I used to live in Alexandria, Virginia. I moved there from Southern California to do two things I always wanted to do: attend grad school (which in my case was at George Mason University in Fairfax—Go Patriots!) and work in the political scene Washington, D.C.
(A quick shout out to my fave classmates: Jerry Woelke, Tim Eastman, Elise Bolasny, and J.P. Phaup; my fave professor: Dr. Shakir Zahra; and my coworkers: Joe, Jeff, Susan, Nada, Davin, and Liz at Freeze Voter and Marie, Louise, Ms. Camalier, Armelle, Lorna, and Myrtle at James T. Lewis Enterprises.)
OK—back to lovely Virginnie. All in all, I would chalk up my time spent there as Toni’s excellent adventure. But if you had asked me at any time during the first six months if I liked living in Virginia, I would have barfed on your shirt.
When I first arrived I heard the song, “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van the Man on the radio (a song I LOVE). The Virginia version had deleted the line: “Making love in the green grass, behind the stadium, with you, my Brown Eyed Girl.” Are you kidding me? That’s a great line. I remember thinking, Uh oh, did I make a mistake selling my condo, uprooting my entire life, and moving to a place where I knew no one?
Let’s just say the answer at first was YESSS. The adjustment period was long and dicey. I used to think of the Doors’ song “People Are Strange” and sing to myself:
People are strange when you’re a stranger
Faces look ugly when you’re alone
Women seem wicked when you’re unwanted
Streets are uneven when you’re downWhen you’re strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you’re strange
No one remembers your name
When you’re strange
Perfect sentiment. But back to the great Commonwealth of Virginia. After awhile I carved out a fun life. If you can’t have fun in the Washington, D.C. area, you are seriously fun-challenged.
In addition, THANK YOU to John Mason Parrish (formerly of Arlington, VA and now residing in Hinton, West Virginia) for being my sweetie and making my life there infinitely better!
So thanks to Virginia for the fond memories. But I never would have thought her to be the state that would take on Pres. Obama’s bonehead healthcare reform bill and sue the government. Way to go!
I don’t really give a hoot about the healthcare bill because I DO NOT participate in the health care system. I don’t go to doctors. I take care of myself. I stay healthy.
The part of the bill stating it was MANDATORY that EVERY AMERICAN BUY HEALTH INSURANCE was absurd. I think that piece of legislation made me angrier than anything The Shrub or Slick Willie or Tricky Dick ever pulled. OK, maybe not The Shrub (Can you say Wacky Iraqi Debacle?).
Who gives the government the right to tell me how to take care of my body? I was so appalled at this particular piece of garbage, I vowed NEVER to vote Democrat again (except for Jerry Brown). So quit calling me, DNC and Emily’s List. Take your Health Care Bill and SHOVE IT!
Note: Self-promo time – Here’s my original blog about my disgust with Obama. It’s a doozy: http://fuchsiawoman.com/blog/live/president-obama-bad-health-care-reform-bill/
To you, gutsy state of Virginia, you have my deepest gratitude for initiating the lawsuit. Someone needs to tell the feds they have gone too far in DICTATING to Americans how to live their lives—and that Americans’ lives are MORE IMPORTANT than insurance industry profits.
Thank you for standing up to the nonsense, the violation of my privacy, and the greed of the government sticking their hands in my pocketbook where it doesn’t belong.
State of Virginia, I’m sure you’ll be victorious in the courtroom. Thanks again and I might even come back and visit ya’ll real soon!
XOXO,
Your former resident,
Miss Tonette
P.S. I wonder if Virginians know the REAL lyrics to Van Morrison’s song?
