Eight years ago, I started blogging here at Denton Sanatorium. What spurred my entry into the blogosphere? Obama/McCain.
To celebrate eight years here in my corner of cyberspace: Election 2016, the craziest election I've participated in yet.
I arrived at the polling place parking lot just after 5 am this morning, and by 5:45, the line snaked out of sight.
My third-place spot in line was upgraded when two gentlemen kindly gave up their places to the first two women in line. I sat in the folding chair I'd brought, grading papers and listening to the political chatter around me--which was surprisingly mellow, even though it was way before sunrise.
A friend saw me sitting in my camp chair, and as he walked by said, "What's more American than a U.S. History teacher grading papers in cowboy boots, waiting in line to vote on election day?" The line laughed, and so did I.
At 5:59 am, the doors opened, and we all meandered our way through the unfamiliar school's hallway to the library. The workers checked my ID, handed me a ballot, and I walked to the voting booth. I turned the ballot over to vote for the referendums first, and I discovered they'd given me two ballots--a mistake they quickly remedied.
After completing my ballot, I walked to the machine, where I was the very first one to vote in my precinct today.
While this election has been ugly and divisive and mean, I'm proud to cast a vote today. I'm proud to be American where voting is such a great privilege.
As the machine swallowed my ballot and the worker handed me my voting badge, I asked if I could take a picture of the ballot box to show my students today, since they are voting in class. He asked me how many students I had, and he spun the roll of stickers and handed me enough for my whole class to wear today, saying, "Voting is important. Teach those kids!"
And so, today, I will.
No matter your political persuasion, go vote today. Men and women throughout history have risked their lives for this privilege. Take advantage of it.
God Bless America, today and always.
To celebrate eight years here in my corner of cyberspace: Election 2016, the craziest election I've participated in yet.
I arrived at the polling place parking lot just after 5 am this morning, and by 5:45, the line snaked out of sight.
My third-place spot in line was upgraded when two gentlemen kindly gave up their places to the first two women in line. I sat in the folding chair I'd brought, grading papers and listening to the political chatter around me--which was surprisingly mellow, even though it was way before sunrise.
A friend saw me sitting in my camp chair, and as he walked by said, "What's more American than a U.S. History teacher grading papers in cowboy boots, waiting in line to vote on election day?" The line laughed, and so did I.
At 5:59 am, the doors opened, and we all meandered our way through the unfamiliar school's hallway to the library. The workers checked my ID, handed me a ballot, and I walked to the voting booth. I turned the ballot over to vote for the referendums first, and I discovered they'd given me two ballots--a mistake they quickly remedied.
After completing my ballot, I walked to the machine, where I was the very first one to vote in my precinct today.
While this election has been ugly and divisive and mean, I'm proud to cast a vote today. I'm proud to be American where voting is such a great privilege.
As the machine swallowed my ballot and the worker handed me my voting badge, I asked if I could take a picture of the ballot box to show my students today, since they are voting in class. He asked me how many students I had, and he spun the roll of stickers and handed me enough for my whole class to wear today, saying, "Voting is important. Teach those kids!"
And so, today, I will.
No matter your political persuasion, go vote today. Men and women throughout history have risked their lives for this privilege. Take advantage of it.
God Bless America, today and always.
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