My single vote

The presidential election is here.  As Americans we have the right to vote our leadership of this country.  There are many around the world who do not.  I have voted in every election since I was old enough to do so.  Why...because I can.  I can have a say on what my future holds. 

I remember when I was in high school.  I ran for Student Body President.  Representatives from each class were sent to the gym to hear our platforms and then vote for those who would go on to the general election.  We had to have a certain amount of votes to continue on. Guess what happened.  A certain group of kids from the school had decided that they would volunteer as class representatives and vote their own friends in as candidates instead of voting for those running for the office on official terms.  They showed up and elected a new set of candidates.  The rest of us were left wondering what happened.  It was effective and strategic planning on their part.  This set of new candidates however, were not wanted by the rest of the student body.  Those of us who did not make the primary, banded together and started a write in campaign.  Our write in candidate won.   I wasn't an SBO, but at a young age I learned a very important lesson about the power of my single vote.  Your single vote.  Others single vote.  They add up and they make change happen.

I have heard many say they are sick of politics, campaign ads, and everything else associated with this election.  Me too. But I will vote.  Its time.  Go vote. 

Debate take away...

I fell asleep during the debate.  Bunch of Malarkey and CNN's undecided voter comment about Biden acting like a Buffoon in General are what linger in my head.  Personally neither did it for me tonight but Biden was really annoying in his behavior.  So I guess I give style points to Ryan. 

Not Enough

The other day I was driving down the road with my two girls in the back.  As we came up on an intersection I noticed a young woman with a sign.  It said something like "help me leave your city".  My 8 yr old read it outloud as we waited for the light to turn green.  I noticed that she had on a very full backpack.  She had on layers of worn clothes. On the ground next to her was another small bag and a violin.  It was the violin that made me read the sign then look at the girl holding it.  So young.  She was so young, maybe 18 or so.  The light turned and we started to drive and then that discontent that makes your heart ache.  I looked for a place to turn around.  I drove around the block.  Not sure what I was going to do.  I had two kids in the car.  She was on an island away from the sidewalk.  I prayed for a stop light.  I got it.  I stopped.  Then started to wave at her to come over...I grabbed my wallet and pulled out a dollar. No.  A five and rolled down the window.  She came over, I told her I noticed her violin.  She said she wished she could play me a song.  I said it was okay, and wished her luck.   She thanked me and I started to drive away as the light had turned and there was a line of cars behind me waiting to move. 

I drove away, and wished I could have asked her name, how and why she was there.  Where she was going, who she was.  Instead I connected because she played the violin.  She was going somewhere and her music was probably her solace.  The one posession she valued most. When I passed back through the intersection awhile later. She was gone.  We did something, but it feels like it was not enough.