Yesterday it rained all day here in Michigan, yet when I went to vote the polling place was busier than I had ever seen it. My sister lives just down the road from the township hall and she told me that it was steady and crowded late into the evening. “Good News!” she texted me. I replied, “Well, good news for somebody”. As it turned out, Michigan elected a slate of Democratic women, passed proposals on recreational marijuana, a voting commission, same day registration, and an end to gerrymandered districts. I went to watch returns with my daughter last evening and had some disappointment over the losses suffered by Abrams, Gillum, and ORourke, but I feel that the tide is turning — these races were close- and the next time around this country may be a deeper shade of blue.
Before I left to visit my daughter, I received a call from my son who lives in Arizona. He’s a combat veteran of the war in Iraq and has had some struggles, but he’s completing his college education and pursuing a fine art career. He’s exited the rapids and has floated into a more tranquil stretch of the river.
I asked him whether he had voted. He replied that he had mailed in his ballot a couple weeks ago and I was pleased. I told him so. This is how the conversation went.
Ya, ma, I voted.
All Democrats-straight down the line
If it was between two Democrats and one was male and the other female-i voted for the female
If it was between two Democrats and both were female-I voted for the one who’s name suggested they were a minority
Men have had their say for a long time and we haven’t seen a lot of good come from it-It’s time to give the women a chance
i told my son, two thousand miles away, that I could not be any prouder of him; that I wished I could hug him, and had tears in my eyes as I thanked heaven for the next generation. I have hope.