There's a weird pairing.
I love Anne Lamott, and am re-reading "Operating Instructions." Although I didn't have kids and can't claim much in the way of maternal urges, Lamott's journal of her son's first year, during which she also lost her best friend to cancer, is an amazing book. I had completely forgotten that this is where I stole her "My mind is a bad neighborhood" quote. (I thought I'd at least embroidered upon it when I added that I don't want to travel through it unaccompanied, but nope - turns out that was Lamott's too.)
Lamott's "All New People" is one of my absolute favorite novels.
Anyhoo, I noticed that there was only a brief mention of Buddy Holly's widow at the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, and saw not one photo. I vaguely remembered from reading about her during the making of the Gary Busey Buddy Holly movie that she was kinda money grubbing and frankly sounded like someone I would never want to meet, but I hoped I was wrong. So I sniffed around (read: asked my second cousin, then Googled her when I got home) and discovered she was a Yoko Ono before her time. Lubbock had to rename Buddy Holly Blvd (or Ave or somesuch) to The Crickets St (or Rd or...) because financial negotiations soured -the former Ms. Holly, who remarried, had kids and has grandkids, wanted a small fortune along with the 15% cut of merchandise which she already received and continues to get. It's sad, but it also speaks to that little smarmy snarky part of me that likes to think badly of people.
This is where Anne Lamott comes in. In "Operating Instructions," Lamott describes a "fabulously wealthy" woman who's really nasty: "She has a worm inside of her. She has to keep feeding it grim bits, like mean gossip and bad news about other people." I think most of us have a worm inside us. I know I do. (I met someone a few months ago who doesn't have much of a worm (ABBA shout-out!). And my brother isn't very wormy either.) I don't think I'm incredibly wormy, but I know I'm way wormier than I'd like to be. Lamott says, "I'm a little bit too much like this person for comfort. My worm is not quite as big as hers, but maybe it will be with age."
I've got to keep a close eye on my worm.
May 23, 2008
May 21, 2008
Ted Kennedy and my job
I went to DC in the eighties for a pro-choice march. (My ex always said we got married and my mom and I went on the honeymoon.) It was grand - huge, great turn-out. My favorite sign read "Post-menopausal women nostalgic for choice."
We headed over to watch the senate in action. At the time I was a political junkie - I wasn't burnt out because I had yet to realize this country could be so foolishly sidetracked by things like a president's sex life, and I thought it was an anomaly that a president could get elected by mouthing empty slogans like "Read my lips - no new taxes."
I had a grand time. A vote was called, so the senators wandered onto the floor. I saw Alan Cranston and thought that was pretty cool - I always admired his politics. Then Ted Kennedy ambled along. He actually prowled like a lion...he reminded me of my cat. He really had a presence. Of course, none of that would matter if he wasn't speaking up for the people who are usually ignored in political campaigns and debates. I admired and admire him so much. I remember leaning over the railing to see more closely and pointing him out to my mom, who hissed, "Senate groupie!" What a day.
Today at work I mentioned how sad I was to hear of Kennedy's malignant brain tumor. Our secretary said, "You know what I think? The world's better off with one less liberal." Wow. It was like someone ripped her face off and showed the pure ugly underneath. I mean, I loathe and despise Rush Limbaugh for being the hater that he is, but I wouldn't wish cancer on him. I was so stunned I didn't even answer, which later made me ashamed because I lost an opportunity to speak up.
So later, I was in her office with a coworker and I told him, "X wishes I were dead." She looked puzzled, and I said, "I'm a liberal, and you said the world is better off with one less liberal." She assured me I wasn't really a liberal (and I assured her I really was, and my coworker assured her I really was). It wasn't a snappy rejoinder I can quote the rest of my life, and I don't know what I could have said that would have been snazzier, but I'm still floored.
I forget how Kennedy (and Jane Fonda) still stir up such antipathy in people. I just don't get it. I truly loathe and despise George Bush, primarily because he has blood on his hands, and generally because he's responsible for the unspeakable state this country is in, financially and in about every other way I can think of (of course, were I a bazillionaire (sp?) I'd love him). I examined my conscience, and I feel comfortable stating that I really don't wish he had a malignant brain tumor.
That's work in a nutshell.
We headed over to watch the senate in action. At the time I was a political junkie - I wasn't burnt out because I had yet to realize this country could be so foolishly sidetracked by things like a president's sex life, and I thought it was an anomaly that a president could get elected by mouthing empty slogans like "Read my lips - no new taxes."
I had a grand time. A vote was called, so the senators wandered onto the floor. I saw Alan Cranston and thought that was pretty cool - I always admired his politics. Then Ted Kennedy ambled along. He actually prowled like a lion...he reminded me of my cat. He really had a presence. Of course, none of that would matter if he wasn't speaking up for the people who are usually ignored in political campaigns and debates. I admired and admire him so much. I remember leaning over the railing to see more closely and pointing him out to my mom, who hissed, "Senate groupie!" What a day.
Today at work I mentioned how sad I was to hear of Kennedy's malignant brain tumor. Our secretary said, "You know what I think? The world's better off with one less liberal." Wow. It was like someone ripped her face off and showed the pure ugly underneath. I mean, I loathe and despise Rush Limbaugh for being the hater that he is, but I wouldn't wish cancer on him. I was so stunned I didn't even answer, which later made me ashamed because I lost an opportunity to speak up.
So later, I was in her office with a coworker and I told him, "X wishes I were dead." She looked puzzled, and I said, "I'm a liberal, and you said the world is better off with one less liberal." She assured me I wasn't really a liberal (and I assured her I really was, and my coworker assured her I really was). It wasn't a snappy rejoinder I can quote the rest of my life, and I don't know what I could have said that would have been snazzier, but I'm still floored.
I forget how Kennedy (and Jane Fonda) still stir up such antipathy in people. I just don't get it. I truly loathe and despise George Bush, primarily because he has blood on his hands, and generally because he's responsible for the unspeakable state this country is in, financially and in about every other way I can think of (of course, were I a bazillionaire (sp?) I'd love him). I examined my conscience, and I feel comfortable stating that I really don't wish he had a malignant brain tumor.
That's work in a nutshell.
Lubbock, TX
Boy howdy, did I have a grand time in Texas.
Actually, Lubbock was pretty nice. The denizens were, anyway. I found them to be much friendlier than those folks I run across (and would frequently like to run over) in San Diego.
Overheard in an Applebee's bathroom stall: "Jesus put a baby in mommy's stomach." Now maybe it's just me, but were I a kid, I'd find that creepier than the truth.
For a funnier exchange (if you're not stuck in the middle of it), see Nicole's 'end times' conversation.
I considered the trip a success for the sole reason that Josh now appreciates Buddy Holly's huge impact on rock 'n' roll. He was kind enough to take me to the Buddy Holly Center, which was pretty cool. (Josh was also kind enough to pretend he was wearing his new Buddy Holly shades into the grocery store while stealthily replacing them with his normal ones, thereby leaving me geeking around in oversized horn rimmed glasses.)
Josh and Nicole made a difficult trip bearable and as fun as it could possibly be. Thanks, kids. (And your kids are great.)
Buddy Holly had 20 top ten hits in his brief (18 month) career. How impressive is that?
Actually, Lubbock was pretty nice. The denizens were, anyway. I found them to be much friendlier than those folks I run across (and would frequently like to run over) in San Diego.
Overheard in an Applebee's bathroom stall: "Jesus put a baby in mommy's stomach." Now maybe it's just me, but were I a kid, I'd find that creepier than the truth.
For a funnier exchange (if you're not stuck in the middle of it), see Nicole's 'end times' conversation.
I considered the trip a success for the sole reason that Josh now appreciates Buddy Holly's huge impact on rock 'n' roll. He was kind enough to take me to the Buddy Holly Center, which was pretty cool. (Josh was also kind enough to pretend he was wearing his new Buddy Holly shades into the grocery store while stealthily replacing them with his normal ones, thereby leaving me geeking around in oversized horn rimmed glasses.)
Josh and Nicole made a difficult trip bearable and as fun as it could possibly be. Thanks, kids. (And your kids are great.)
Buddy Holly had 20 top ten hits in his brief (18 month) career. How impressive is that?
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