Didnt vote for Barack?

A friend sent me a link to this blog. I thought it was worth passing along tonight as I sit and watch the results.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/eastside93/2008/11/i-didnt-vote-for-obama-today.php

I Didn't Vote For Obama Today
November 4, 2008, 9:37AM
I have a confession to make.
I did not vote for Barack Obama today.
I've openly supported Obama since March. But I didn't vote for him today.
I wanted to vote for Ronald Woods. He was my algebra teacher at Clark Junior High in East St. Louis, IL. He died 15 years ago when his truck skidded head-first into a utility pole. He spent many a day teaching us many things besides the Pythagorean Theorem. He taught us about Medgar Evers, Ralph Abernathy, John Lewis and many other civil rights figures who get lost in the shadow cast by Martin Luther King, Jr.
But I didn't vote for Mr. Woods.
I wanted to vote for Willie Mae Cross. She owned and operated Crossroads Preparatory Academy for almost 30 years, educating and empowering thousands of kids before her death in 2003. I was her first student. She gave me my first job, teaching chess and math concepts to kids in grades K-4 in her summer program. She was always there for advice, cheer and consolation. Ms. Cross, in her own way, taught me more about walking in faith than anyone else I ever knew.
But I didn't vote for Ms. Cross.
I wanted to vote for Arthur Mells Jackson, Sr. and Jr. Jackson Senior was a Latin professor. He has a gifted school named for him in my hometown. Jackson Junior was the pre-eminent physician in my hometown for over 30 years. He has a heliport named for him at a hospital in my hometown. They were my great-grandfather and great-uncle, respectively.
But I didn't vote for Prof. Jackson or Dr. Jackson.
I wanted to vote for A.B. Palmer. She was a leading civil rights figure in Shreveport, Louisiana, where my mother grew up and where I still have dozens of family members. She was a strong-willed woman who earned the grudging respect of the town's leaders because she never, ever backed down from anyone and always gave better than she got. She lived to the ripe old age of 99, and has a community center named for her in Shreveport.
But I didn't vote for Mrs. Palmer.
I wanted to vote for these people, who did not live to see a day where a Black man would appear on their ballots on a crisp November morning.
In the end, though, I realized that I could not vote for them any more than I could vote for Obama himself.
So who did I vote for?
No one.
I didn't vote. Not for President, anyway.
Oh, I went to the voting booth. I signed, was given my stub, and was walked over to a voting machine. I cast votes for statewide races and a state referendum on water and sewer improvements.
I stood there, and I thought about all of these people, who influenced my life so greatly. But I didn't vote for who would be the 44th President of the United States.
When my ballot was complete, except for the top line, I finally decided who I was going to vote for - and then decided to let him vote for me. I reached down, picked him up, and told him to find Obama's name on the screen and touch it.
And so it came to pass that Alexander Reed, age 5, read the voting screen, found the right candidate, touched his name, and actually cast a vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Oh, the vote will be recorded as mine. But I didn't cast it.
Then again, the person who actually pressed the Obama box and the red "vote" button was the person I was really voting for all along.
It made the months of donating, phonebanking, canvassing, door hanger distributing, sign posting, blogging, arguing and persuading so much sweeter.
So, no, I didn't vote for Barack Obama. I voted for a boy who now has every reason to believe he, too, can grow up to be anything he wants...even

Voting

I got up early today and went to the county building. I went to participate in the the greatest privilege and responsibility that I know of - the right to vote. I am a person who votes even for the smallest elections. School board? No problem. I will be there. County board? Certainly! If there is a chance for me to go to the polls - I will go.

I get misty and my chest pumps up just a bit right after I vote. The cynic in the back of my brain tries to tell me that it doesn't matter. But in that one moment right after I vote, the optimist takes over and shouts a large AMEN.

I voted today as I will be out of the county on election day. I did an absentee in person vote. I was given the choice between a paper ballot and the voting machine ballot. I even got a "I voted absentee" sticker.

I have never picked a winner in a presidential election. ( Yes, I know...) I think this time might be THE time that I have chosen the 'right' candidate. I voted for reason, ability and caliber of discussion and ideas. I wish both parties could have given me a reasonable choice. Sadly, one party made it very easy for me to make my choice.

Another emotion that I felt as I walked out of the polls was one of relief. This election season is almost over. It is not a moment too soon for me. I do know that the next cycle will begin anew in 6-8 months! AHHHHH.... but for the moment I will look forward to the silence of the next several months.

I did my civic duty. I can only hope that all my friends and family do the same! It is your right and your responsibility. I wish all the folks who speak of patriotism and 'USA' would realize the same thing. The greatest act of patriotism is to VOTE. One party would like you to think that voting for them is more patriotic. That's not true. Just the act of voting is to say YES to the democratic government with which we are graced.

To the friends and family who have been doing the Get out the Vote campaign. Thank you. Your service is invaluable. To the friends and family who are campaigning for a candidate - your rest is almost upon you. Do not lose energy or heart! To the friends in CA, who are working for the NO on 8, Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, I wish I had the time, the courage and the wherewithal to be there with you!


VOTE! VOTE EARLY! TAKE A BOOK TO READ WHILE YOU STAND IN THE POLL LINE.

Willy Wander and Mrs. Wander!

Cricket, Blue and I spent the day out in Manasas learning the art of chocolate! The Wanders ( Wilhelm and Melanie ) have started their very special Artisan chocolate shop out in Manasas. We took the course via Taste DC. We do believe we made more chocolate than we tasted but it is indeed close!


More to follow but I wanted to put some photos up for folks.








Blue is earning her keep at the enrober. No, we were not allowed to lay down and send ourselves through! Sigh.

Wilhelm and Blue discuss the science of chocolate!

Yep, Thats where we were! We made it through the day!

Chocolate 101 Class TODAY!

We can't wait. We have been looking at taking this class for many months! We finally bit the bullet and signed up.

I hope to be able to post some photos from the day by tomorrow!

The agenda for the day:

Chocolate Making 101 Outline (with Lunch and Plenty of Chocolate Tasting!):-Introduction to Chocolaterie Wanders-History of Chocolate -How Chocolate is Made-Chocolate Tasting-Making a Ganache Demonstration with Hands-On Participation-Marzipan Lecture and Demonstration-Hands-On Group Makes Orange Marzipan Moons-Groups Roll Ganache into Balls-Guitar Cutting of Chat Noir (Black Cat) Ganache-Tempering Lecture and Demonstration-Groups Temper by Hand and with Machine-Groups Enrobe by Hand and with Machine-Quick Easy Recipes for Chocolate at Home-Packaging of Products to Take Home/Q&A

YEA!!! Blue, Cricket and I are off! I have always wanted to learn how to use an enrober machine!

Catching Up

Its good to know that there are a few folks that do stop into this new blog now and then! I do appreciate it. Work has had me buried as of late. I suspect that until Jan 20, life will still be crazy on that front!

Speaking of work, I received sad news today. One of my favorite agency employees is going to reassigned back to her home agency. (She has been on temp. detail for a very long time to our agency!). My nickname for her is "My Whale." My Whale is one of those ghost people of the world who you see headed to work in the morning pulling her briefcase behind her and muttering to yourself. You think, "wonder where she is headed." She has the biggest heart but at times gets overwhelmed and very frustrated with those around her. She has suffered for years upon years with a serious of supervisors who don't understand her or wont take the time to get to know her and most importantly, listen to her. It has been a honor for me the last couple of years to listen to her. She never failed to bring a smile to my face.

She has taught me two very important lessons. 1. Say thank you to those who help you and support you in your job. She never fails to thank those of us who are in support roles. She emails. She hugs you. She even gets you the occasional cookies or flowers from the street vendor. The second lesson is "Its not about you." She gets very angry and frustrated and she lashes out. I have been on the receiving end of her lashes many times. It dawned on me in the last year that she was just scared. This past year, I have been tasked to bring lots of change to her processes. I know that she likes me and trusts me but too many other people have not listened. Her anger is not about me. She is scared and is responding from that place. I have learned to let her vent. And then I do my best to bring her back to center and move forward. When all is said and done, she remembers to Thank me and apologize. I have been yelled at and taken to task by many folks over the years but I have never had anyone come back to center with me.

I will miss her. I fear for her. Work is My Whales life. She eats and breathes her job. She works very long hours. I just don't know what she will do with herself when it is no longer. I just want to go to her and give her a hug. I have been working in the last year to teach her the meaning of the word "chillax." One of the interns that work with her printed it out and put it over her desk. I have been at every chance using the word around her. I have been encouraging her to take a well deserved vacation. Perhaps, she will use this as an opportunity to do some chillaxin' and vacationing.

You may wonder why I call her My Whale. Well, when I met her I was reading a book about how whales talk to each other. Humans just don't understand the code. I realized when I met her - she talked her own language and most people did not have the time to sort through the extraneous to get to the heart of what she was really saying. For some reason, I saw a kindred soul and could speak directly to her and her to me! I started saying that I speak whale! It was a gift, blessing and yes, at times, a curse!

So if you see a woman walking down the street next week near my job pulling a small carry on suitcase muttering to herself and looking pretty lost, Stop and give her a smile. She could probably use the kindness of strangers next week.

Palin Debate Flow Chart

I have no comment. Just thought this should be posted widely! :)

Thanks to Erin Jackson! She was DC's representative in NBC's Last Comic Standing. She was great! I dont know if this is her creation or if it is a web floater but check her out at her blog: http://www.erinjackson.net/blog/

Saturday Farmers Market

This morning I got up and did one of my most favorite things to do - I went to the Arlington Farmers Market in Clarendon. Ok, yes, I do this almost every Saturday year round. It is not that unsual.

Perhaps, the cool fall weather with the crip blue skies helped make it a bit more special. I got the pleasure of talking to my farmers market friends. The older gentleman and his sister who love to tell us the story of how their farm is the only one left in their part of Maryland. It is truly a family enterprise. I often want to ask them what will become of their farm when they just cant do it anymore. This week was not the week. He was busy making sure we knew he wouldnt be there next week. It appears that it is one of his rare days off! He said that after 30 years of Saturdays - he deserved it. I agree. His sister wants to go to her 50th class reunion and he, well, just wants to do something else. I told him that he has more than earned it!

We also said 'Hey!' to the Cookie Lady. I call her the crack dealer behind her back! She lets you sample all of her cookies before you buy and even if you don't buy! Just like the crack dealer - the first hit is always free! :) You ask her the secrets of her cookies and she tells you that she just makes them like grandma did. Butter, flour and good solid ingredients.

We didn't even get a chance to talk to Forrest my favorite beef, egg and pork producer or the family that comes down from PA with their milk and cheese!

I love the farmers market. My diet has improved steadily with the wide variety seasonal items available. I want to figure out what to do with the bunch of seconds of tomato's, apples or even garlic scapes! I also feel good as I get to know the vendors. As they put food on my table, I know that I am putting food on their table and gas in their cars.

From their website:

The Arlington Farmers' Market is proud to focus on several key goals:1) Providing the freshest and highest quality foods to our customers. 2) Allowing customers to meet the people who grow their food. 3) Supporting local farmers by limiting the distance (125 miles) from which a producer may travel. 4) Educating our customers about food, environment, and community issues through booths staffed by theVirginia Cooperative Extension, Master Gardeners, and community non-profits

I would strongly encourage you go one Saturday! Better yet - get in touch with me and I will guide you through and have you meet my friends! The weather in the fall is beautiful. There are samples around for you to taste - they make a great breakfast! You are not only getting a great product - you are helping a local farmer. How great is that?? What a wonderful gift!

Lets have coffee one Saturday!

Debate! Debate? Not me!

The Vice Presidential debate is this evening. I am not watching it.



Why? What substance will come of it? Will Sarah Palin suddenly present herself as a great orator? Will Biden become warm and homey?



It's not likely. What will certainly come is more rhetoric, more division and more bickering. Why do I want to bring that energy to my life?



I am going to vote and will watch the remaining presidential debates but in the long run the VP debate means nothing to me. Yes, I know the office is a heartbeat to the President (and with McCain's age folks certainly should have an eye on this!). The office of VP is a support role. It is often used as a 'pitbull' role to protect the goodwill of the President. In my opinion, both Palin and Biden can do do this effectively.



I don't vote for a pitbull. I vote for a leader. If watching the debate, will help you vote - THEN WATCH THE DEBATE!!! Just vote! Please. McCain? Obama? Choose! Nader? Fine!



Just exercise your right and responsibility to vote.



So what will I do tonite? I am spending it at work. A good civil servant. Doing my job!!

Right on Jim Wallis!

Cricket sent this blog post by Jim Wallis to me this evening. I found it incredibly striking. Mr. Wallis is best known to me as the author of God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It" (Harper Collins, 2005). Its a good read!

In his blog on Huffigtonpost.com, Mr. Wallis comments on the state of the American Dream, the American Congress and the financial crisis that is affecting us right now. He offers several suggestions for repentance that Congress could offer during the Jewish High Holy time. Most of which, I found to be right on point.

He also serves up a few suggestions for us ‘common’ folks:

“For being seduced into lifestyles beyond our means and contrary to our religious traditions of simplicity and stewardship. For living on far too much credit, rather than living within our limits. For sometimes putting economic values ahead of family values. For letting the relentless assault of advertising and a culture of consumption to seed in us the sin of covetousness. For valuing our lives too much by the cultural values of worth, instead of by the values of the kingdom of God. And, for the students at Harvard (where I sometimes teach), the fact that half of you want to go into
investment banking as a career is a sign that something has gone wrong with the
culture. Repent, and make sure your vocation benefits the common
good.”

He is right. What are we all doing for the common good? How have we each gotten caught in the ‘rat’ race of economic gain and possession management?

I don’t advocate a “Christian’ nation. However, I think we all need to be grounded is a firm spiritual base that cares for those around us as ourselves. If it is true that in the end, we are judged by how we treated the least of our brothers and sisters, then we might want to use this time of ‘crisis’ as a gift to re-evaluate where we stand in relation to that! It seems to me that it is a universal belief of most of the world religions. Care, Love, Respect. If I am not helping the common good – who is?

I am guilty of living beyond my means ( although it is slowly improving in time) and I know that I get caught up in the rat race that is consumerism and greed. I think this is a fine time for me to repent and make some resolutions to walk more humbly and care more deeply. I can rage against the politicans but in the end – I need to look into the mirror. I challenge you all to do the same.

Would love to hear your comments! Leave me some!

Reference:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/repent-the-end-is-near_b_130645.html

Rosh Hashanah begins on Monday

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins on Monday night. Like all New Year's celebrations, it's a chance to start over.

I am not Jewish. I am Catholic. As I have studied Catholic faith and tradition over the years, I wonder how this wonderful tradition got left out of the Christian experience. When did it morph into something else?

Rosh Hashanah occurs in the fall. What a wonderful time to start a new? I have never really been able to think of New Years as a starting point of the year. It just seems so odd. It is in the dark of winter often devoid of color and life. But in the fall as nature is starting to abound with color and the winds start to pick up, it seems a bit more understandable. So as a good Catholic girl, I ususally stop and pause with my Jewish brothers and sisters at this time of year.

I find it a great time to spend on some introspection, looking back on the past years successes and failures and make plans to go forward. This for me means forgiveness. Not just of the people that I have gotten angry with over the course of the last year but forgiveness of myself. To let go of all the things that I tend to use as weapon to hurt myself.

There is a great blog post on belief.net about this very subject. http://blog.beliefnet.com/windowsanddoors/2008/09/rosh-hashanah-repentance-and-t.html

The author serves up 10 tips for forigiveness. Most of which really hit home this year. According to the Talmud, G-d created mankind on the first day of the month Tishri. As such, Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the human race. It is a time for cleansing and renewal, a chance to receive forgiveness and clear the slate. What a wonderful thing to commenorate and what a wonderful thing to celebrate in our lifes each and every day!

L'shanah tovah to you all.

Missing my 20's

In my 20's everyone was falling in love, getting married and starting off in new and interesting directions. Life seemed full of promise. Everyone was healthy and looking forward to the challenges that awaited them.

Now it seems at 36, those bigger 'challenges' are starting to get thrown at folks. Parents are aging. Marriages are dissolving. Health challenges for us and our children are popping up. Those friends who have tried for years for children are starting to shift expectations to adoption or a childless life.

Perhaps the challenges aren't that much bigger than ones that came before and will come after. Maybe it is the urgency and the newness of them that make them seem so much larger? I don't know.

As for today? My thoughts are with S & J ( and their 6 and 4 year old ). J is undergoing a bi-lateral radical mastectomy. Both are under 40 and have the love and support of a wonderful family. S's mom tells me their attitude is great.

What happened to the times when the biggest crisis we faces was to go to class or not on a Friday AM? I wouldn't go back if I could but it is nice to dream about.

Happiness Project: 12 tips to be happier at work

One of the blogs that I read frequently is a Happiness Project. The author, Gretchen Rubin, is writing a "memoir about the year I spent test-driving every principle, tip, theory, and scientific study I could find, whether from Aristotle or St. Therese or Martin Seligman or Oprah" It can be found at: http://www.happiness-project.com/. Her book is due to be published in 2009.

On the Happiness Project, Wednesday is always tip day. Today's tips focus on how to be happier at work. I must admit that my job is pretty OK. It is really the first job that I feel I have a handle around and can do it well. The stress is intermittent and I get an adequate amount of time away from the office.

The tips today have given me a few areas of thought:

"Tip 8: Take care of difficult calls, tasks, or emails as quickly as possible. Procrastinating makes them harder; getting them done gives a big boost of relieved energy."

Good news is that I do this naturally. I am a person who hates to hear the words "There is something that I need to discuss with you." In my experience procrastinating does make it worse.

10. Let yourself stay ignorant of things you don’t need to know.

This tip is truly the one that I need to work on! I need to know everything. And often times, I have to talk myself off a virtual ledge when I learn too much. My boss is great with this. He often says - well...its just best not to ask the question to unimportant matters. In our society, we think that knowledge is power and we forget that knowledge often carries a responsibility. I didn't need to know that a co-worker thinks of me as useful but moody! I spent hours thinking about how I wasn't moody while in fact demonstrating the exact point! I pushed to learn that knowledge from a third party thinking it would provide me insight. It didn't. It wasn't productive and did not change the way I work.

Lastly...

12. Say “Good morning” to everyone. Social contact is cheering, and if you feel that you’re on good terms with all the people in your office, you’ll be happier each day. Also, it’s polite.

I often forget to say Good Morning to folks. I get wrapped in my thoughts, my blackberry, my tasks to even acknowledge the folks around me. I do notice a difference when I make it a point to say Good Morning, Good Afternoon or a Howdy!


Take a look at the post on HAPPINESS PROJECT. Let me know what you think! Let Gretchen know what you think!

Govt Employees, Work and Voting

In very short order, the election season will be over. It seems that the candidates have been campaigning for the last 3 years. How does any work get done at all by these candidates in the 'real' jobs? If I want to work elsewhere, can i get paid by my current employer to not show up so I can 'woo' the perspective employer? It seems like a good gig if you can get it. To answer the question on how work gets done... its by the faithful GS employees who are non political and are there election after election doing the work of the American people. We GS employees often get a bum rap in the press as being lazy and set in our ways. I beg to differ. Most that I know and work with care passionately about their jobs and the work they produce. It doesn't matter if you are 25 and hired out of college or within 5 years of retirement! Lets give them their due!

Totally unrelated... I was speaking with someone this morning who informed me they weren't going to vote! Please! Everyone should vote. I don't have to agree with your choice. You dont't have to agree with mine. That's part of the wonderful beauty of our nation. EVERYONE NEEDS TO VOTE. I can share my opinions with you and hopefully bring you over to my side if you would like me to but I think there are plenty of opinions out there right now.

VOTE! I don't care what age, color, gender, or orientation you. Get to the polls. If you cant get to the polls, get to your county and register to vote absentee. Get it in. It is your right and your responsibility. I don't think I need to remind everyone about the economy, the war, the cultural/religious issues that exist today in our country. ( Frankly, they have ALWAYS existed! Some more pressing than others!)

Where will you be for about 30-40 minutes on Tuesday, Nov. 4th? Your neighborhood polling location is your best bet!

Omnivores 100 List

I am a picky eater. Better yet, I am becoming a less picky eater! When I first saw the Omnivores 100 list on Very Good Tastes Blog, I knew it was a challenge.

Basically, you copy the list from Very Good Taste's The Omnivore's 100 and post it to your blog, bolding the items you've tried and striking through any you would never try.

So without further ado...My list

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile (Does Alligator count?)
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries ( Thank you, Shawn!)
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more ( Thank You, Joseph!)
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

So by my count - 46 items out of 100. Not bad for a white bread and butter eater, vanilla shake drinker with dreams of velveeta! :)

Friends

I have been thinking a lot about friendship lately.



What is friendship? Is a merely a passing moment between two souls who fulfill a need for belonging to each other? Is it a mystical connection spread over years and plains?

As someone who (until the last 5-8 years) could count the number of truly close friends on one hand, I just don't know. I don't know why I have not been able to make and keep friends. I don't know what has changed since I turned 30 that has allowed me the gift of a wide net of folks I can call friends - even close ones! Am I more open to others? Am I finally comfortable enough in myself that I can open up to others?

And what happens when those friendships have potholes, roadblocks and other debris thrown in its path? How does one navigate with a friend who has yet to learn to fully communicate and to the untrained eye appears to be flaky? In my heart, I know that is not the case and the friend is still growing. I care enough to hold on and wade through it.

On the other hand, what about the friendships you need to let go of? How do you know when its time? How do you let go? I have learned to let go of many things over the years ( and look forward to many more!) but I cant seem to let go of people. Perhaps, it is in my nature to not give up on people and see the best that could be? Perhaps I view it as a failure of mine rather than a logical completion of a path?

I just don't know.

To my friends that I love and cherish ( and perhaps don't tell enough...) Thank You. I love you and I appreciate the fact that you are in my life. To the friends that have moved on, Thank You. You, too, have brought wonderful gifts of caring and letting go - even when it didn't feel like it at the time.

"Friendship is the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring all right out just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful friendly hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping and, with a breath of comfort, blow the rest away." - Dinah Maria Craik