On November 8, America voted for a new president. I sent my overseas ballot off weeks before the election.
I live in Germany, so it was early evening our time when the first results started being tallied. Uwe and I watched the nightly news and listened as stations began live reports from around the US. The living room glowed with candles. Around 10:30 p.m. Uwe said, “I think something’s burning,” and went out on our balcony. I got up and followed him. Sure enough, red flames were visible in the house right across the street from us.
“Hilfe!” voices shouted, and from blocks away came the blare of fire trucks. By now smoke was billowing. Teams of firemen raced around to the back of the building. People hung out of windows waving their arms, or watched from neighbors’ houses. The firemen put up klieg lights and a long ladder to rescue people from windows and then aimed water hoses at the roof.
They quickly had the situation under control: it was more smoke than fire, so to speak. I kept ducking back in the living room to watch the election returns.
Life felt suddenly, completely, dizzingly surreal. The election-cycle reminder that I’m an American citizen living overseas; an election unlike any other; a house burning. Maybe the entire goddamned street where we live is on fire.
Later – days later – I learned that the whole thing had only been a drill. A practice fire.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the metaphors inherent in this experience. As I turn it around inside my heart and head I get dizzy again. I leave it to my readers to take from this story what you can.
I’m going to go light a candle.
NOTES: Photos Copyright © 2016 Jadi Campbell.
Sometimes about all you can do is light a candle and hope for the best. Interesting about the practice fire…
And I only learned this days later…
Oh how that practice fire WAS like a metaphor for what was happening in the US with the election.. !
My feelings exactly
Ours too!!
It does feel like our house is burning. All of these things we’ve worked so hard for…about to go up in smoke. I cannot think about what the next four years hold for us, or what this means for our future. When I even try to, I weep.
Try to be hopeful
Hope springs eternal, and dies last….
Do not give in to despair, Jen. Much of the world remains awake and is indeed paying close attention, to everything.
Great story, I love speaking American politics with teams from elsewhere. A real sanity check in an insane setting. Best to you,
Hi there Huff, glad you like the post.
Its a new day in the USA…
And in the world…
Hi Jadi Lovely article. I have read several of your articles since signing up and am very inspired by your words.
So glad you found me here Ruth. I’m delighted you’re reading my words!
I wish the election had only been a drill.
ditto that!
The law of karma states that we keep repeating things till we get them right.