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September 14, 2006
Ann
In July of 1992, Gina and I flew into Austin from San Francisco for some job interviews. The city life in the Bay Area was starting to wear us down and we were both homesick for the heat we grew up with.
In the Dallas airport, we ran across this issue of Texas Monthly:
and we were ecstatic. Despite what everybody back in SF thought about Texas, we knew we were moving to a liberal oasis and we were going to have the coolest Democratic governor in the country.
Even after she left office in 1995, Ann would pop into our lives from time to time. She lived in our neighborhood in Clarksville so every once in a while we'd see her at the Fresh Plus buying groceries in her gym suit. Her hair was always perfect.
Gina once stood next to her at the Fresh Plus deli counter (where Cippolina is now) with toddler-age Cassidy; Cass was completely grubby as only toddlers can get, with a runny nose on top of it all, and Ann turned around and said "Oh, how cute". Gina is still embarrassed that she was really thinking "bad mom".
We'd see her sometimes at her regular booth at Las Manitas. I thinik I heard she always ordered the migas con hongos, which are indeed spectacular.
Later near the end of my drinking years, I saw her on Dennis Miller's show talking about her own history of drinking and sobriety, and she was one of the first people to really plant the idea in my head that you can be sober and still be funny and interesting. And coincidentally, when I finally found my AA sponsor, he turned out to be a friend of both Ann and Liz Carpenter, the two most famous Democrat ex-drunks in Texas.
Ann is the last elected official that ever represented me that I was really truly enthusiastic about.
I've been saying it since 1995, and I will keep saying it. Ann, you're still my governor. You'll always be my governor.
I won't say "rest in peace" because I can't imagine that a little old thing like dying is going to make you want to rest. I'm sure you're still givin' them hell.
Posted by ray at September 14, 2006 10:47 AM | Permalink
Categories: [austin | family | kids | politics | texas ]
Comments
Man, I think only Kinky can top Ms. R, and I don't think he'll make it. I can still replay here convention speech on Bush I in my head.
Posted by: Mark Folse at September 14, 2006 1:11 PM
Nice post, Ray. She was a tough ol' broad, in the absolutely best sense of the word. Wish there were more like her around these days. A real loss.
Posted by: Miss Syl at September 14, 2006 1:12 PM
Ann would have never said any of the mean ignorant shit that Kinky says. He's a douche.
Posted by: Ray at September 14, 2006 1:17 PM
Wow, I did not know you lived in Clarksville before this neighborhood. Guess I was sort-of stalking you without knowing it. Sorry about that.
I saw her in Fresh Plus once or twice too. Very impressive lady.
Posted by: M1EK at September 14, 2006 3:25 PM
ann was the real deal,Kinky is all about Kinky.
Posted by: Karen at September 14, 2006 4:02 PM
She was just the best. I was so sad to hear she was gone. I like your closing sentiments, Ray.
Posted by: Sophmom at September 15, 2006 9:02 AM
I cried when JFK and Bobby was killed. I cried when MLK was killed. I cheered when Reagan died and threw the TV out in the trash because now pieces of shit like him are worshipped as some kind of god.
And then I cried when Ms. Richards passed. It's a wonder I'm still alive.
Take care ya'll
Posted by: PoBoy at September 24, 2006 5:25 PM
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