This is partially an excerpt from a Anna Lord SquareState diary with an added "bonus" story.
The Anna Lord for House District 21 campaign began our 2008 walking campaign this weekend.
In 2006 Anna's walk plan was to knock on the doors of Dems, unaffiliated voters and households with a Republican woman under 50. She wore a pedometer when she walked in 2006 and logged 115 miles before she lost it in October.
The great thing about walking is the characters you meet. Here are two of the stories below the fold:
Anna's story:
I have to share the story of one of my encounters on today's precinct walk. After a good hour of door knocking, I approached the home of a Republican woman in her late 70s. She happened to be in the driveway talking with a neighbor when I arrived. I introduced myself and explained that I was running for the Colorado House of Representatives.
"How wonderful!" she replied, "As the mother of three daughters, I'm always happy to see women stepping up to positions of leadership." I handed her my campaign literature and gave her a brief biography, listing my leadership experience and what led me to run for the Colorado legislature. She listened politely and then asked "So Anna, what political party do you belong to?" When I informed her that I was a Democrat, she sort of rocked back on her heels. "REALLY?" she exclaimed, "But you seem like such a NICE young lady!" I laughed but wasn't sure how to respond. "I mean, you seem so intelligent, well mannered and articulate! It's hard for me to believe that you are a Democrat!"
After a short, but awkward pause she continued "Oh dear, I'm afraid that I've insulted you. It's just that I had a very...careful upbringing. My parents didn't even let me meet a Democrat until they believed I was old enough to...handle it."
I honestly don't know if this woman was serious or was just messing with me, but by this time I decided to just tell her that I was gratified that she found me articulate, well mannered and intelligent and suggested that she should consider me an ambassador of sorts. She laughed and invited me in for coffee.
We had a pleasant visit, didn't talk much politics but more about our families and children and when I left her house, she said that she would have to break with a half-century of habit and vote for a Democrat this year.
It is experiences like this that kept me out day after day, week after week in 2006 and what makes me believe that if I can build on it this year, I can win this race.
My story (from two days later):
Today I had the volunteer's nightmare. I walked up to a house - it was of the late sixties modern design where the house was a square with a wedge cut out for the front door. So, when standing on the front door you can not see the garage doors because you are tucked in and behind.
I has walked up to the door and rung the doorbell. There was no answer so I was writing the "sorry, I missed you" sticky note to placed with the lit drop. As I am standing there writing, a woman - late 50's - appears around the corner. She had obviously come out from the open garage door I had passed. She was in a long tee shirt - that's it. I stood there on the front porch - frozen. What do I do? If I don't say anything and she sees me, I am in trouble. If I draw attention to myself, I am in trouble.
Taking the chance, I did the "Ahem". She froze like a deer in the headlights. She squeaked and placed the plastic bowl - later described as a cat food dish - in front of her thighs.
I mumbled an apology for disturbing her and said I didn't mean to scare her but I was afraid she would have been even more scared if I hadn't drawn attention to myself and she had seen me. I covered my face with my hat, handed her the campaign lit, apology profusely and found how quickly I could make it to the end of her driveway.
I don't know if we got her vote but I guarantee she won't forget Anna's name.
I have a feeling there are too many stories to count like this. I will accept any that people comment - I seriously working on a book "Tales from the Front Porch - Life of the Campaign Foot Soldiers".