Monday, October 20, 2008

An Early Vote Adventure

Today, a neighbor was having hurricane shutters installed on his windows, and the noise of the work was ear shattering, so I took my cane and hobbled out to the car, and on my way for breakfast. Rhoda hasn't been feeling well lately; she still is stressed out from the train ride from Hell. However, she did finally get out to a surprise party luncheon for one of her friends. I wolfed down a bacon and egg sandwich on white bread -- not toasted--why toast good fresh white bread. Then a trip to the bank to deposit a CD that matured. I love things that mature. Finally, I took advantage of early voting at the new library on Hagen Ranch Rd. The line was very, very long and it took all of two hours to get indoors where voters were handed a form to fill out with name, address, and signature; then you had to march over to a table where a worker with a laptop (there were 18 of them in the room) took the paper and collected an ID with your picture and signature. After entering some mysterious stuff into the laptop, you were handed back the form you had filled out and took it to another line where you waited for someone to give you a paper ballot. Then you filled out the ballot with the choices you had decided upon. I believe, firmly, that these long lines on the first day of voting were Barack Obama lines. But that's just a guess--not a wild one, however. I can just imagine what the lines will be like on Election Day!
This election is historic, and a totally new experience. To conclude, I got another email from a former student and I'll share it with you.
Dear Dr. Ross,
I am so glad to get your address from Bob Fox-- I am still grateful
for your providing a window to the outside world when I was living in
Glen Head! My father's family had been farmers for 300 years, we had no
books in the house, and you opened so many doors for so many of us. My husband of 20 years Michael Stocker and
I published an Oxford U. Press book, Valuing Emotions, in 1996; we still
write together occasionally, mostly about the shockingly different
premises of psychoanalysis (me) and philosophy (he). I have enjoyed
reading bits of your blog and imagine what it is like to live in
Florida; so far I have not pictured retiring despite various surgeries
and ailments including double hip replacement 3 years ago. I have taught
anthropology/forensic psychology at John Jay College of Criminal
Justice, CUNY, for 42 years now, and have a private practice of
psychology. Cynthia Edelstein just retired as a prof of English
Literature at DePauw U. in Indiana; recently she brought a group of
students to NY on a field trip for her course in Jewish-American
literature.
I hope you can feel the gratitude and warmth coming your way from NYC!
Yours, Betsy Hegeman

Don't expect a blog every day, now.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

welcome back red baron
i heart red baron

Anonymous said...

Te Baron is very lucky and/or skillful to have a daughter as talented and loving as Robin. His other three progeny are also very special.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Betsy Hegeman, one of the brightest stars in the North Shore firmament, and obviously still glowing.