Gettin' Glad

My mother tells me that her grandma (who was all of 4'9") used to say, "You can get glad in the same clothes you got mad in," to her and her brothers and sisters when they'd get mad as kids. You should know that mom's grandma raised her 5 grandchildren after their mother died at 32 of breast cancer and their father died of a heart attack at 38.

My great-grandma was a spit fire of a lady! I've heard people say before, "There's a whole lotta woman packed in that little frame," and that aptly described my great-grandmother.

So, when grandma said, "You can get glad in the same clothes you got mad in," she meant to just deal with whatever the situation was, because it wasn't going to change anytime soon, least of all not before you changed outta them clothes.

And I think about that in relation to this week's presidential election. Here in America. In a democratic society . . . a government by the people . . . where majority rules. Where our voices are heard. Where one person can make a difference. Where every vote counts.

And during this election process, two candidates for the office of president came forth. Two honorable men who had strong desires to serve the country they love. Two men who campaigned tirelessly to present their platforms and, each in his own way, win the hearts and minds of the American people. Two men who were the focus of almost every conscious American's interest for a good 18 or so hours on November 4, 2008, as the voting began...and then ended. And then, as the day drew to a close, the votes were tallied, and one of the men won.

Despite who voted for whom, or which man is the best, or what you wanted or didn't want, the outcome is very simple. Majority ruled. One man won.

And a lot of people are mad about it.

So, as my great-grandma once said: YOU CAN GET GLAD IN THE SAME CLOTHES YOU GOT MAD IN.

Because it ain't gonna change anytime soon.