A Sweater And A Vote

Yay, its November!!! This is my most favorite month of the year. I love the crispness in the air it brings, the falling of the leaves and the subsequent pile-making and leaf-jumping. I enjoy walking in the woods on a fall day. Getting my sweaters out of the attic and hiding the extra pounds I’ve put on.

I even like election day. Although I will enjoy taking the signs out of my yard and the stickers off of my van today. I might even break out my political vest from many years ago. My favorite store in Jonesboro when we lived there was Ima’s. They had some great sales! But one year, before Samuel was born, I found this Eagle’s Eye (I loved this company!) sweater vest (yes, it was that far back!) that had elephants on it and said Vote GOP on it. (As a respecter of both parties, they also sold one with donkeys on it, but I wouldn’t wear a donkey vest even if I did vote that way!) Whew, that was a long sentence!! Stephen bought it for me, as you knew he would. I wore it to church one Sunday and was, for lack of a better word, demonized for it. I should have known better, but the sweater was just so darn cute. I knew deep down that this one woman would say something. I just wasn’t prepared for what she was going to say and with what ugliness she would say it. To say the choir room was quiet after she got through with her rant would be an understatement! Back then I was young and things rolled off of my shoulders a little easier than they do now. My feelings were hurt, I was embarrassed but I wore that sweater again to church that night. I had more courage then than now!

Anyway, I say all that to say this. I am thankful that I get the opportunity to vote. A real vote. Not a photo opp vote like in some countries. But a real, counted, vote.