Reply #63: 19 Years ... [View All]

[RoyGBiv]

Voted for Dukakis. Wore my black overcoat and carried by briefcase into the polling location. Yes, I was/am a bit of a geek.

The more interesting thing about it, for me, is what I did on my birthday, June 15th, of that year.

My grandma had always been political. She was a feminist before the word really existed. She'd always voted.

My mom never had.

The day I turned 18, I got up, went to where my mom worked during her lunch hour, got her and drove down to the county registrar, and got her to register with me.

And on election day, I walked with her to the polling place, which was right across the street from her house. I mean, it was literally across the street, less than 50 yards from her front door.

We both voted for the first time that day. I was 19. She as 31.

I'll never forget it.

I actually voted the year before in a local, special election shortly after I registered and of course in the primaries. But the first Presidential vote I cast with my mother is the one I count.