October Leaf

I checked the election results instantly when I got up this morning: Sen Patty Murray is carrying the State by nearly 50 percent over a ridiculously large field of contenders. I can breathe that the west side of the state is doing its job. She is lagging in my red neckest of counties where we live; the home of tea baggers who insist this is the  original tea steeping grounds.
A friend commented a few weeks ago how refreshing it is to meet a fellow Dem in this part of the world. It may be refreshing for him, for husband and I, but it's a torture to never be able to have a conversation about shared political philosophies (and yes we live here by choice). We have only had the Dem convo pleasantry twice in my 7 years in staunch Republican country.
The first was two Christmas' ago when we walked into my older brother's house during the holidays; my soon to be sister in law--a bright, fierce Dem was telling the table-full of Rep relatives that Obama, "...is my President; I voted for him, I am proud of it." Amen sister. We were proud to sit down at that table with her to help even out the numbers.
The second refreshing Dem conversation took place inadvertently this spring when my college roomies, spouses and my better half were relaxing at a remote Oregon hot springs. The conversation turned to politics. Lo, not a dissenter in the room. We found out after decades of separation not only did we all love obsidian rocks, geology, each other even more, but we shared the liberal poltics. That was refreshment.
Randomly speaking, October Leaf is the new color in the formerly 60s pink bathroom. It's extraordinary to find after 7 years of battling with the man who thinks white is a color, that he loves the southwest cinnamon color as much as I do.
More down the soon road.