The first time I could vote for President I missed it. It was fifty years ago yesterday. The day my son was born, November 7, 1972. Suzy was smarter than me. She voted absentee. I on the other hand thought Walter would have been born by then and I would be able to vote on election day. This was not the first time I was wrong and Suzy was right, and it certainly wasn’t the last.
Since that day, I’ve tried not to miss a vote. My record is not perfect, but close. We also have early voting and other means to vote other than standing in line on election day, although I enjoy voting on a crisp autumn day and visiting with my neighbors. There is something spiritual about the experience if you tune out the signs and people who are doing last minute campaigning outside the polls.
Joseph and Mary traveled for days and slept on the hay to be counted. For me to walk a few blocks to the polling place is hardly a stretch.
If you haven’t voted, do yourself a favor. Saunter to your polling place, greet your neighbors, and vote “for” someone or a community issue. When I partially dabbled in politics I always encouraged people to vote “for” someone or thing, but to resist the urge to vote purely against anyone or thing. I also encouraged candidates to give their voters something to vote for. That message clearly hasn’t come through these days.
It’s a beautiful fall day in most parts of the country. Treat yourself to a vote.
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