Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Message from Mom (again!)

AGC: Mom is hogging my blog, again...MOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!

Mom: Hello everyone (get down Ax!),
I just wanted to tell you that I will be going to South Africa tomorrow to see my family - Ax will be staying home with his Daddy. I'm not sure if he will have computer access while I'm away...

AGC: "What? No way!!!"

Mom: Sorry Ax...but it is just so. I promise to bring you a big piece of South African biltong (beef jerky SA style - incomparable to American beef jerky) to make up for it. How does that sound?

AGC: Hang on, I have to google biltong to see if it is a fair bargain....Well, after looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biltong - you got yourself a deal Mom. That looks yummy!

Mom: I do need to add one word of caution Axie Pax. For some reason it is illegal to bring biltong into the United States, so your Mother will have to smuggle it in. I'll gladly risk imprisonment so you can get your snack...but if you can send word to those airport dog sniffing beagles...that would be wise.

AGC: I'll see what I can do! Have a good trip Mom, we sure will miss you.

Mom: And I will miss you every day too Axie Pax. Be a good boy and look after Daddy.

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Mom Steals my Blog

Mom tells me she is stealing blog time from me to report on todays Free Bruce Springsteen/Obama rally on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philly. Mom went alone since Dad and I went to see Dad's parents and we went for a nice walk and swim in the Pennypack Creek Park, even though it was a bit chilly. Ok, over to Mom...

I decided I couldn't miss the historic free Springsteen concert/rally today so I walked there this afternoon. I'm not sure how many people were there, probably over 20,000 and the atmosphere was one of great hope and longing for a change in November. I must say, at some point, while Bruce was singing The Rising, I got all choked up. I felt very much like I did back in South Africa in 1994 on the eve of the referendum to decide whether SA was ready for change, for an end of Apartheid. Hope was so huge then too amongst most South Africans, it was palpable eventhough we knew the referendum was a farce (only white people could vote - Yes for Change; No for status quo). The result was an overwhelming YES and thus SA was set on the path to non racial democracy and free/fair elections.

I hope too, that in November, Hope and Equality, Decency and Good win out as it did in SA.
It was amazing living through one peaceful revolution. Is it too much to hope to live through a second on November 4th?
Here are photos from today's rally/concert. Bruce totally rocked! I couldn't get very near - ironically I sat under the Pakistan flag!






YES WE CAN!
God Bless America. God help America. Obama/Biden 2008