We Voted!

Kurt got home this morning and we decided to tag team our voting, rather than potentially go with two small children only to wait in line in the Health & Welfare building where there's nothing fun to do, except get into things and places that aren't meant for small children to get into.
So after feeding the baby (my timer, dontcha kno) I took off and got there to find a line down "the wall" (where there were signs up telling voters to stand next to). I brought my journal and my scriptures with me ~ childlessness doesn't come often and I was terrified of just standing there for a long time. But just as I was reading an old entry, a woman came out of the room we were all waiting to go into and said, "anyone A through F?" I was the very last person in line, so when everyone in front of me said "no", she started to turn and walk away. I thought to myself, "wait! I'm an F!!!" So I jumped and walked in front all these other people waiting and went in to the little lady sitting alone behind the "A to F" line. I GOT RIGHT IN! So now, my hands were full of scriptures and my journal that were just extra baggage, getting in the way. geesh.
I showed her that I was who I said I was and she directed me to the second line where I would get my ballot. After picking it up, I walked to one of the open cardboard dividers that help us have some privacy while filling in completely those little circles. Here's where I appreciated being childless most: friends from the neighborhood and from church were there with their tiny people and it was of course chaotic to keep track of people and make sure the little guys were all attached at the leg to the appropriate tall people. One little boy got separated (looking up from the leg he was holding only to find that that was NOT his mom!), and was quickly ushered back to the right place. Thank goodness.
As I was filling in my little circles, I was close enough to the line where people were turning in their ballots to hear the "announcer" lady. You know the one I mean ~ the lady that says, "Ben E. Hanna has voted!" when you turn in your ballot. I was taken back for a moment to a time when I must have gone with my mom to vote. At Wilson Middle School. (you know that was a long time ago when it isn't even a middle school anymore) My Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Cummings was the "announcer" lady. And she did her job with gusto. This morning, the lady was quietly making her declarations. Mrs. Cummings would have had none of that. "BOB DENVER HAS VOTED!" Mrs Cummings would say while holding up Bob's ballot before dropping it in the box. I remember as a goofy kid, seeing my teacher there, feeling kind of awkward about her being so loud. Her voice filled an otherwise pretty quiet library. And then, being sort of embarrassed for her, she of course recognized me and acknowledged me by name. Now I was embarrassed that the loud announcer lady knew me. Funny how memories come when you might not expect them. Mrs. Cummings was a grandma when I had her and now I see her headstone at the cemetery near my family. She was an awesome woman...probably worthy of a post all her own someday. One quick memory was how she always used to call Joel Cano (Joe-elle Kahn-o) "CANO!". Especially when he took off down the hall with her prosthetic foot one day.

So back to voting. I was able to finish my ballot and get back home in less than 20 minutes. Kurt went and was back more quickly than that. There wasn't a line at all for him. And he found the little "A to F" lady all by her loney self again. Maybe we'll have to make her some cookies or something, poor dear.

Lines are around the block, around the building today in other places. Boise polling places are showing that there can be multi-houred waits. I'm so proud of people who are moving past the apathy we've seen in past elections. And prayerful that things will turn out well for everyone.

Happy Election Day!!