The Governor and I

The Governor and I were hanging out again today. Back on election day we exchanged greetings at the polling place, which is not so unusual as we both reside in the 28th Precinct of the 33rd Ward. He wished my wife and I luck as we went to do our level best to beat the bloody bush regime and, as fate would have it, the luck didn't quite hold.

This afternoon I picked up my daughter from ballet class and we went across the street to play at the park. Gov. Blagojevich, who like me lives a few blocks from the park, had his two daughters out. He busied himself with his toddler and after a time his daughter Amy began a spirited game of tag with my daughter, which I tried to officiate. Gradually, we were the only ones left in the park and we fell into some Sunday afternoon chat. I mentioned how we had met recently at the polling place and he seemed to place the encounter. He is, as I suspect most politicians are, very personable and genuinely interested in meeting people.

He asked a number of questions and we discovered our daughters go to school in the same neighborhood; his at a Montessori school, and mine (for the moment) the Waldorf School. I talked about my wife's work in the Chicago Public Schools and how as an actress she has managed to squeeze the world's longest play into a 50-minute class period. He asked me what I did for a living and I said I was unemployed. I
did not know quite what to say beyond that. It is not a subject I enjoy talking about or can
even rationalize easily.

He said to me, "Let me know if there is anything I can do to help." Well, there we were: 
two dads from a world away in circumstance in a park on a November afternoon while our daughters caromed around the playground getting ready to talk turkey; except I chickened out. Me with literally only hours left remaining of unemployment benefits and no real prospects. I couldn't close the deal. I was cognizant that we were simply two guys trying to spend some time with our daughters and I didn't want to bring my whole tale of woe into the thing right at that point. So, I thanked him and we shook hands, collected our charges, and went on our way.

On the way home I was kicking myself pretty hard for not at the least passing along my lack-of-business card, but a short while later I concluded I should be offering to help him. A kind of 'ask not what your Democratic Party can do for you, ask what you can do for your Democratic Party' type of thing. I wrote him this letter:

November 14, 2004

Dear Gov. Blagojevich,

It was a pleasure speaking with you yesterday in the Manor. My daughter had a wonderful time playing with Amy and I will say, in confidence, that I let them beat me in tag. It is either that or I am not as quick as I should be. 

You were kind enough to say in parting to let you know if there is anything you can do to help. I am writing to say it is me who should be offering a hand to help in the work you are doing for the State of Illinois. I believe in what your administration is accomplishing, from extending health care to more kids to trying to spur job growth. If there is anything I can do to aid the Democratic Party, I would be happy to volunteer. I have done some minor work for an aldermanic candidate and other things of that sort. Years ago I even played guitar and sang for a few Republican rallies in Indiana, but please do not hold that against me. They are a tough crowd to suss out. Incidentally—Rocky Top, of all things is what they wanted to hear. 

Enclosed is a demo DVD of The Shakespeare Project’s “50 Minute Hamlet” featuring my wife Laura as I had mentioned. She has worked for the last twelve years integrating the arts into K – 12 curricula and she loves seeing a classroom come face to face with Ophelia and Claudius. 

Once again, I am happy to help the Party in any manner I can and I look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood. 

Very truly yours, 

obelus

Today, Illinois sent off a promising Junior Senator to Washington. We have elected a Governor who is trying to roll back prescription drug costs and is trying to plug a budget gap brought about in large part by Federal indifference to a meaningful domestic agenda. Illinois sang the blues while much of the country saw red. Two dads at the park—one with a job, one without—but who really needs the help? For the past year or so, I have added my voice, my efforts, my dissent, and my vote to further the Democratic cause. The last time I bumped into Gov. Blagojevich it looked like things were beginning to pay off. But later that night on November 2nd at The Abbey Pub as I spit out the lyrics to Nick Lowe's "What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding" as the clock ran down, it was obvious that the payoff is yet to come and a long way off.

In the meantime, the Democratic Party may still need whatever meager help I can provide.