Election Day - Post #2 - Back from Voting

What a comedy we are!

My son got home from work late, my car is in the shop (again). We got there and then Jeff realized he didn’t have his ID. I told all my clients I was NOT working today but of course at least one of them has to have to crisis.

It’s the client named Dick. Ahhhhh irony how I adore thee.

Anyway – I voted. My son voted. I have some photos that I’ll post in a little while.

I got very sentimental and emotional when I hit the button for Barack. Silly – maybe. Human – yes. I am a child of the 60s - I never believed this would happen in my lifetime.

I know I’ve shared this story before but it is the first thing I thought of when I went into the voting booth and saw Barack’s name

It was 1978. My son was 5 and we were buying Christmas Cards at a Woolworths store in downtown Brooklyn.

Jeffrey was touching every card and pretending to read many of them. A little girl maybe a year or so older than him came over. They started to evaluate the cards together.

Jeff: Can I pick out some?
Me: Yes – for your friends at school
Jeff to little girl: Do you go to school?
Little girl: In the morning then Grandma picks me up

Grandma and I smile at each other

Jeff: There are no black people on any of these cards
(yes – more evidence that he is indeed my child)

Little girl (who is also black): There are no black people on anything
Grandma: They make cards for the most amount of people
Jeff: That’s stupid – there are lots of black kids in my school
Me: You’re right but I don’t know what to do about it.
Jeff: Well do something
(he always thought I could control everything)

Grandma and I have a little conversation about there being no dolls for black kids and other assorted inequities. She is a bit awkward with me. Then she asks the question I used to be asked all the time.

Grandma: Is he adopted?
Me: No – I had him the old fashioned way. Ya know black and white people can have sex.
Grandma: I’m sorry …
Me: No I’m sorry, I get this all the time and it’s exhausting.
Grandma: Tell me about it. I guess I just did something racist.

We laugh at our shared place in the world. More people should do that. We’re more alike than different.

Jeff: I don’t want any of these stupid cards – I want cards with black people
(he is also loud like me and has caught the interest of other shoppers)
Jeff: I hate this store
Little girl: Me too

I decided to end the shopping trip.

Jeffrey and I made Christmas cards for his friends. We got construction paper and cut out pictures of athletes and singers and actors and the few black people that appeared in ads.

In 1979 we were in a grocery store together. I was on line and Jeff wandered away as usual. I was looking for him when I hear a small commotion coming from the greeting card aisle.

Jeff comes running toward me with a stack of Easter cards in his hands. “Look, look. All of these cards have black people on them. All of them! And this store doesn’t even have back people in it”

I saw nothing but the look on his face. On his beautiful brown face framed by his huge afro (it was the 70s and I was militant) – he had dark dark brown hair but right along his forehead there was streaks of my color. Looked like a halo.

He holds out all his “black people cards”.

“Can we buy them all” I say yes.

He hands them to me and slips his hand into mine and gives it a squeeze.

He looks up at me – “Isn’t this wonderful”

It was.

I know there will be those who say I voted for Barack because he is black. Well YES, yes I did.

He is also:
White
Intelligent
Inspiring
Calm
Inclusive
Even tempered
Has plans and policies I agree with
Chose a VP that isn't a moron

And my list goes on.

Be back as soon as I get ‘Dick’ off my back – hehehehe – with photos from the polling place.

Scroll down for this morning's post. There are many who shared their voting story in the comments.