To go, over the period of a single week, from the sublime to the abominable tries the hardiest of spirits. One weekend we were celebrating the storybook wedding of an American princess and the next mourning the senseless executions of wonderful, selfless, dedicated people trying to help unfortunate people in an unfortunate land.
The joy and the glow that we saw on last week's lovely MOTB had faded to a grim pallor on the cheek of our beautiful Secretary of State as she delivered in person, yesterday, the words she had issued as a press release on the weekend. In each of these roles, she was pitch perfect. Every word, expression, movement, every nuance ... perfect!
The superb Hillary Rodham Clinton provided us with just enough of a glance into the family's private, personal celebration last weekend seeming to know that her beloved internet was burning up with curiousity: The dresses? The make-up? The hair? The guests? We got our glimpses of the glamor and were grateful .
Our Superstar SOS returned to D.C. last Tuesday and delivered superbly an important, I would say, landmark speech in the best, and most vibrant of spirits. Comments from those who heard and/or read this speech indicated that the audience was electrified by her and by her words. The word is overused, but if you were to look in the dictionary for a definition of the word "awesome," this picture should be there.
Fast-forward to this past weekend, which began quietly enough, perhaps too quietly for some of us who were already nostalgic for the romance and excitement of the weekend before until the bombshell hit. The news broke and spread like blood over the media and the internet. Ten dedicated career relief workers providing all sorts of medical care to impoverished, disadvantaged people in war-torn Afghanistan had been captured and cruelly executed. The Taliban claimed "credit." It shocked. It hurt. It angered ... infuriated! It broke our hearts. And from the moment we heard, those of us who follow the work of Hillary Rodham Clinton knew a statement would be forthcoming.
Come, it did, and as always the words were perfect. I knew, like I know the back of my hand, that our SOS was grief-stricken, heart-broken by these senseless acts. I knew she was taking this hard. With Hillary Clinton, though, the harder she takes something, the harder she comes back, and come back she did.
Yesterday, in a brief but singularly impressive, somber appearance at the State Department, she delivered her words to the cameras with gravitas, determination, and strength. She did not shed a tear, although most assuredly she had, her voice did not tremble, her lip did not quiver. She looked into the lenses and said her piece, mesmerizing us with her presence, grace, and strength. You could see the pain in her eyes, but she struck a note and proceeded, as the leader she is, to set the tone of our appropriate response to the heinous actions of a barbaric, oppressive enemy of all decent people everywhere.
Yes, it was a week that went from the sublime to the abominable, and through it all Hillary Clinton, glamor-girl supreme last weekend, was, yesterday, the best leader I have ever seen in her life and mine.
Thank you so much, Mme. Secretary, for everything you do ... for working so hard, for leading us so well, for putting your life to the side for your country, for speaking with so strong and clear a voice, for being so consistent, for enjoying what you do, and for taking the time and the pains to look so beautiful doing it all. I appreciate all of that!
(Parenthetical post script: While she was directing the troops, setting the tone, representing our stance, the [s]elected guy was "governing" in Texas as he has been doing in Michigan and sundry other parts over the past 18 months. As far as we know, there has been no statement from the White House about these murders - I would call them assassinations.)
From Team Hillary Clinton:
