Six years later

Everybody remembers where they were. I was in my second week of my teaching career, when a slightly daffy woman offhandedly told me that we had been bombed, in the same tone she might use to say we were out of paper. I didn't know it was anything, until later, when our principal informed us of the breadth of the destruction and tragedy. We were dismissed early, and my roommates and I - also in the first two weeks of their teaching career - sat at home in a cocoon of despair, watching coverage late into the night.

Because I've been doing this so damn long, I can still read what I was thinking at the time: September 11, 2001 and September 12, 2001. I was such a kid.

Today, besides spending quite a bit of time at the doctor's, looking at that strange lump on my head (surgery has been scheduled for an upcoming Friday, so hopefully I only miss a day of school), I did the best I could think of to honor the anniversary of September 11: I voted.

I realized this morning that I never changed my registration to District #13, so my research on Emmett Gayton was all for naught. I went back to my old precint, District #2, and voted for Jill P. Carter, Michael Sarbanes, and Michael Hamilton (the latter of whom, I personally know).

I think there is a very good chance that none of my candidates will win. I think Carter is the only candidate worth anything running for mayor; she has the combination of intelligence and ballsiness that this city needs. I wish - wish wish wish - that Keiffer Mitchell was a candidate I could support, because he stands the best chance of beating Sheila Dixon, but Mitchell is just another corrupt city politician, someone who was there all along while the city's optimism and functionality has seeped away over the last couple of years. Realistically, I'm hoping that Carter gets enough votes to make her a contender for the next several years, and a voice and force in local politics. We need her.

City Council President was tougher, and I voted for Sarbanes because of his appearances on the Steiner show and the Norris show. What can I say, he's a smart guy who seems to have great ideas for the city. I have nothing against Rawlings-Blake, but she just didn't distinguish herself to me. (Speaking of which, isn't it crazy how dynastic our politics are in this state? Sarbanes, Rawlings... might as well be Clinton and Bush. That's another reason I like Carter.) Lastly, for that District #2, I don't think Hamilton will win, and I like Curran, but wanted Hamilton to get enough votes so he has a chance to run next time.

Tonight, I'm quite sure we'll see Dixon claim victory, and that will make me even more depressed about this city. By the way, I voted today at around 11am. I was the only voter there. Sad.

Back to writing my essays...