Mary collapsed when she learned sanity had been restored to this country, and while, unlike her, I wasn’t brought to tears, I was happy that come January we’ll have an above-average Joe in the White House rather than the megalomaniac to whom more than half the electorate refused to bow down.
Biden was “normal,” I said to Aldo, my Sunday morning doubles partner, a native of Milan, who, embodying Europe’s reaction for me, nodded approvingly. Yes, normal; that’s what makes him so exceptional in our topsy-turvy world. A normal, reasonable, humble man. Crazy, huh?
I thought his victory speech was just right (not the triumphalism we would have gotten from Trump), reminding us to listen to our better angels and to each other, reminding us as well that when we put our shoulders to the wheel we can do great (I’d even settle for good) things, and urging us to lead by the power of our example.
“And, finally, a happy family in the White House!” Mary said during the celebration in Wilmington — yet another reason to feel buoyed in Bonac.
“Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, strong and true! Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, hear our song to you. . . ,” I sang, just as we did every morning as seventh graders at the Edgeworth School.
Mary said she knew things had indeed returned to normal when, on Sunday afternoon, following a walk with O’en, she entered the house to find me, after many months, writing my column again and to hear me unrestrainedly urging the Stealers [sic] on.
Decency, fairness, equanimity, fellow-feeling . . . are these “better angels” to return to public life? Radical, no? To think that such American ideals might be so considered.
Not to forget balanced judgment, i.e., sweet reason, which if it does not make a return in the next four years, woe unto us.
So, let’s hear it for Joe, a seasoned practitioner of the art of the possible, whose re-emergence for a while there seemed impossible.
Our new president said the other night that he believed in America’s possibilities and urged us once again to lead by the power of our example. We can begin with his.