I was very lucky to have not one, but two excellent granddaddy's who loved me very much and who fought for our country's freedom.
Probably about 12-14 years ago, when I wasn't even able to vote I was at my Granddaddy Mills' home and we were talking politics. He said something that day that I will never forget, something that has always struck me profoundly. He told me he had never lost a vote. As an ignorant youth I thought at first that he was amazingly intuitive that every single person he had ever voted for had won - incredible! Well, he was quick to set me straight (as I was exclaiming my glee on his voting record). He told me he has voted in every single election - and that sometimes his candidate did lose, but that his voice as a citizen of this great nation had always been heard.
That lesson I learned that day has set a pattern for my desire since being eligible to register to vote and allow my voice to be heard in every election. It's true that sometimes our desired elective official might not be the one who indeed clinches the victory, but our chance to let our voice to be heard by being allowed to vote is something I do not take lightly. I do not allow soothsayers to say, it doesn't really matter how you vote, the election is already decided - who are they to say that? They haven't heard my voice yet. As it is the eve of election day, and I am probably more haggard than ever by political ads, phone campaigns, my mailbox being stuffed full, and fully disgusted by the millions of dollars in mudslinging competitions, and I can't bear to watch any news coverage surrounding the impending election - but I will still make my way to my polling locale, stand in whatever line it takes with a fussy 15 month old to make sure I live up to my Granddaddys' legacy and let them know that I appreciate the fight they fought for me so that my voice can be heard.
I hope you don't lose your vote.
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3 comments:
Kara,
I remember one time when I had just started working at the Credit Union, I was telling my new boss that I had to go and vote because my Daddy would give me the lecture on how many men and women had died just so that I could go and vote. Little did I know at that time that my new boss was a Jehovah Witness and they don't vote! However, I figure he needed to hear it anyway!
Aunt Kathy
Kara,
Thnk you for your post. I was just talking to Michael about why I was so determined to make sure that I voted today. He asked why I wanted to go vote when I never seemed to be that "into" politics, I told him that I had to go and vote because Granddaddy said so! He laughed at me, so when I logged on here and read your blog I made him read it too! He's not laughing at me anymore!
Krista
Yay for your grandfather. I voted for the very first time in my life yesterday! Wow! It was awesome. Read my blog to read the whole story, but to sum it up, I felt like a true American. I'm 16 years late, but better late than never.
Now, my head hurts really badly every time the news is on. I am so sick of all the predictions. I'll just wait and see for myself. I am turning off our satelite and we are going TV free for a while. Whew!
Can't wait to see y'all for Christmas Eve! Sorry I missed y'all for Cassadie's shower. I had a sore throat and thought it would be best to keep it to myself!
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