Voting Adventure

I hope everyone got out and voted today. My girls would tell you than in my house you vote. Once you were old enough I expected to see that sticker.

I vote in every election, big or small, but not everyone does. We had a lot of propositions on the ballet here in California that brought out higher than normal numbers. I’m glad to see that but that lead to my “adventure”.

There was no, and I mean no parking at the school where I was to vote. After circling the parking lot many times then finally having someone ready to leave only to see an older lady (yes even older than me) trying to find a place to park I passed it up and let her park and decided to park across the street and hoof it. Heavens knows I could use the walk but I had wore the wrong shoes for hiking across a dirt field then trying to hustle across a large four lane street. I get in and finally get the privilege of casting my vote. I get my sticker and hurry out just knowing that my well informed vote will make the difference in this election.

I start my “run/walk” (aka the old lady in the wrong shoes hustle) back across the street and just as I’m getting to the other side… A police siren and lights so close I almost wet myself. Looking around, can this be happening? He’s pulling ME over? Now those that know me know that I have seen those lights behind me more than my fair share of the time, but I’m usually in a car. He pulls around where it is safer for him to get out and I wait. Jaywalking….REALLY….He wants to ticket me for jaywalking. He explains there’s a crosswalk and a light less than a ¼ mile down and crossing here where it is unsafe is setting a bad example for the kids. Come on all the kids are in class, no one but you were watching me. Deciding quickly that my sarcastic reply was not working I quickly changed my tactic and plead my case.

Sad story of no parking, circling the lot over and over and over (I think I threw about 20 over’s into my story for him) only to then give up my space to an elderly lady, wearing these dumb shoes, trying so hard to do my civil duty….. I think he got tired and finally said “fine, I’ll just give you a verbal warning but you need to be careful and next time use the crosswalk.” I will officer and next time I will wear tennis shoes to do my civic duty.

One last thought that I saw posted on Facebook today.
In Iraq in 2005, under threat of being blown up either at or on your way to the elections, Iraqi voter turnout was as high as 95%. In the United States, during the last 40 years, voter turnout has been as low as 36%, but only as high as 58%.

I hope today you had a wonderful adventure. I also hope you had the privilege of voting today….and I hope you got home ticket free.