"No one knows what goes on behind closed . . ."

[AVID]

I had a successful discussion with my mother last night. I am sure I have convinced her to vote for John Kerry - but she will never admit it.

She is embedded with my in-laws in a conservative county in the suburbs of Atlanta. She used to vote Dem - Carter, The Duke, Clinton (once), but then she was brainwashed - is it a coincidence that two months after joining my brother's four square church she suddenly became a vehement Clinton basher, and bush fanatic? I don't think so.

I've been working on her since April.

"At the moment of truth, behind the curtain, in the booth all alone, think about what I've said - no one will know but you."

I got a "hmm" and I know what that means coming form my mom - It means I get an extra piece of cake, an extra $20 for the weekend, a move out of the dorm, a signature on my grad school loan - AND a vote for John Kerry.

[gratuitous]

1. Well begun is half done

You don't have to be a pain in the neck about it, but be sure to feed your mom a little bit every now and then, just to be sure the message sticks. She'll be going to church every Sunday, and they'll be working real hard to persuade her otherwise.

Keep up your appeal to her fairness and her sense of justice. Bush doesn't have a dog in that fight, so it should be easy to solidify your case to vote for Kerry.