The Winds of Change

Those strong gusts that are buffeting the Queen City today are a fitting analogy for the winds of change blowing over us.

For the past week, Dan has not set out at 5 a.m. to get his newspapers (and maybe some breaking news). He has not served up his daily dish of curations from the blogs. A routine set over the past half-dozen years or so is  blown away for hundreds of readers. Life has changed extremely for Dan, who is still awaiting his medical prognosis, and in a small but disconcerting way for the rest of us who crave our daily Dan.

Last night I was able to walk through the pouring rain to a Democratic City Committee meeting. Here was a roomful of familiar faces and a few new ones, most significantly that of Congressman Rush Holt, who received Plainfield as part of his district in changes brought about by the 2010 Census. Holt was impressed by the turnout and voiced hopes it would mean votes for him in November, when he has to run to represent the newly-configured District 12.

What Holt might not have detected was the change among Democrats that has flummoxed some and flabbergasted others, a joining of two Democratic factions that have long been in fundamental opposition. Individuals that have been maligned by one side or another are now standing shoulder to shoulder, with eyes on the June primary and the November election.

What does it mean? Democrats who are used to taking sides can now only pick from Column A, or so it seems. Critics of the party's announced City Council slate - Adrian Mapp for Third Ward, Rev. Tracey Brown for City-wide at-large - were in the room, but until the April 2 filing date, we won't know their intentions. For some Democrats, the political landscape may feel like it has suffered an earthquake and the ground under their feet has liquefied. Where to stand in this change?

By tomorrow, the weather will be sunny and calm. And so may the political atmosphere settle down in time. For Dan, we wish fair days as soon as possible

I for one am happy that the winds of change may result in having Rush Holt representing Plainfield. He spoke of getting to know our city and its people. He wants to speak face to face with his prospective constituents and walk Plainfield's neighborhoods. He complimented the Democrats on their skills at getting out the vote, which could help him take office on Jan. 1, 2013 in the new 12th District.

I could not stay until the end of the meeting and I had left my camera home in my last-minute rush to get there while my knee was still behaving, so I did not get to speak to Rush Holt or take his photo for the blog. I walked home musing on change. It comes to us all and can be good, bad or mixed. As the sages say, change is the only constant. Here are some quotes on change, including this one:

 “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
—John F. Kennedy


--Bernice