I remember. I hope, again.

That cold January 48 years ago I ran home from school to read my family's Life magazine and gaze at its cover. A new day, I thought to myself happily. I read that magazine over and over, and saved it along with other treasures in my drawer throughout the rest of grammar school, high school and, yes, even into college. I packed it with my special things when I got married and moved to my own apartment. Even when I moved to my house, even when my son was born, even when I moved again to the deserts of Tucson, I kept that magazine among my special books.

Thought you'd want to see the cover of the Life magazine I saved. I have a few (like commemorating the moon landing) from those years of early dreaming. Those who know me are familiar with my love of collecting certain books and papers and, yes, they're right, I save way too many. But I'm glad I saved my Life magazine. It may not publish anymore, but it certainly represents precious journalism to me.

All of us have our dreams. So many years ago the young Kennedy family helped give me hope, helped fuel my own dreams. I owe so much to them for their leadership, the energy they transmitted that cold January in 1961.

And so it shall be on Tuesday. Another young family, fueling more dreams across America. I send my blessings to the Obama family to be energizing, good, inspiring leaders - spreaders of hope, peace, renewed balance, ethics, and earned prosperity. May they hold on to the values that helped them achieve such heights. May we all pass on those same values and a better world to our children, so the future will fulfill new dreams. May it be so.

What will you save from Tuesday, to help you rekindle your dreams?

It's the Day After the Day After

I enjoyed today's NPR Talk of the Nation report -- From Africa and Europe came calls and emails thanking America for giving the world hope. I worry a bit over all the iconic adulation -- our wonderful President-elect is only one individual! It takes many individuals, millions working together, to put us back together again and on the best track. Note to President-elect Obama, I wish you humility, energy, intelligence, conscience and integrity as you make your decisions. Ask us for our help and tell us how we can help you achieve what you promised. Choose wisely in selecting the core team to help you.

Expectations are so high. We look out into one glorious sunset after another as weather cools here in Tucson, and you can't help but feel positive. Yet, we continue to struggle horribly with economic, environmental and international woe. And, yes, it's a mess out there.

But...look at that sunset and think about the future. The balance is coming soon.

(Great sunset photo by my friend and husband Leigh Spigelman)

Where are you, Adam Walinsky?

Nothing like music from Les Mis to get me going. A new Barack Obama video is stirring on YouTube. It’s set in the final hours before the November 4 elections. The idealistic faces of young professionals working in some Obama headquarters are fearful and weary, but like the young revolutionists of Les Mis they rally behind an inspired and funny rendition of the powerful song, One More Day.

I’ve resisted being pulled into the horrible, nonstop hate/love noise buzzing in blogland. But that video brought me back about 38 years, to a scene played out almost the same way, in the small New York City headquarters of Adam Walinsky, another young, idealistic lawyer running for office in 1970.

Of course in those days there was no YouTube, no Internet, no blogs. Walinsky, on a Kennedy-inspired ticket, was running for NY state Attorney General. Walinsky’s words, mission of substance, and vision of change had fired up a group of young urban idealists. In 1970 we were a bit more scraggly looking than the Obama team depicted in the video, but we were young urban idealists nonetheless.

As an editor of my college paper, a grassroots community organizer and would-be journalist who sought to change the world, I was one dreamer of the early 70s who put her soul and sweat into an individual who stood for her ideals. I volunteered day and night for Walinsky’s campaign – and I can’t begin to name all the similarities I see now between our motley volunteer crew and the Obama campaign.

What’s different today is the nonstop mean-spirited madness underway. I am dismayed. Too much spewing on both sides of the fence. Too many darts thrown with no one caring about the consequences. This was not the way in 1970. We debated and protested, yes, but thoughtful discussion based upon the issues was our secret weapon, not 24/7 blog tirades.

I wonder what America wants now. It looks like everyone wants to keep talking at each other, taking pot shots, churning opinions upon opinions. Or maybe we are starting to realize that it's time to focus on the issues and the facts...that it is time to cut the noise so each of us can make thoughtful decisions on November 4, 2008. So much depends on this.

OK, I got that out of my system. Now back to being just a Tucson cowgirl doing her thing here in the desert. Everyone is too busy blogging to listen, anyway.

(Accompanying photo is of fellow volunteers, in Walinsky headquarters, NYC, circa 1970. Do I sound like an ancient hippie if I say, "those were the days?")