45*

Whew! I don’t want to jinx my good fortune, but I think I’ve made it! Technically, this still could be my last blog entry if one of Obama’s Death Panels tracks me down tomorrow. But since I’ll be on the road with a full day of appointments, it feels like I’ve survived and will live to see the both repeal of Obamacare and the replacement with Trumpcare. I hear its gonna be great! I am genuinely excited to see how the world unfolds.

Like many, I’ve had my eyes on this campaign and election over the past 15 months and now am standing by for the huge inauguration on Friday. A lot of people will be celebrating for one reason or another. So many changes have been promised to happen on his first day in office! It really is exciting! But of all the bold promises for immediate Executive Orders and fixes to immigration, unfair trade deals, a pay-for-protection-of-democracy foreign policy, a new era with Russia, and an endless stream of entertaining tweets – it is Trumpcare that has captivated my attention.

As I penned in my piece last year “Why I Vote”, my dance with cancer in the mid 1990’s continues to dominate my political leanings and voting sensibilities. I am genuinely less concerned about me than I am for my children and grandchildren. In my view, I’m living on borrowed time, playing with house money. If the Death Panel does show up tomorrow, I’ll still consider myself a blest man because I’ve enjoyed more second chances than a lame alley cat in an impoverished third world country. Quite frankly, I should already be dead.

But I’m not. And I want to see America feel great again.

I did not vote for Trump. I know a lot of people who did. Some voted because their conservative roots genuinely believe less federal regulation is what the founding fathers intended. Some wanted to shake things up and voted as a metaphorical “middle finger” to the political establishment. Some people voted specifically against Hillary. And some people didn’t vote at all. (As silence is the voice of complicity, even those who did not vote, in fact, cast a vote for Trump). All of these groups, together, for their own personal reasons, voted Trump to the most powerful position in the world.

Theoretically everybody who voted for him wanted to see America great again, and many saw him as the maestro to make it so.

Of course, I thought America was pretty great in High School. Hawaii in the ‘70’s : The Glory Days. I may not remember much from that glorious decade, but I know it was great. You could get leaded gas for $.36/gal, the drinking age was 18 (16 was close enough), seat belts were optional, and the stock market was on the verge of breaking a 1,000! Ahh the good old days.

Somehow life got a hold of me and now I pay attention to politics.

Of all the sites and sounds I recall from this rugged and surprising campaign trail, what endures the most is the sound of Tic Tacs clicking in their iconic plastic container. Yes – I have to say the Access Hollywood tape’s big reveal of Trumps emergency box of Tic Tacs is what really resonated with me. When I was in seventh-grade, I would buy cherry flavored Chapstick on the way to the roller skating rink, hoping to increase my chances of making out. By the time I got into high school, Binaca spray was the breath neutralizer of choice (two squirts only!), coupled with a heavy application of Jovan Musk cologne; that was my “smell”. Now that I’m nearing the ripe age of 58 (around the age the future Commander-in-Chief was on his infamous locker room bus ride), maybe it’s time to give the tried and true Tic Tac tactic a chance to get a little more lip action in my life.

Who knew the distinctive sound of Tic Tacs clicking in their plastic container would become the mating call of 58 – year old men seeking higher office? It just sounds so Presidential, doesn’t it?

Maybe the Marine Corps Band can play Four Ruffles and Flourishes and Hail to the Chief with only tic tacs in their plastic containers as instruments? I’d buy that 45 rpm!

But I have to say, whatever it takes, there’s nothing like a little lip action to make me feel great again.

I didn’t vote for Trump, but I do want him to be successful. Trumpcare! It’s gonna be great! I’m sticking around to see it happen!

Any guesses on how long until Pence is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States?