I was out of town and missed this, but it shouldn't pass without notice: Yesterday was an official Day of Jubilation marking the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in Washington State.

Down in Olympia there was a parade, a band, a re-enactment of 100-years-ago happenings, and, one assumes, a general sense of embarrassment about the fact that women used to be barred from voting, a basic right of citizenship.

One hundred years, it should also be noted, is a very short time in the sweep of history.