More than a hundred Plainfielders gathered Saturday evening to share a pot-luck party and welcome an era of hope for America's -- and Plainfield's -- future.
It was a celebration of those who first had faith in Obama and his message of change, even as the 'official' political leadership was holding on to the old way of doing business. It was a celebration by those who believe in small-d democracy, and that mighty things can grow from beginnings as small as a mustard seed.
But it was also a celebration that was muted by the difficulties facing the new President.
Councilor Adrian Mapp noted that President Obama faces many challenges both at home and in the world, and that though Tuesday's swearing-in will be momentous, there will be no instantaneous solutions to our problems and he hoped all would stick with the new President through the hard choices he will have to make.
In introducing Adrian, longtime activist Rebecca Williams referred to a widespread movement to draft him as a candidate for Mayor, referring to the emails, phone calls and personal encouragements as a 'Run, Adrian, Run' movement.
Mapp responded by thanking all those who were encouraging his candidacy and stating he was giving serious thought to reinstating the plan he originally laid out in 2007 to run when the current Mayor's term is up.
To me, it sounded like a hat landed in the ring.
The Mapp home was thronged in every room with those gathering in small groups to enjoy the food and catch up with old friends and new. One new friend we welcomed is an energetic woman named Faith (you can't make this stuff up), who moved to Plainfield just weeks ago from Chicago, where she had worked on the Obama campaign and was at the joyful celebration in Grant Park on election night. Welcome, Faith!
I am always struck by the loaves-and-fishes quality of pot-lucks. As each new guest arrives, the table begins to groan with delicacies putting the many tastes and cultural diversity of Plainfield on full display.
The kitchen buzzed as food was warmed and shuttled to the food table. A dessert table was richly laden with homemade cakes, pies, cookies and other sweet treats. The bar overflowed with bottles of donated wine, beer and sparkling waters. And the whole was lightened with music by Plainfield's inimitable Joe Bonini.
How different from those sterile, vendor-driven political events one is usually exposed to, with their store-bought frozen pigs-in-a-blanket and mass-produced rubber chicken.
Many at the Plainfield celebration were set to leave early Sunday by train for Washington. Several, among them Councilors Annie McWilliams and Rashid Burney, were on their way or already in Washington for the Inaugural weekend.
As the evening drew to a close and the new day began, a fine snow sifted over the city, wrapping all in stillness.
Plainfield was at peace.
For now.
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2 comments:
I hope Adrian Mapp runs for mayor. He was my councilman under the McWilliams administration and I think he did a good job. He is my councilman once again, so I know he is able to move forward with a strong agenda this year with the rest of the council. I think it would be a good thing to have someone with experience running the city. Of course the "wrong" kind of experience is never good, but if Mapp is able to use his experience to be as effective as he was prior, I think we can move forward, albeit slowly given the economic conditions and what he will have inherited from the Robinson-Briggs era. One thing, councilman: please finish the road project that you started with the council under McWilliams!
So what was the "surprise"?
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