Today was not a good day to betake myself down to HQ for a spell of phone banking. This happens too often.
Still, I managed to contact 114 neighbors about Obama.
Getting ready for my daily one-hour walk, I put on a slightly nicer blouse than usual, plus a few licks of make-up. I want the message to have thoroughly pleasant and respectable associations.
I pin on my 3-inch-diameter Obama button, which is the only piece of campaign paraphernalia I’ve managed to lay hands on.
Luckily it’s well designed, contrasts with the blouse, and "reads" from a few feet away. ( I also put on my sunglasses, because despite being able to phone-bank, I’m quite shy in person.)
I’m now a walking billboard that says, "One of your nice, normal, middle-aged, white-female neighbors strongly supports Obama, maybe you should too."
In one hour of walking on the public bike and foot path, I count 114 adults going the other way on the path who pass me. Each definitely sees me and sees the message.
In advertising lingo that’s 114 "impressions," or almost 2 per minute. Pretty efficient. No huge thing to brag about, and not a great as having a personal discussion with someone, but considerably better than nothing.
A few quiet smiles or little waves respond. A few scowls. Most faces look carefully blank, typical in public places around here. It doesn’t matter. They saw the statement.
My aim now: do something every day, however large or small.
Since I seem to can’t get a yard sign, my next goal is to make one.
Plus, I’ll wear that button every place I can.
Thanks, Kossacks, for being there. If not for you all out there in e-land, I’d feel so much more isolated, and probably I’d be doing nothing.