It was rather chilly and overcast when I set out on my voting day journey this morning so I wore my lightweight jacket. Voting took much less time than I had calculated so I had extra time before my ride picked me up from the Church polling site on Poplar Level Road.
Artists never waste time so I busied myself outside the poling entrance by designating myself as the unofficial greeter saying, “Good Morning. Welcome.” to all who rounded the corner of the church or stepped up from the parking lot.
I had already struck up a conversation with the gentleman standing inside the door who showed voters the correct area for their sign-in books according to their addresses. He looked like a modern-day Albert Einstein and I learned that he lived on the second floor of what we used to call “The Apartments” down the hill and around the bend from my home. His only problem with his living quarters was that there was no elevator. He knew I was waiting for a ride and checked on me from time to time.
A man wearing a Korean War cap gave me a cheerful grin. I told him my brother had served in Korea and saluted him for his service. He said he was going to have his 90th Birthday in a few days. I wished him “Happy Birthday!”
And then along came the nuns wearing their crisp white garb. One was in a wheelchair and was cared for by the other four. I had never seen nuns voting and told them so. They remarked to me that they were proud to come out today.
I was impressed by seeing the young children who followed parents and grandparents through the parking lot and into the voting door. It was a good lesson for an important Tuesday and I hoped those young footsteps would become an imprint for generations in the future to follow.
The elderly came with walkers and canes and wheelchairs to share a Tuesday morning as Americans expressed their opinions.
A blind man chatted on the arm of his helper.
I shared comments with a woman who said she voted because her sons had also served in the military.
The sun came out and I took off my jacket. It was a good day to be an American and I am glad to have met so many smiling citizens and add another “I voted today” paper bracelet to my collection.