rapunzel
Beach Fanatic
I've been doing some poll watching for the Democratic Party, and I have a story I'd like to share.
On Saturday, a little old lady came in to the early voting place pushing an even older lady in a wheelchair. The two African American women tell the clerk the older woman is there to vote, and explain the younger woman is the other woman's daughter and she needs to help her mother vote. They complete the affadavit attesting the daughter needs to help the mother because she is unable to read small print or fill in the ovals on the ballot.
They sit at the table set up for voters with special needs, right across from me. The daughter begins reading the ballot to the mother. She reads, "For President of the United States, John McCain, Barack Obama..."
The mother then gestured to the daughter to stop. She said, "I want to do this one." She reached a arthritic hand toward the ballot. She asked which circle. Her daughter pointed. She carefully darkened the appropriate oval. She then passed the ballot back to her daughter to complete the rest.
I got the privilege of witnessing one of the most beautiful moments of this campaign, right here in DeFuniak. That woman who cast that vote was born in 1912. She was 43 when Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, KS was decided, she was 53 when Martin Luther King, Jr. marched in Selma and 56 when he was assassinated. At 96, she was able to vote for a black man to become President. And I was there to see her insist upon doing it herself.
I have so many wonderful memories of this campaign, but this past Saturday in DeFuniak Springs was the best. No matter what happens tomorrow, I'm grateful to have been able to take part in this wonderful movement for change.
On Saturday, a little old lady came in to the early voting place pushing an even older lady in a wheelchair. The two African American women tell the clerk the older woman is there to vote, and explain the younger woman is the other woman's daughter and she needs to help her mother vote. They complete the affadavit attesting the daughter needs to help the mother because she is unable to read small print or fill in the ovals on the ballot.
They sit at the table set up for voters with special needs, right across from me. The daughter begins reading the ballot to the mother. She reads, "For President of the United States, John McCain, Barack Obama..."
The mother then gestured to the daughter to stop. She said, "I want to do this one." She reached a arthritic hand toward the ballot. She asked which circle. Her daughter pointed. She carefully darkened the appropriate oval. She then passed the ballot back to her daughter to complete the rest.
I got the privilege of witnessing one of the most beautiful moments of this campaign, right here in DeFuniak. That woman who cast that vote was born in 1912. She was 43 when Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, KS was decided, she was 53 when Martin Luther King, Jr. marched in Selma and 56 when he was assassinated. At 96, she was able to vote for a black man to become President. And I was there to see her insist upon doing it herself.
I have so many wonderful memories of this campaign, but this past Saturday in DeFuniak Springs was the best. No matter what happens tomorrow, I'm grateful to have been able to take part in this wonderful movement for change.
I'm all misty and stuff. Great story, punzy. 
