I got up and out and went to vote. I was number 102. There was a little line for the balloting machine but that dissipated quickly. Once in the booth to mark my ballot I was surprised at the strength of the moment that here I was voting for a woman for president. I read across the line and filled in my circles. Went out and watched the machine take in the sheet and “ballot successfully cast” and away I went.
Driving away I realized although I could visualize the first line of the ballot I really could not say I’d looked for or seen the other presidential candidate’s name. Rather bizarre. I guess I let the historic side of the moment overcome all the worry and anger and all.
Last night the other guy’s ads were angry and ugly. At ten o’clock there was a simple ad from Clinton talking about where we want the country to go. Solid, unifying, inclusive. That was the end of the campaign for me. I was more than ready to vote.
If you haven’t yet – get yourself out there there and do your civic duty. That’s real patriotism.
There is a bit less “feeling the moment” to voting mail-in than going to the polling place. I was glad to do it at home since there were SO MANY candidates and issues to vote. Here is Washington we get few national ads since the result is hardly in question, though Eastern WA is Trump country…. Today I am wearing white) and working all day, yes, on my birthday, sigh…election day, sigh) to honor the suffragists whose work allows women to vote, and vote for a woman for President!
I heard on public radio a woman who had “waited 96 years to vote for a woman for president!” Remarkable. There has not been any question in my mind, but I forgot the significance of this!
The significance is monumental. Never mind all of the noise. Many women and men of conscience have worked for this possibility for a long time in many places, not just the U.S. Women are clearly still considered second class citizens in some quarters. This flies in the face of the reality of strong, intelligent women with ideas of broad inclusion and practical, heart-felt humanity. That’s not at odds with fiscal responsibility,by the way. Be clear about the importance of this election!