Such a long time since I wrote a diary! But I was so amused by one of my trick-or-treaters tonight, I just had to diary it.
I live in very-conservative TX-22, which is a southwestern suburb of Houston. Houston itself is fairly purple; they have a lesbian mayor, for Pete's sake! But my suburb, formerly represented by Tom DeLay, is very conservative, religious, right wing. My little family has always been the token liberals on the block. When my kids were in elementary school and they did mock elections, they were usually the only ones voting Democratic. When my older daughter told her flute teacher (truly a lovely woman) that she was planning to attend the University of Texas, the teacher said, "well, it's awfully....LIBERAL up there." Which is, of course, a big factor in my daughter's decision to go there.
So with that context, it's not surprising that we are the ony house in the neighborhood, as far as I can tell, with an Obama yard sign. Lots of Romney signs, plus the local Republican candidates. Which is why I was so amused by my trick-or treater.
Did I mention that my neighborhood is primarily white? (My family is pretty extremely white). Around 8:30 tonight, a group of about 5 trick-or-treaters came to the door. There were four young teenagers, black girls in cute costumes, and what I assumed was a mom, also in costume. The mom said, "I have to ask you a strange question. Is that your yard sign?" I said yes. She said, "Is it just for Halloween?" (LOL). I said no. She said "Praise Jesus!" I said that I thought I was the only one in the neighborhood. She said no, but that she had been afraid to put hers out because it was stolen last election. I told her mine got stolen last time too, but so far no one had taken this one! She said she would tell her husband that they needed to put theirs out; he didn't want her to for fear someone would snatch it.
I should have given her some extra candy!
Obama: Not Just For Halloween!