There's something about the process of walking up to the table and announcing your name, collecting your ballot then stepping into the little "booth" that feels empowering to me. Here I am, taking the time to be counted. Someone, somewhere is taking note of what I think. I am contributing to the continuation of a process that has made America great. I love my country!
I may sound a little chipper because I've been up since 4:30 am. My husband and I started the day leaving "hang tags" on the doors and windshield of targeted voters reminding them to vote for John Edwards today. It's so hard to know what is important and what is useless. Since we have thrown ourselves wholeheartedly into the process we are doing whatever the Edwards Campaign has asked.
It's been a long haul. We started last spring with a houseguest who opened operations from the Lakes Region north. He worked from the local coffee shop to get a connection for his computer. Yesterday and today he is coordinating hundreds of volunteers from 8 or nine offices in that territory.
This fall and winter, in addition to the house parties and debate watch parties we had a satellite phone bank at our house every Tuesday night. The local Edwards worker would show up with a box of cell phones and a stack of lists and anywhere from 3 to 8 of us would make calls.
The day after Thanksgiving we had an event in town. More than 300 people were at Harts Turkey Farm Restaurant to hear what John had to say. We posted the large sign on the back of our property facing the major road that day. The local papers didn't mention the event at all. GRRRRRR.
Then more calls, and canvassing and letters to the editor and blogging ....mixed in with Christmas and New Years and the death of a family member.
Tomorrow the race moves on ... and I’m glad it's a marathon, not a sprint. John Edwards should be our nominee but if it was up to NH he wouldn't be.
I'll take a little while to recover. Then there are State elections to get to work on and a National election in the fall.
Then - I get to vote again. And I love to vote because I love my Country.
Cross Posted at BlueHampshire