Yesterday morning I voted. Number 318! Well, on my side of the gymnasium anyhow. Apparently my new polling place is used for two adjacent precincts. Four years ago I wouldn’t have believed I’d be voting at a different polling place. Four years ago I felt trapped. Miserable with my mortgage, isolated in a neighborhood so far removed from everything I love in my life. But yesterday morning my son reminded me of something. Not only was it election day it was also an important one year anniversary. One year ago yesterday we moved into the duplex we now call home. The burden of homeownership was always too much for me. I enjoy the ease of renting. And as much as we like where we’re living now we could more easily move again. If we felt like it. For whatever reason. Well, when the lease is up. Freedom! USA USA!
Five good things for this post-election day:
- OBAMA.
- Ludicrous marriage and voting amendments were defeated in Minnesota.
- Kate Beaton happened to in NYC for Hurricane Sandy and whipped up a few sketches during the aftermath.
- A friend pointed out this inspiring company, “BioLite develops and manufactures advanced energy products that make cooking with wood as clean safe and easy as modern fuels while also providing electricity to charge cell phones and LED lights off-grid.” And their team was on the ground after Hurricane Sandy, offering folks a hot cup of tea and the chance to charge their devices. Unfortunately more storms are on the way.
- Superman’s Home Planet Krypton ‘Found’ by the amazing astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Love it.
I may have voted at a different polling place yesterday but I voted similarly to how I voted four years ago. And I spent the election night the same way. Alone. Four years ago my son was much younger. Last night I could have gone out to watch election coverage with friends but I’m getting over a cold. And I enjoyed the symmetry. Instead of staying glued to the results I opted to read. Before I fell asleep last night I had an idea of where things were headed. And woke up to good news. I’m relieved by how most everything turned out nationally, and in Minnesota - Michele Bachmann AGAIN? Really Anoka? Sigh. But I do find it distressing how narrow the margins were. Particularly on both of the amendments we voted down. It shows me we have a long way to go when it comes to the hearts and minds of the people who actually live out there, who we have to share the heartland with.
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