If all politics are local...

     M is on a business trip (being the business man he is!) and so A and I will go quite unescorted this evening to a reception a friend is holding for a woman running for school board. I had a mild panic attack about this in the shower this morning. First, I am an introvert to the point of social incapacitation; I stopped answering the telephone about eight years ago, so scrambled am I by the expectation of reciprocal conversation. Cocktail parties, well, you can imagine. At a Christmas open house several years ago, I introduced myself to the same woman twice within five minutes of arriving... and she explained (again!) that we had met several times before. She was kind of mean about it. But that's not the source of my discomfort tonight (my sister will be there, and I know the hostess well, and A is always a perfect diversion). 

     No, what's put the fear into me is that I, mother of a public school kindergartner, have no idea what the issues are, nor any clue what they ought to be. Um... should I complain to this woman about the kindergarten supply list? Seems a little micro, no? What about all the crap they send home jammed in A's gi-normous My Little Pony backpack? (My Little Pony? Or is it Hello Kitty? Dora? Whatever, it's pink.) Can I complain about A having to memorize a whole new lunch code for this year? Does she expect complaints? Suggestions? As a parent, shouldn't I be following budgets and curriculum proposals and Virginia's aptly abbreviated SOL (standards of learning) program and application of No Child Left Behind bullshit?

     So essentially, I'm bugging over impressing someone whose job it is tonight to impress me. Sounds like a crap date. 

     I know which lies SaPa and the McCainerator repeated about my candidates an hour ago, but I have nothing intelligent to say about my child's education. Nor anything unintelligent. I got nothin'.