Comments on: For Alexandra http://www.hrabluk.com/2009/01/21/for-alexandra/ Writer-In-My-Residence Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:41:40 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Wahkuna http://www.hrabluk.com/2009/01/21/for-alexandra/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Wahkuna Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:23:55 +0000 http://www.hrabluk.com/?p=36#comment-28 I watched it online, and I remember thinking to the fetus, "Baby, remember this moment. You were here, watching it online (even though you're still inside)." For the baby, I'm not sure I can rationally argue for witnessing something you'll never remember, or even be able to see or hear. For me, just watching it online still made me feel like part of the wider community bc of twittering, blogs, news releases, commentators. I didn't add my two cents (except for now), but I could have, if I wanted to. I was a metaphorical face in the electronic crowds. I have had those shared euphoric moments in the crowd, and you're right, this isn't quite the same. But it was pretty close for sitting at home at my desk. I watched it online, and I remember thinking to the fetus, “Baby, remember this moment. You were here, watching it online (even though you’re still inside).” For the baby, I’m not sure I can rationally argue for witnessing something you’ll never remember, or even be able to see or hear. For me, just watching it online still made me feel like part of the wider community bc of twittering, blogs, news releases, commentators. I didn’t add my two cents (except for now), but I could have, if I wanted to. I was a metaphorical face in the electronic crowds.

I have had those shared euphoric moments in the crowd, and you’re right, this isn’t quite the same. But it was pretty close for sitting at home at my desk.

]]> By: Christianne Vachon http://www.hrabluk.com/2009/01/21/for-alexandra/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Christianne Vachon Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:38:17 +0000 http://www.hrabluk.com/?p=36#comment-27 I'm not sure yet how deep the changes in the US will run, though I'm confident Obama and his team have some great ideas and the energy and courage to try and make them work. Sometimes it just feels like we're all a big school of fish darting back and forth together aimlessly. Anyway, I felt the collective hope. On the weekend there was a radio show on about Barbara Ehrenreich's new book: http://www.alternet.org/story/50126/ on collective joy and how we all need to have those experiences more often. I try and fill my life with group experiences because they make me feel alive: eating lunch in the busy market, going to mass, going to concerts, going to political rallies. When I was barely 20, I was 10 feet from the podium in a huge crowd at the Château Laurier when Pierre Trudeau said "Welcome to the 80's" and my heart just swelled with hope. Your piece made me think of it instantly. I wish that for my daughter too. Beautiful bit of writing Lisa. I’m not sure yet how deep the changes in the US will run, though I’m confident Obama and his team have some great ideas and the energy and courage to try and make them work. Sometimes it just feels like we’re all a big school of fish darting back and forth together aimlessly. Anyway, I felt the collective hope. On the weekend there was a radio show on about Barbara Ehrenreich’s new book: http://www.alternet.org/story/50126/ on collective joy and how we all need to have those experiences more often. I try and fill my life with group experiences because they make me feel alive: eating lunch in the busy market, going to mass, going to concerts, going to political rallies. When I was barely 20, I was 10 feet from the podium in a huge crowd at the Château Laurier when Pierre Trudeau said “Welcome to the 80’s” and my heart just swelled with hope. Your piece made me think of it instantly. I wish that for my daughter too. Beautiful bit of writing Lisa.

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