Cancun

Not to be political, but it’s a very pleasant 84 degrees in Cancun … I need a vacation as well. 

Earlier this week, a certain U.S. Senator departed for a family vacation in Cancun.  Meanwhile, his home state was experiencing a storm of the century, with the coldest weather in at least the past thirty years.  Heavy snowfall, frozen (and burst pipes), no heat, no water, few, if any, public services.  After considerable blowback, Ted Cruz announced that he was returning to Texas, the following day.  Given the bone-chilling cold back home, I would have stayed.  Cancun is gorgeous, one of the many gems in the Caribbean, crystal clear turquoise waters, warm, tropical breezes, cold pina coladas poolside, assortments of grilled fish and other delights of the sea, who can ask for anything more?  Besides, the damage had probably been done politically, although the senate seat in question is relatively safe, and besides freezing for a photo opp outside (or inside, a non-functioning) heating center, it’s unclear what Cruz could have done in Texas that he could not have done poolside on Cancun hotel row. 

I have been to Cancun three times (1990, 1995, 1999).  The first two were family trips to the Club Med at Punta Nizuc.  The last one was a last-minute trip with friends to an all-inclusive resort right in the middle of hotel row, with a nice pool, a functional pool bar, a competent buffet (no Montezuma’s revenge), and a fine white sand beach, perfect for running, volleyball, swimming, surfing, etc.  No big excursions, but I do recall a wave-runner trip where the guide lead us about ten miles from shore, to, as we were told, an occasional shark breeding ground, before, thankfully, turning back.  Other activities included kayaking in the lagoon behind hotel row, Senor Frog’s (of course!), and a visit to a local shopping mall, where a another member of our group found a blowgun and not expecting there to be anything in it, blew into it and hit member of our group.  Happily, no one was hurt.  It was a fun week, from a different life. 

It seems that Cancun has (perhaps) become a metaphor for political exceptionalism.  This may be overstating it, and given the 24-hour news cycles, this will probably pass soon enough.  Everyone, including a senator, needs a vacation. Plus, there are far worse things in the world than a tone-deaf vacation (or meal, see below). 

Closer to home, the governor of California got into some hot water a few months ago, due to a meal at French Laundry, a swanky Napa Valley restaurant, by breaching his own COVID protocols.  He apologized, soon enough.  Due to this snafu, his overall management of the COVID crisis in California, and probably a few other reasons as well, a recall effort is underway and gathering steam.  I did not vote for Gavin, but this is silly, in my humble opinion.  By this fall, in my estimation most Californians eligible for a vaccine should have one.  Teachers are (now) being prioritized for vaccinations, meaning that learning should be in person (or at least hybrid) by this spring and certainly by fall.  The state is beginning to re-open, albeit too slowly for many.  More broadly, the California legislature is overwhelmingly Democrat, so it’s unclear, at best, what a Republican governor could accomplish.  Our last (successful) recall was in 2003, when voters, largely due, as I recall, to mismanagement of the California energy crisis, swept Gray Davis out of office and ushered in the Terminator (Arnold Swcharzenegger), California’s last Republican governor.  

Lastly, call me cynical, but the French Laundry incident surprises me none the least.  Newsom is (was) part-owner of a number of restaurants in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe.  In 2005, my spouse and I were enjoying a nice meal at Jack Falstaff, one of those restaurants, near AT&T Park, in San Francisco’s South Beach neighborhood.  Seated at a table behind us was Gavin, then mayor of San Francisco.  After scanning the rather extensive wine list, and not finding anything to his liking, he instructed the waiter to have someone from his other restaurant, Plumpjack, across town, bring a bottle of wine for him.  I think Newsom has matured as a person and politician since then, and while I do not agree with a number of his policies (including leaving it up to the local school districts to determine how and when to return to in-person instruction), I don’t think he was necessarily the wrong governor for California during this extraordinary time. 

So, where does this leave us? 

First, and foremost, I still need a vacation.  One, week-long road trip, to southern Oregon, in the last twelve months is better than nothing, but, to be sure, does not cut it.  Cancun sounds really good, right now.

Second, and all kidding aside, we should question, in as sober way as possible, what we reasonably expect from our politicians, and what we expect from ourselves, as it is everyone’s job to pitch in and help perfect our union. 

Comments welcomed.