How I Felt About Being an American Election Official in the year 2000

Election Day

By Nancy Sherwood ©

November 7, 2000

 

(Before we knew how long it would take to have a new President)

 

I am emotionally and physically exhausted. Today I worked as an Election  Officer. We arrived at the polls at 5:00 AM to get sworn in and set up the  machinery. The polling place I worked at was Armstrong Elementary School in  North Reston. We all left after 8:30 p.m. At my polling place there were about 15 of us Election Officials.

 I won't go into tedious detail of all the things we all did today at the  polls. There were some people who were irate that at the busiest times they  had to wait for 45 minutes. There were those young people who are just old  enough to vote in their first election. There were the newly naturalized US  citizens who were also voting for the first time. The Chinese couple who  took pictures of each other going into the voting booth and asked an  election official to take their picture. The Iranian man who said he hopes  that one day Iran will have free democratic elections. The recently married  women who were not sure if they were still registered in their maiden name  or their new name. The young mother with her four day old baby and the  pregnant woman who was supposed to be on bed rest (she got to go to the front of the line). The little children who were so excited to be able to  go into the voting booth with their parents. The autistic young man who's  father helped him vote. The woman with her elderly mother who asked me to  help her mother keep from falling over while she voted. The husbands and  wives who saw that their spouse had already been there- or not.  The widow, voting for the first time as a widow seeing the absence of  her husband’s  name, another reminder of the permanence of his death.  The woman  in the wheel chair- we have adjustable voting booths to accommodate. The  blind man who's assistant helped him. The eight grader taking pictures of  his mom going into the voting booth and coming out- a Social Studies  assignment. .  

The smiles of satisfaction. The people saying how proud they were to be  able to vote. Everyone wanted a sticker that said "I Voted". 

 My children came to see “Mom the Election Official”.  What better way for them to learn than seeing democracy at work.

  I stood for hours. My back and feet hurt. I sat for hours looking up names  and checking them off. My eyes hurt. My face hurts from smiling at so many  wonderful people. All of us working today were totally exhausted and yet  exhilarated at the same time. None of us took very long breaks for lunch or rest. We could have, but we all shared the feeling of being a part of something important and didn't want to miss a minute.

 I don't know if my candidate will win. Yes I do care. But I know that I  did my bit. I have so many choices and such freedom as an American that I  count myself among those lucky enough to call this country my home.

 Am I pooped? You bet. Would I do it again? In a heart beat!

 

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

 In memory and honor of Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg,  crowds have gathered on the steps of the US Supreme Court

Connecting / Facebook/ Knitting

 I am, in a Facebook group (or is it a page, I cannot tell them apart).  Anyway it's called "Addicted to Knitting"

Every so often I will post a picture of something I am making.  Or a completed knitted item.  I know that the other people there will appreciate my work.

Yesterday I was dealing with a frustration I have with some patterns.  How the instructions are so annoying.  I posted this and so far I have received/ instigated 440 comments.  Many accompanied by pictures very much like the one I posted.  Here it is:

Maybe I am not the only person annoyed by this. The pattern says "Rows 10-15 repeat Rows 4-9 once" I do understand, but I get all confused. Here's what I end up doing so I keep track: Anyone else?

 

48 days till "the" election

 My profound thought, that I was going to write on Facebook is this:  Everyone pretty much knows who they favor for the election.  I wouldn't consider Trump under any circumstances.  There are just too many bad. terrible things about him.   People who support Trump are firm in their conviction as well.  I think that they are wrong.  They think I am wrong.   So, why do we all keep posting and saying things about it?   Why do I bother saying negative stuff?  I am not going to change anyone's mind.  And most of my friends are with me on the political spectrum.

Are we venting.  Are we trying to keep our morale high?  Are we thinking that maybe "the other side" will say "oh I see, yes you are right"?   I guess it's just what we do.  Cheer for our favorites and villainize  the other guy.   There's so much worry, stress, anxiety. I for one am truly afraid.  Many others are too.  But, the only thing I know that I can do it vote.  And vote I will!

It's 2020.  What could go wrong?   Let's see, almost two hundred thousand people in America have died of Corona Virus.   Schools are not opening, many colleges are closed.  Most of us are careful and cautious and stay home as much as possible.   When we go anywhere, we wear a mask.  With the exception of a group who believe that masks are a violation of their constitutional rights.  That covid is a hoax.   So we watch and wait and hope for the disease to die out (no pun intended)

Demonstrations for the Black Lives Matter cause.  Justifiable especially in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands- or rather knee, of police.

Lets see, how about some wild fires just to make life more interesting.  In California, Oregon and Washington the smoke is making the air quality dangerous.    And I have three of my children living there, in the smoke.  Breathing it.  And I worry.

A picture of a plane taking off in Portland Oregon two days ago.  Picture taken by my daughter.

 

My son lives in Seattle.  Here's his view from his apartment: three days ago this is how smokey it was.

 

 

 Yesterday

 

 2view from my son's apartment 2018when I visited

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Neck ties and bag lunches and realizations

 I can't remember now what I was looking at that prompted a thought of Nick (husband) and him wearing a neck tie.  Every day, when we were raising the kids and they were all still at home, Nick would put on his tie and go to work.   I can't even remember him taking any sick leave- unless it was to be with me when we were having a baby.

Every evening, Nick laid out three, four or five brown paper bags, label each one with the appropriate name for which ever kid's lunch would go into that bag.  And he would make lunches for the next morning.  Peanut butter sandwiches.  mini bags of chips, some sort of fruit snack.  Each child got a custom made lunch to meet their preferences.    In the morning as they ran out the door to catch the bus they would be handed their lunch bag.

When the kids started high school and middle school they left the house really early.  Before Nick had left for work, so he got them out the door.  Often I was still asleep with whoever were the youngest at the time.  Elementary school started later.  I got the younger kids up, fed and dressed and sent them out the door with the lunches that their dad had made the night before.

 I know that we weren't prefect parents.  We got mad and yelled when we should have been more patient.   We forgot things and did "stupid" things.  I am sure we were embarrassing -though all of our kids enjoyed having their friends over.  It was not unusual to have extra kids at the dinner table.   

I was happy when the kids had friends over.  It made me realize that we had a home where kids could be comfortable.

I was a bit too anxious, or something.   I worked hard at keeping the house clean and tidy.  I got mad too easily.   I think that the huge responsibility for so many people,and the sometimes chaotic atmosphere in our house are the reasons I did keep the house clean and in order.  It felt like a piece of order in the chaos, and I needed that.

My mother used to say "wait until you have kids, then you'll understand".  She was right.  At least partially.   My kids were high energy as healthy kids are.  But they were never as "bad" as I was.  They rarely talked back to me.   Or screamed.  They never ran away from home.    They were not usually very sneaky.    I got lucky with the kids we made.   

But I also understand some of what my mother meant.   I was home with the kids.  Available to take them to games or friends houses, or bake cookies.  I picked them up from school when they were sick.  I stayed home with them when they were sick.    I did their laundry until they were old enough to learn how to do their own.   I gave them chores.  Sometimes they didn't like doing chores.  Sometimes it would have been a lot easier to just do it myself.  But I hope that they all learned a few life skills along the way.

What my mother was right about, was this:   I suspect as adults on their own now they don't even think about their dad making their school lunches.  Or the fact that their dad went to work every day even when he probably didn't want to so we could afford for me to be at home.   I doubt that they remember us cleaning up when they were sick.  Me taking them to the doctor, dentist, orthodontist.  On field trips.

It's okay.  We did those things because we wanted to.  Because we could.  We chose our life.

I just hope that when the kids are remembering our failures, and their were plenty, they will remember the good stuff too.

Above all, we have both loved our children even more than they will ever imagine.  And that I suspect is a part of what my mm meant too when she said "just wait"

 

 

 

 

 

9/11

 

 

It's the 19th anniversary The weather was perfect. Beautiful clear blue sky.  Almost no clouds.     And then it happened.

Everyone has a story if they are old enough to remember.    I won't bother with my memory/  story of that day.   I will reflect on how we, Americans, and most of the world, felt like we were all in it together.  We were all effected.   It was scary, sad, horrible.   And yet we were sharing these feelings.

It's something like remembering where you were when President Kennedy was shot.   I am old enough to remember that.

I am sorry so many people died.I am sorry so many people suffered and still suffer on.

And now we are suffering a different disaster and pain.   And death in numbers higher than 9/11.

Lest we forget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's still 2020. There's still a pandemic. Trump is still presdent. Life goes on. And on. And on...

 For several months I have checked the statistics for the Corona-virus in Loudoun County, Virginia where we lived and also for the state of Virginia.  I have several little notebooks where I have written down this information.   I am not exactly why I have been doing it.  Will someone one day find these bits of paper and wonder?   Does it make any difference?  I honestly do not know.    I have not been keeping track as much for the last week or so.  It seems pointless.  The world seems to be as scary as it was in March.  Maybe we are getting  used to it.  Maybe we are getting tired of it.  Maybe we just don't know what to do or think.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Nick has gout attacks.  My knees hurt.  We both have good and bad days.  Or at least bad and not so  bad days.  We must look like we are a hundred years old when we hobble around the place.

 

I read a saying the other day that I cannot recall, but it was something about how old age is supposed to slowly sneak up on you, but in reality is  just jumps on you, and body slams you.  I know that's not how it went.  Oh well.  I can't really tell if I feel old, am old, or just lazy.  Huh!

I finished a 500 piece puzzle recently.    It was fun and challenging. I sort of feel like working on another puzzle, but am not 100% sure.  

How do we spend our days?   We sleep late (ish).  Eat breakfast.  Drink coffee- probably too much coffee.  Watch TV.  Water plants.  Tomatoes, green peppers, coleus, indoor plants as well.  I knit.  Nick plays at his computer.    I play at my computer.   I have Zoom meetings on Mondays and Tuesdays.    

It's too hard somehow to read a book.  The ability to concentrate is not really there.   Or maybe not the ability but the desire?   I don't know.

 

We grew too many tomatoes, so I put a note on the neighborhood Facebook group and offered them to anyone who would like to have them  Some green bell pepper as well.  It was a hit!  I hate to grow food and then end up throwing it away!

I have postponed my right knee replacement surgery indefinitely.  I don't want to be in a hospital in the time of the pandemic.

And then there's the upcoming election.  There are 55 days until November 3, 2020.   I remember four years ago how much I dreaded the possibility that Trump might become president.   Of course it couldn't really happen.  Hillary Clinton was sure to win.  When she did not win I think my world went into a dark depression.  By "my world" I mean the world of people who wanted Hillary and were sure she was the one who would win.

And now we have the Trump party working hard to retain the office of president.   I am on edge.  Worried.  Scared.  The man has done so much damage and harm to America that it is sickening.

And on that cheery note, I am off to take a shower.  Buddy the wonder dog is at the vet getting his teeth cleaned, which is why we got up way too early this morning.  Now we wait for the call to pick him up!