Pamphlet / Time Machine

I brought in a few books to donate to the book cart at work yesterday. Opening the cover of one for no real reason, I caught a flash of printout. It turns out that every time I've moved since 2003 , I've brought a pamphlet from a Montgomery County Council race with me.

I got a real kick out of seeing this. I don't remember anything about Ms Rubenstein, I have no idea whether or not she won her race, and I have no memory of getting the pamphlet. I can picture how it wound up inside the cover of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, though. Exactly. I can see myself walking into the Takoma Metro station in DC on a late summer morning. I probably made eye contact with one of the campaign volunteers who were handing out papers. Come to think of it, volunteers? Would a campaign this small have the manpower to staff subway stations with supporters? Maybe I met Ms. Rubenstein herself, maybe I got this handout directly from her.

Did she ever have the opportunity to serve Wheaton, Kensington, Silver Spring and Takoma Park? Was she able to keep Silver Spring and Wheaton development plans on track with a good mix of business, retail, housing and public amenities? Did the voters agree with Fran of Silver Spring when she said that Cynthia's intelligent, even-handed approach would serve them well?

Sudden, unexpected reminders of your past are great, aren't they? In recent years I've started keeping, in my wallet, some little bit of whatever last big trip I've taken. I had a ticket to the Acropolis in there for awhile, a pass to Denali National Park, a Beijing subway ticket. I love looking for change to buy a Twix bar and stumbling upon a sudden reminder of an exotic, far-away day. Or in this case, what feels like an exotic, far-away life. I remember being 23! Sharing an apartment with Susan, riding the subway to work on sunny mornings, wearing my Payless sandals and office-appropriate sundresses. I remember the thrill of being young, single, financially independent and new to the world of adults. Heading out with co-workers on Tuesday (?) nights for $2 happy hour cheeseburgers at M & S Grill. Talking about all kinds of serious things with my best friends over a pitcher of such and such bar's cheapest beer. Catching a glimpse of the Jefferson Memorial, lit up at night, from a car or subway window. Camping trips to Shenandoah with my $15 sleeping bag that never kept me warm.

Thanks Cynthia! Hope you won.