Seattle Is Now

[Here in Seattle. I'm sitting at Rafe's Enterprise bridge of a desk, emitting my first small sobs for New Orleans. It's possible, I find, to ignore, if not the basic facts, than the magnitude of almost anything if you eschew TV, the internet, and anything but newspaper headlines for a couple of days. I've just plugged back in, and find I'm immediately ready to unplug again.]

[How can we think of politics at a time like this? This is exactly the right time to think about, talk about, and do politics. People who ask that question seem to imply that politics are a luxury, to be indulged in by gentlefolk at the Hall of Burgesses or something. Politics is as essential a human activity as breathing. (Anyone notice how anger is a much cleaner burning fuel than financial imperative?) Make no apologies and just do it.]

[But I have the luxury of shutting all this off (and Rehnquist's death, which I just found out about from a Post-Intelligencer headline while Rafe, Antonio and I ambled to get just-mediocre coffee down the street). I'm going to enjoy this city (despite a very felt absence), just as Jess, Auggie and I enjoyed the drive. We stopped in Ashland, Ore., night before last, but didn't have too much time to reacquaint ourselves with the town. (My only visit was in '92 with a bunch of UCSB friends; I was the one who fell out of the raft as we shot the Rogue River rapids.) We have a reservation for the trip back, as well, and have fantasies about scoring tickets to Shakespeare or whatever else is on offer.]

[Meanwhile, here we are. The guys and I had dinner at a fun outdoor place on Green Lake (a nice walk from their Maple Leaf abode, on which they're gone all Homo Depot), and early to bed. They're doing more house stuff before the heavy rains (which are gathering even now), while Jess and I explore. Antonio gave some recommendations, and Jess's friends will have some more.]

[It's good to be away, but I can't help look over my shoulder at the real world from time to time. It's there, but it'll have to wait a day or two.]

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