Basking in the twilight My elderly father was in the hospital for the third time in as many months, fighting for his life. We talked on the telephone because I didn't have the resources to visit in person.
"A hospital isn't going to do you any good," I told him. "What you need is a human body parts store."
He laughed and agreed. Over the years politics and sports provided our common ground for conversing; on a good day, a touch of philosophy. And we both liked to write. My thinking was to come up with something, maybe a small writing project to keep his mind occupied, something we could craft together. He must've known.
"Hey, I'm glad you called," he said. "I've got an idea for an article you can maybe write for me."
He sounded lucid, a spring of hope stirring old and tired bones.
He went on: "I've been following these Democrat debates, but I can't see any of them defeating Bush."
Me: "They look like sacrificial lambs to me. I can't see any of them defeating Bush. I keep hearing them talk about 'taking the gloves off,' but that's the last thing you wanna do with Bush. He already has his gloves off and a hand grenade in each hand."
Dad: "Yeah. They're hung up on being critical, and that's not what people want to hear."
Me: "Yeah, I know. Where's the Reaganesque prosperity doctrine when we need it? What did he say - something about a shimmering city in the distance or some darn thing? I liked it."
"Hillary's starting to sound sensible," Dad said. "She's a smart cookie."
"I like her," I added. "When I think of a collective mood in America, 'frightened children' comes to mind, and where do frightened children turn to in their time of need? To feminine energy and their mother. They definitely aren't going to run to our great white spearchucker. And yet they might, though."
Dad: "I'd wait until the convention in July. Let the powers-that-be perform their bickering, offer a couple of key resignations and usher in Hillary, maybe 10 or 15 pounds lighter, suntanned features, the whole 9 yards."
Me: "Go with feminine energy and a touch of elegance. She really wouldn't have to say or do much of anything if it was timed right. Just avoid doing something stupid."
"America needs to be nurtured," Dad said. "She might not beat him, but I have a feeling she'd give him a good run for his money."
Me: "Can you imagine Bill back in the White House as our nation's first First Man?"
Dad: "That's a tough one, son. You're definitely pushing my Republican leanings."
Me: "Given the waste of time and money we spent investigating his private life, electing Hillary president would kind of add a certain karmic flavor, don't you think?"
Dad: "You can take being a visionary only so far, son. The election's a long way away. We're still in the beginning stages of a marathon."
Tom Kubick is a Queen Anne resident.
[[In-content Ad]]
