIVED! Watch this video for the best example yet! Here's what the You Tube summary says:

"An elderly couple walked into the lobby of the Mayo Clinic for a checkup and spotted a piano. They've been married for 62 years and he'll be 90 this year. Check out this impromptu performance. We are only as old as we feel, it's all attitude. Enjoy! They certainly do."

13 Black Truths by Elon James White

Being a white girl and all, I feel a little odd posting something called "13 Black Truths" but this is great -- and funny as hell. Many white folks might be thinking while watching this, "Really?" And Black folks, well I can't speak for you, but probably something along the lines of "Amen, brother."

Here's the intro from the You Tube post: "There are a lot of things that we all take for granted as being commonly known facts. This Week in Blackness' host Elon James White wrote a few #BlackFacts in a Twitter Discussion and decided to share it with you."

There are a lot of things that we all take for granted as being commonly known facts. This Week in Blackness' host Elon James White wrote a few #BlackFacts in a Twitter Discussion and decided to share it with you.

Category: Comedy

Tags:

Black Truths TWIB Elon James White Brooklyn Comedy Company Twitter Race Ghetto Real Talk The Truth This Week in Blackness

Pink is my inner doppelganger

My dad, who will turn 80 in a month, often exclaims when he looks in the mirror, "Jesus Christ! Who the hell is that old man!" My dad's outer self no longer matches his inner self -- a handsome, outdoorsy, fishing, hunting, fun loving guy (Dad, you are still all that and more, but I get it now).

In addition to looking in the mirror first thing in the morning, the moments where I get really blown away by what I actually look like at 53 are in dressing rooms and when faced with an image of an aging celebrity or rock star who is about my age. (If he or she looks that old, I must too -- "Jesus Christ! What the hell!")

So last week there was a thing going around on Facebook about posting a photo of your celebrity doppelganger. It was game that was only fun to play if you were under forty. The middle aged crowd, if they dared to play, posted something like this "When I was younger, people used to tell me I looked like xxxx," and then uploaded a (younger) version of that fabulous celebrity's photo.

I considered putting up a photo of me dressed as Elton John for a drag show I did last fall, but why? Would that make me feel better? But humor works when all else fails. See:

Then I watched the Grammys. And along came Pink, in all of her glorious bad ass, hot as hell, push the boundaries, iconoclastic, rock star self doing a nearly naked, breathtaking aerial performance of "Glitter in the Air." Just watch:

It was me! The real me! And now you know. Don't be fooled by my chubby, middle aged appearance. I. am. all. that. And more.