On Wednesday the 20th, Joanne and I got home from the office at about 7:00 PM. We put together some dinner and by 8:00 I felt exhausted. After having a talk with myself to pull me together, I spent the next 3 hours working on the signs for my personal democracy project for the next day (today).
In late October of 2008 I created two identical 4’x8’ signs on sheets of plywood and set them up on highway 33 near Casitas Springs and did my best for 13 hours to encourage motorists to vote for Barack Obama. It worked. :)
So yesterday, on Wednesday the 20th at 8:00 PM, having made some preliminary preparations earlier in the week, and having not done my book/blog writing for the day, I began to assemble two identical 4’x8’ signs on plywood that I would use the next day to try to influence the outcomes of some state and federal races in the upcoming November 2 election. I finished the signs and hit the sack, still no writing, at 11:00 PM, setting my alarm for 5:00 AM.
From 6:00 AM until 6:00 PM today I danced on the shoulder of highway 33, drawing attention to my signs and coaxing motorists to honk as a way of telling me that they were committed to voting on November 2. Long day; too much dancing for an old guy, and one can only do so many fist salutes before chronically injuring ones shoulder.
It was a great day, punctuated by innumerable drawn-out, rhythmic honks that clearly said, “you better believe I’m gonna vote!!!” I was only flipped off 3 times; a pittance compared to the 62 in 2008.
My day on the street does not qualify me as a great citizen, but I feel better for facing my fears, doing the planning, dragging my butt out of bed, and encouraging myself and others to be engaged in our democracy.
Great effort, and it shows in your clear, bright encouraging political signs and your 12 hour day!
ReplyDeleteAlot or work for anybody, 59 years old or not.
Thanks Sweetheart!
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