Venerable Mom’s birthday this week was as good a reason as any to pay her a visit, always a pleasure because despite her advanced years and disinclination to travel (if she knows how to access this weblog, I will hear from her tomorrow about this one) she maintains a lively interest in the affairs of the day.
After the celebrants left I saw that her refrigerator boasts two identical pictures of George and Laura Bush and one of the President in his office, each neatly taped above the fundraising letter that accompanied it. Not having thought of Venerable Mom as a Bush fan, I asked what she had contributed. “Nothing,” she proudly said (VM revels in thrift), “they all came free.” Then across the room I saw her copy of Richard Clarke’s book about September 11, and two other books critical of the Bush administration.
Metaphorically VM’s in between the President and his policies. She likes the President personally (the refrigerator) but not what he is doing (the reading table). I don’t want to extrapolate too much from this — most voters aren’t my mother — but if the President wants her vote this fall he’ll have to figure out how to get off her refrigerator and over to her reading table.
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The referenced picture of GWB and his loverly wife Laura is not on the refriderator because of any personal fondness. There they are, standing on their lawn that looks like it needs mowing. He, in his denim shirt, looks a bit tired after spreading some more democracy. She looks patient and gracious, even with creases in her pants and her blouse untucked. Perhaps there was a half time on his T.V. inside and she had just put down her gardening gloves for the camera. The pictures are charming. No, Mr. Laquedem, there are only two possible reasons for a venerable mother to keep letters and pictures of GWB and his loverly wife on the fridge:
1) to taunt a beloved relation who, alas, votes Republican.
2) to prompt a failing memory when one asks oneself, “Why do I always feel so angry?”
Venerable Mom did e-mail me about this post, but not in response to my phrase “her advanced years and disinclination to travel.” I’m interpreting her cryptic comment to suggest that if she’s not giving money in response to appeals as artfully crafted as those sent by the President, then she’s not likely to respond to less artful appeals from her children.