As I sit in a new cafe in downtown Long Beach, at least new to me, I realize why we never come here.  It's different, it's not what we expect and it's in between a big and small city feel.  I can't put my finger on it.  Walking around I realized how many businesses had closed their doors and how this must effect our unprepared city.  Shops looked old, tired and worn out.   Where book stores once stood, emptiness and rental signs now lay bare on the windows.  And never mind coming down here on a Saturday night.  Too busy, too crowded and too many bars.  I guess I want to find other things, shows, museums, etc all located downtown.  Anyway, our city is in transition, as it has been for the last decade.

And this brings me to another topic.  Our two friends and neighbors got married yesterday before election day in order to take advantage of the fact that a law was passed allowing same sex marriage.  It made me realize how happy they were and how happy we are to see them enjoy the warmth and reassurance Virginia and I have had over the last decade, that of being together.  It's a promise that keeps you warm.  A few hours before, we were driving on 2nd Street where a lone person with a Vote Yes sign stood next to what seemed to be hundreds of Vote No signs.  It made me realize how puny we are ion the grand scheme of things.  Who am I, or you to tell anyone else anything short of not to hurt anyone.  Or more to the point, who am I to tell two people in love they can't marry, have the warmth of that legalized bond carry them into their life path?  Yes, who am I who is so different than I was a decade ago, and even a month ago.  Who am I now who probably is so different than who I will be tomorrow?  How could I tell two people they can't marry?

One thing that made me feel very uncomfortable about the whole situation was that a law was already passed and approved by the people.  However, this new proposition 8 is believed to be well funded by some mormon groups in Utah.  People in Utah want to show the 7th biggest economy in the world how to think and what is right?  And since we are on that subject, what is considered right anyway?  What some religious book written by the hand of man thinks what God wants?  How demeaning to lower God to have to be explained through a few man.  That is not the God I feel. 

The world will be a better place when everyone takes care of themselves inside first, then the rest of the world will have enough place to make up their minds and see the clear examples in others.  Until then, influencing others to your own point of view is needless, dangerous and keeps humanity chained in a past that has not been very conclusive.