Readers of a certain age ought to be humming already. Last week I had the occasion to take a bus from historic Staunton, VA to Washington, DC – a ride just under four hours. A very generous colleague offered to drive me to DC at the last minute, but I decided that I had planned on a sojourn, and a sojourn I would take. As an extreme extrovert, even I needed a few hours with no talking. Also, I kept humming America by Simon and Garfunkel, and couldn’t forgo the opportunity to write a blog post about it.
My younger daughter gave me the idea, even sending me the lyrics. She followed up with “And then you usually do something vaguely sad and meaningful so I highlighted the last paragraph.” Vaguely sad and meaningful? Is that really what I write? The last paragraph:
“’Kathy I’m lost, I said though I knew she was sleeping
I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They’ve all come to look for America.”
I guess empty and aching counts as something sad and meaningful.
I ended up on the bus because I was attending the Virginia Local Government Management Association meeting in Staunton, Virginia – the birthplace of the council-manager form of government (nerd alert). I don’t think empty and aching is the sentiment I would use to describe the local government managers I talked to, but overwhelmed and living with uncertainty would be about right.
There is nothing that gives me more hope for America than spending time with local government professionals who are passionate about their work, and who refuse to leave anyone behind. What I am certain of (in this unending epoch of uncertainty) is that trust in government can only be improved through connection. Every positive and intentional interaction between local government staff and the public we serve moves the needle, even if only a fraction. Recognizing that our community members themselves are empty and aching is a good first step. We are all looking for America, in different places, in different ways, and with different outcomes in mind. I think most of us would like to find an America where the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is universally accessible.
I didn’t see a man in a bow tie, but I thoroughly enjoyed my mini-sojourn. Since the roaming was draining my phone battery, I mostly just looked out the window. Shocking, I know.
So how about you? Have you taken a bus since the 1980’s? Are you thinking about being lost in America?
Let’s practice, looking for the best of America. And in case you were tired of the song your head, note that on this bus I was Homeward Bound.
Very Kate 