Ch-ch-ch-changes

With Election Day upon us, change is certainly in the air. Photo editor Ryan and Lely and I thought we would explore the concept of “change” by interviewing people within a single square block of the Historic Sonoma Plaza. While concocting a lead for this piece I consulted the oracle (otherwise known as Google) seeking the lyrics to David Bowie’s “Changes.” You know the tune, “Ch-ch-ch-changes / Turn and face the…” And this is where it gets interesting – about 30 comments following the web post of the lyrics vociferously debated whether the lyric was “Turn and face the strange,” or “turn and face the strain.” At present writing, the last comment sided with “strange.” I mention this because “change” itself is an abstract notion.
“I think things are forever changing and that’s what makes life interesting,” said Jeanne Kocal, president of the Sonoma Valley Democratic Woman’s Club. “One of the reasons I got involved with the campaign is because my grandson is in the Navy and is possibly going over to Iraq. Right now he’s in Bahrain, which is still scary.”
Given Sonoma’s prominence as an international tourist destination, Kocal has met people from as far-flung as Italy, France, Germany, Ireland and Sweden while working on the Obama campaign.
“When Europeans come in here, they are so knowledgeable about our election – unfortunately, more than some of the people in our community,” Kocal added with a laugh.
Travelers from throughout the United States have also visited the Sonoma campaign offices on West Napa Street. Among them was Louisville, Kentucky resident Joe Rapport who sees “change” as offering the potential for “A country where we take care of each other and we take care of the country, where we have a sense of leadership in the world. I guess that’s what I’m hoping for in the election.”
Sonoman Marty Munson hopes that change brings “steady work.” When asked if he hopes the economy changes for the better, the local artist laughed and wryly replied “No, just my pocketbook. I want green lining my wallet so it can trickle down for my kids.”
“Could you imagine four more years of a policy that hasn’t worked the last eight? We’re not really at the status of the Great Depression, but crap is clearly hitting the fan currently,” averred Conor Doren while brewing a café Americano at El Dorado Kitchenette. Doren hopes that change comes quickly to the political climate. “For some reason we keep sticking our nose overseas for a war that’s going on for 7 years and no one can give an explanation for exactly why we’re there beyond fighting ‘terror’ – the abstract foe.”
Monique Gutierrez, a native of Switzerland, concurs with Doren that political change would positively impact the nation. “After the last eight years, I feel like the United States are closing in on themselves. They are not open. They believe they are the best country in the world, but don’t know what’s going on in the rest of the world.”
Ben Roks, presently a resident of Evanston, Ill., sees “change,” in the abstract, as an affirming force in his life.
“Change is good, right now. I think it’s a positive thing. I’m experiencing lots of change in my life right now – I just bought a home in Sonoma to come to,” said Roks. “Change connotes movement, which I think is good as well.”
Or, as David Bowie put it, “Time may change me, but I can’t trace time.” Or is that “chase time?” We may never know.