A voter's tale

[Robbien]

This diary is from a person over at dKos.

When my vote-by-mail ballot arrived, I opened it carefully. For a few minutes, I just held it, savoring it. For more than five decades, I've always had reverence for voting. It's the closest I come to power.

Our vote is our voice. People have fought, bled, and died to preserve that voice. I have never cast a vote without taking a moment to remember the struggles and sacrifices by countless, nameless others that culminated in my secured right to vote.

* RoCali's diary :: ::
*

So here I sat, cradling this precious instrument of freedom, my ballot. Reading it through carefully, with great pride I saw the first choice under the office of President: Barack Obama for President and Joe Biden for Vice President. I thought of all the small donations made over many months. I remembered phone banking and how nervous I was at first about participating. I remembered the Walk for Change rally at the local university and other events. I laughed when realizing that Stand For Change was the first and only bumpersticker I have ever put on any automobile. It honestly felt in some way that I have some tiny part in putting this outstanding choice on my ballot. I smiled, with a lump in my throat.

I went in the bedroom and put on my favorite Obama t-shirt. I stopped in the office to grab my favorite pen and a postage stamp. I pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and sat down. Each bubble was filled in with painstaking manner. Of course, I made sure to mark that important NO for #8, here in California. When each choice was clearly made, the ballot safely placed in the envelope, stamped, and the declaration signed, I headed out to the mail box.

With the ballot in the mail in time for today's pick-up, the flag pulled up to alert the postal worker, I headed back across the yard for the house. I felt the sun shining down on my face and shoulders. It's a beautiful day. For just a moment, I was overwhelmed, that lump back in my throat, a tear in my eye, and a smile on my lips. I know in my heart this is the most important ballot of my lifetime and I know equally that I made the absolute best choice and I will feel good about that for the rest of my life, no regrets.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/14/14581/738/161/630373

Reading the diary made me smile.

[Mnemosyne]

1. It made me smile, too, Robbien! Thanks for sharing. n/t

:hi: