What will we miss now that the election is finished?

Not the signs that decorated each corner or the candidate forums we encountered, but the excitement, yes that is what I will miss. So many words, spoken so ardently will no longer mist the political air. And outfits!

Men with ties appeared before audiences; fashionable legs seen under tables with hose and high heels, and faces glowing with the sublime look of righteousness.

I will miss all those, for our newly elected officials have to get to work. Off comes the ties, back to socks and rain boots, and probably off will come the righteous expressions.Beaded brows, perplexed faces, and alert ears will be the idiom.

This election reminded me of my Southern elections, in name only; the whole process was a show in Alabama.

One candidate, Sharon Elebash, raised money touring the countryside in a truck. He would pause at a crossroad, open the tailgate, move his piano out and play Cole Porter.

Another candidate had his mother sit on the podium and on mentioning his father, the widow would burst out crying.

He was elected governor; the Cole Porter performer was not.

Those were the days.

But, I must grow serious because I must thank the warriors who maintained their grace under fire the past few years, Kjell and Chris, plus Debbie who had guts-plus in advancing her thoughts.

Budgets, projects, cost overruns, conflicting opinions aired. We should sell the rights to the previous council for it featured high drama. I can see the marquee now, “Council Wars,” and the hoopla of the opening at the Pavilion.

If I am tired of such discord, surely the island must be.

With all the promises that have crowded the candidate forum, surely we are in for a new order, one that adheres to the promise of a new day when anger is kept to a minimum and talking is to the point. If not, we will have another election in two years and we will try again… and try again.

In the meantime, I will watch the council meetings, missing Chris’ smooth delivery and Kjell’s thoughtful response and Debbie’s ardency.

And, if it grows weary, I shall listen to Cole Porter and remember the era of Alabama politics when anger and vengeance was the norm and nothing happened.

Sally Robison

Vineyard Lane