This blogsite started after the US election in 2004. As devastated and angry as I was, it seemed like this was a better place to express my personal views about food, people and politics. I'll write more in the coming weeks and months about the path I've taken to support Barack Obama for President. But today I'm just going to relate an anecdote that puts his candidacy into a global context. I was having lunch at my private table between the piano and the bar - a very excellent lamb chops with sauce bordelaise and grilled vegetables - when some cients from a visiting cruise ship came to the bar and asked if I was here. It turned out two had dined here 2 years ago and indeed I remembered them. We had mutual friends from the Reagan era and after a few tentative comments on my part on the political disaster of the Bush administration they vehemently agreed with me! So it was fun seeing them again, catching up and sharing the angst of this campaign - they are avid supporters of Obama. I want to share with you a brilliant anecdote they related from a couple on board their 74 day cruise. Two days ago the ship made a call at Funchal, Madiera, and a couple went to a local watering hole and had drinks and a light lunch. They paid their bill in cash and left a nice tip. They left and were walking back towards the ship when the waiter came running after them. They feared they'd forgotten something at the restaurant - but no - the waiter implored them to take back the change they'd left in their nice tip and give it to Barack Obama's campaign: "Give it to Obama so America can get their friends back." |
