Emilio Esteves is on a promotional tour for Bobby, his not-yet-released film about Robert F. Kennedy. On Oprah yesterday, Esteves said,  “I believe that the death of Bobby Kennedy was, in many ways, the death of decency in America. … And I believe that we lost our way. We need to reconnect to our humanity because we have come so far away from that. We’ve come so far away from treating one another as brothers and sisters. … We’re so much better than where we’re at.”

Amen to that.

I’m choosing to believe that these midterm election results portend a shift back toward civiility, a willingness to once again work together toward a common good. More than just hoping, however, I’m willing to do what I can to help make it so. The long road home to a United States of America will be difficult, and we can’t find our way back on our own. We have to travel this road together. So next to my computer, I’ve posted these inspiring words, excerpted from Bobby Kennedy’s address to the nation on the day after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination:

 “Those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life, that they seek, as do we, nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and in happiness. Surely this bond of common fate, this bond of common goals, can begin to teach us something, and we can begin to work a little harder to become, in our hearts, brothers and countrymen once again.”

CNN’s reporting this breaking news: Britney Spears filed for a divorce from her husband Kevin Federline, citing irreconcilable differences. Whoa, we didn’t see that one coming, now did we?

Now that I have your attention…if you haven’t already done so, please get out there and VOTE!

Happy Halloween, everyone! 

Here’s a virtual treat for those of you who’ve wandered into my LJ neighborhood. I hope your day’s chock-full of goodies like this.

I had to get up in the wee hours of the morning to beat the rush, but I scored two very good seats for the Pantages Theatre’s (Los Angeles) production of WICKED. Oz-some!!!! The show opens here next February, and I’ve got tickets for a mid-March performance. I’m already marking a yellow brick road through my day planner. 

I once taught an entire college course around the theme, “Journey to Oz” — a metaphor-filled, multi-media extravaganza. One of my favorite experiences was hosting author Joey Green for a discussion of his book, “THE ZEN OF OZ” (which I highly recommend, by the way). So to say that I’m a little excited about snagging these tickets…well, that’s a serious understatement.