It wasn’t her first election by any stretch of the imagination, but it was the first one in which I made Isy<3 pose in front of the polling sign.
- Grinding her teeth until 2016
Once inside, Isy handed me the black felt-tipped marker and poked her head around my shoulder.
“Mom, you forgot to mark the spot for the President.”
“I’m saving it for last, so don’t let me forget.”
“Okay.”
She waited as I carefully blackened the oval next to the name of each candidate who brought us there yesterday afternoon. Silently, we read the bond proposals. I filled in more ovals. Then I flipped the ballot back to the place we began.
“Okay, ready?”
“Yes.”
“I want you to really, really, really remember this for the rest of your life.”
“Okay, Mom.”
I didn’t want to forget it either, so I slowly darkened that oval like I was eating the last piece of coconut cream pie left after the Apocalypse.
“Good job, Mom,” she whispered.
I let her feed my ballot into the machine, and we left. Isy<3 even allowed me to walk out with my arm around her shoulders. In public. Broad daylight, at that.
For the past two years, my daughter has listened to everybody’s riff-raff about this candidate and that one. She’s heard me quote Frank Black when I’ve dubbed them “Criminal Men of Virtue” (and women, too). She has seen me argue with close friends far and wide over my support (or lack thereof) for various characters in this race. She saw two women — a smart one and one who looked smarter than she was — fighting tooth and nail for political offices unavailable to women during the early life of Isy’s own Granny. She witnessed an indisputable war hero run for the highest office in a land where a man who is in his seventies can still do that.
And finally, after all of this time in her short life, Isy<3 got to see something even crazier than the 2008 Presidential race: She saw me change my mind. Or adapt. (Or whatever you call it when you spend a lot of time likening a candidate’s oratory skills to Hitler’s, calling him a political vampire, questioning flaws far less significant than those of your own and then voting for the guy in the end.) Truth be told, I suppose that was a great lesson in the hypocrisy of politics for my youngster. My stomach’s full of crow, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
We voted for this day, and it’s ours.
Good for you. You are creating/have created a future young voter, what we used to call a citizen. I hope this stays with her for the rest of her life. It will for you.
Steve
Kristan, what a memorable day it was for you and Isy. I think all of us who voted for Obama will remember it very similarly. And all of us, no matter how we voted, will probably remember exactly where we were last night.
Yesterday our daughter and son-in-law took their two little ones with them to vote. The 3-week-old baby obviously will never recall he was there, but Isabella, who is almost 5, *will* remember it. Their parents, like you, even took pictures to document the event. And like you, I’m sure it was the first time they’ve ever done that.
You know what? Even without a job to go to, I am feeling a whole lot better this morning.
Way to go Kristan!
Years from now after your daughter has her own family you’ll pass by a voting location and for the thousandth time a smile will cross your face. Good memories are like that.
But the really neat thing is she’ll do the same thing.
Thanks, all.
I can handle her becoming Democrat, Republican, Independent, whatever, whatever, whatever. It’s the possibility she might become indifferent that scares the holy hell outta me. I don’t want to be responsible for fostering THAT.
Also, it really does take a village, don’t you think? When my kid sees people she respects at the poll, which is what happened yesterday when we ran into neighbors, it reinforces her chances of voting when she’s older.
JSH: My kiddo adores my mom, who’s taken Bella to many elections, many city meetings, many teacher planning meetings, and so on. You’ve got a great gig, being a grandmother. And now you have more time for it! A five year old and a three week old? Aw, those are BOTH adorable times. Five year olds are so funny. Here’s my previously five year-old’s take on the death penalty, etc. (I recorded it lest I forget the funny stuff):
http://predisastered.com/2008/08/25/extreme-fantasy-capital-punishment/
K
Kristan: Just now got to read “Extreme Fantasy Capital Punishment” and am still ROFL — so hard my sides hurt.
Bella, Bella, Bella… you are a wonderful kid. Please grow up to be a writer!