As I mentioned on Monday, I went to New Hampshire for the days before the election to help the NH Democratic Party get the vote out.
I am assuming that The Directrice is not your primary news source, and that you know how things went?
Well, maybe you don’t know the specifics on New Hampshire.
Hillary won NH and Governor Maggie Hassan defeated the incumbent Republican senator and will become Senator Maggie Hassan. New Hampshire will be sending an all-woman, all-Democrat delegation to Congress.
In an effort to restore normalcy, I am publishing this trivial post on what I wore to canvass.
Actually, packing for this trip was a little tricky because (a) one wants to pack light (b) but look nice and (c) be comfortable while walking around all day (d) in temperatures ranging from mid 40s to mid 60s.
So I packed three sweaters, a pair of ivory corduroys, a pair of jeans, a white blouse, and an assortment of long-sleeved t-shirts and three large scarves. I also packed a bunch of other stuff that I did not need. I wore a pair of khakis and a cropped wool melton jacket (for outerwear) on the plane.
Here is one of the sweaters.
I know we’ve had our differences on short-sleeved sweaters, but I maintain that they can be very useful.
When is a striped t-shirt the wrong call?
NeVEr!
The foliage was several weeks past its peak, but these beautiful yellow leaves clearly were hanging around to see a woman elected president.
For those curious about the ivory cords, here they are on Day 2 of canvassing in Derry NH with the silver sneakers.
Seemed like almost everyone in Derry had a guard dog. Some had more than one. The Photographer and I seemed to wake all of them up. I would rate many of them as highly effective.
The silver sneakers, by the way, were genius. So light and comfortable — I wore them three days straight.
My mother gave me a pep talk on the morning of the 9th. Mothers are so good at this type of thing. She says we will get through this. (There was more to the pep talk — historical references, a touch of defiance, etc. — but that’s the essence.)
In a shameless attempt to cheer all of us up, a photo of my favorite NH voter: Ava the Bernese Mountain Dog from Peterborough. She’s no guard dog; she’s a lovey-dovey.
Sigh. We will get through this. Take the weekend to rest, process. Next week we start moving forward again.
Sweater: Vince; Striped t-shirt: Rebecca Taylor; Sneakers: Cole Haan ZeroGrand; Jacket: Robbi & Nikki; Striped scarf: Tory Burch; Leopard Scarf: JCrew
I thought of you often during that dreadful night, whenever I saw the blue NH on the map. I’m so sad and stunned that I don’t know what to say, but your mom is right (moms always are). Keep up the good fight and the amazing style.
Thank you for this post — I’ve been looking forward to it since yesterday. Thank you to both you and the Photographer for the canvassing work you did, I’m so pleased Hassan will be in the Senate. My mother gave essentially the same pep talk with historical references to what the country, minority groups and our Mexican-American family has weathered in the past. Time to heed the mothers and move forward as there is lots of work to be done!
I hope you recelebrate your birthday this weekend and have a lovely time.
Finally, I am tempted by the Zero-grand sneakers. If you walked all day in them, I assume they are comfortable.
Thank you, Directrice — for going out and doing what not everybody who’s complaining about the results has done; for capturing what so many of us are feeling, and finding such a gentle, gracious tone; and for reminding me that life does go on. And your canvassing outfits are delightful!
Happy birthday, dear Directrice. Continue to be brave and beautiful, despite.
Thanks for all you did. Maybe a shiny pair of silver sneakers will cheer me up? No, not likely. But still, we all have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Best to you –rest and recover.
Thank you, Directrice. Your your post is soothing to the soul as are your moms words. I believe we will laugh again… alas, it may take a bit of time.
On a bit of a lighter note, Nevada is proud to say, we voted the first Latina into the US Senate.
This post literally brought me to tears. Defiance and strength will never be overcome. It’s been an emotional 48 hours. I am so glad that you went to NH and you looked fabulous while doing it! And a very happy belated birthday!
And the ‘silver lining’ to this week will be the smile you gave me just thinking about your silver sneakers pounding the pavement in Derry! The folks there are no doubt still talking about the ‘woman in the silver shoes!’
Tomorrow I will have the privilege of working in a Virginia school….students K-5th will put on a lovely ‘patriotic’ performance to honor their military Moms, Dads and families.Many parents will be in uniform in the audience while others are currently deployed. Remembering and honoring those who SERVE will give this week a refreshing twist. To the Veterans who read The Directrice “Happy Veterans’ Day and THANK YOU’!
Thanks for helping turn NH blue. I helped turn VA blue, but did not look nearly as chic as you doing so! Here’s some perspective from someone old enough to have voted for the first time in 1980 (I’m ashamed to say I foolishly threw my vote away on a third-party candidate back then, but such is youth): we survived 8 years of Ronnie Raygun and the constant threat of nuclear annihilation. The pendulum has swung in the wrong direction but will swing back again, I’m certain of it. Throughout the bad times, please continue to inspire us with your wit and style.
Not everyone who reads your blog is liberal & dismayed with the election results. In case you were wondering.
Hi Kim — I do wonder about my readers and always appreciate hearing from them. And I am glad to know that we have things in common, even if we don’t agree on issues of governance. Warm regards, Tory
Your brave efforts paid off in NH – well done. And in case you don’t know of this witty fellow-blogger :
http://www.highlandfashionista.com/2016/11/the-ugly-american-surviving-next-four.html#more
Something to bring at least a faint smile.
Thank you for your hard work in New Hampshire. The results are inspiring. And you looked great and comfortable, throughout it all.
I hope you had a good birthday with your cute photographer.
To quote Gloria Steinem …. This was a vote against the Future. But the Future is coming…..
happy birthday! sorry it wasn’t the happiest of days. i feel dead inside.
Love your fashion posts and the way you mix patterns. You inspired me to mix flowers and stripes confidently. I feel your sense of defeat and your determination to get through it. Everyone will need to work together to be vigilant and do good things during the next four years. From a Canadian friend.
Happy belated bithday, Directrice. Your words are balm to the soul. Thank you for the work you did in New Hampshire. It was my longtime HVAC guy Daryl who delivered my pep talk on that miserable post-election morning. Thanks Daryl!
Happy belated birthday and I share all of your sentiments!
ACK–birthday birthday
Such are the perils of writing messages while metro-ing.
I’m holding on to the wisdom of Molly Ivins– albeit with white knuckles:
“So keep fightin’ for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don’t you forget to have fun doin’ it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin’ ass and celebratin’ the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was.”
Happy Birthday Dear Directrice!
Thank you for helping out in NH (I live in neighboring VT).
I went canvassing in NH too! I was happy about Maggie Hassan. It feels like we really did something, and bolsters my faith in ground game. Let’s go back up for the midterms. Let’s keep doing this.
I read this blog for the wit and for the lovely photography. Like Kim, I feel compelled to let you know I come from an opposing view on things political. Can we hope to remember that intelligent people may disagree?
Of course we can, Bee. We can do even better. People who disagree can even esteem and love one another — it happens in the best of families. I would be very flattered if you will continue to read even though our political views differ! Be assured — I am not planning to turn this into a political blog, but sometimes the news of the week is too big to ignore. Thanks for reading, commenting, and putting yourself out there.
Thanks for your efforts in NH and happy birthday! I echo the sentiments of the Canadian commenter, extra strength is needed during the next four years. Greetings from Europe!
I’m with you, broken-hearted. Personally, It’s been all black and blue, sartorially, the last few days.
And like you, I am a blogger. But so far, I have been unable to muster the humor I need. I usually post on Wednesday or Thursday, but talk of the end of our country kinda got me down.
However, following your example, I intend to persevere. I’ll get out my post later today, late but not defeated.
Happy belated birthday! The mood is somber here in California (L.A.) but we will continue to hold the banner of the real American values. Thanks for fighting in the good fight in New Hampshire.
Happy belated birthday wishes, Directrice. And congratulations for helping women win key elections in New Hampshire. I’m telling myself that this polarization is a particularly complicated phase of our 240 year-old democratic experiment; we’ll get through it as we’ve done before. Meanwhile, I look forward to more of your exquisite fashion choices and lovely work by the Photographer.
I really love that grey single button cardigan, and thank you for your efforts in NH. We shall rise again, 🙂 have you signed up for the inaugural million woman march yet?
Corrine, thank you so much for the link to the Highland Fashionista – I also needed the laughs she provided – wonderful wit and logic combined – and I see that she just commented here.
Directrice, thank you and the photographer for your efforts in New Hampshire! And for the charming outfits you wore while knocking on doors and avoiding guard dogs!
Thank you for doing what you did.
And now we move forward.
Thank you for this – it helps lift my dark mood. I canvassed here in Michigan but far less stylishly. And happy birthday to you in the midst of it all!
Very late, and everyone’s moved on, but thanks for doing all you could in NH. I’m heartbroken. And it’s your blog: you get to mention major world events if you wish, and indicate your feelings.
Ah, no, we haven’t moved on…
Ugh, I hear you. I spent 4 weekends canvassing in Philly (I live in NYC) and my heart is broken. Took a few weeks offline and am back & ready to act.