Conversations with Smiths- Part 18

It is election season again here in Franklin County, Ohio. Voting here is a big deal. It should be a big deal everywhere, but it is particularly big here. Although, a little less so since this isn't a presidential election year. Thank goodness! We still get mailings and door signs and people knocking starting in September and oh the number of phone calls we get. I pretty much tune out everything candidate related until mid-October, then pick up the guide written up by the Ohio Women's League of Voters, do a little additional research, and THEN decide for whom I'm voting.

I do have some very definite opinions on the issues we get to vote on, though, so those I have decided well in advance. The other day I received a phone call that went like this:

Caller: Hello? Mrs. Smith? 

Me: This is she.

Caller: I was wondering if I could give you a little more information concerning issue #-.

Me: No, thanks. I'm already planning on voting for it.

Caller: Oh, that's wonderful! Would you like a yard sign to show your support?

Me: No. My husband is likely voting against it. This is usually the case, so we try to keep the yard a neutral zone.

Caller: I see. That sounds complicated.

Me: It's not bad.

Caller: Well, thanks for your vote, Mrs. Smith. 

Me: No problem. I'll try to trip my husband on the way out the door on election day.

Caller: We would certainly appreciate that, Ma'am.

Afraid of Boating?

Tonight after I finished teaching piano lessons, I called down to my kids to come up from playing in the basement so we could walk over to the middle school to vote.

The boys decided to walk to a friends house instead, but Lilyanna came up the stairs willingly.  She kept telling me that she was afraid of boats.  I was confused at this but thought perhaps it was a continuation of a conversation her brothers had been having.

Still as we walked towards the school she kept telling me she didn't want to go on a boat and that she was afraid of boats.  I finally said, "But Lilyanna, we're not going on a boat, we're going to VOTE!"

And then I realized. She'd been misunderstanding me. So we stopped on the sidewalk and I had her look at my lips to see the difference in the words I was saying.  She was visibly relieved and walked happily to the school with me.

She was even happier to receive a sticker after I voted.

There would have been no sticker after boating.

Election Day in the Smith House

When Todd and I were first married we were a little more in line politically speaking. Still different, but not quite as different.  I was a bit more conservative and he was a little less so.

One of the things about marrying young is that you get to grow into adulthood together. In the process I've gone more left, and he more right. Happily we still love each other and more importantly like and respect one another through it all.

While typically Ohio is a political hotbed, this particular election day in our town there's nothing very exciting. School board members, etc. The only thing that I really care about is voting for more funding for our amazing library.  I wasn't sure if the election was even on my sweet husband's radar.

Here is a conversation he and I had last night before bed that sums things up pretty well:

Me: Are you going to vote tomorrow?
Todd: Oh, yeah. I guess I have to go just to cancel out your vote.
Me: I'm planning on tripping you when you walk out the door to the polling place.  Just so you know.

And there you have it.

I'm secretly hoping that the fact that it's so dark when he gets out of work now will make him just come home instead. I'm torn between wanting him to be an upstanding citizen and wanting him to NOT cancel out my vote. ;)

And just for because, here is my favorite voting song:

Vote!

Nathaniel and I went downtown this morning to vote early.  We stood in line for an hour, but the mood was festive.  Nathaniel was pretty thrilled that there was a concession stand and even scored a bag of popcorn to munch on while standing in line.  

This was the first time in a really long time that I had to fill out a paper ballot.  In my town, we have machines. The last three years they've been the touchscreen ones.  I like those.  Apparently, the city isn't there yet.

Todd and I are a political house divided, but we navigate our differences just fine.  The children, however, side with me politically.  Probably because they are around me more.  Nathaniel and I had this conversation as I was filling out my ballot.

N: Mom, did you vote for Barack Obama?

Me: Yes, honey.

N: Then why are you still doing this?

Me: Because I have to vote for other people too, and the issues.

N: But you voted for Barack?

Me: Yes.  Shh.

N: You're sure?

Me: Yes.  Shh.

N: Is everybody else voting for him?

Me: I don't know.  Shh.

N: You're sure you filled in the oval next to his name and you didn't accidentally fill in the one next to McCain's?

Me: YES!  SHHHHHHH.

N: I'm bored.  Can we go now since you already voted for Barack?

On the way out, Nathaniel beguiled the news people and gave a little report about how l-o-n-g it took to vote.  Thank you Mr. Cameraman and Mr. Reporter.  I don't usually watch the news, but I'll tune into yours once or twice during sweeps just to say "thanks".
Tip: if you plan on spending an hour in line with a six year old, don't forget the Gameboy.  It was far more pleasant this way than it would have been otherwise.

Question:  Why do we elect county coroners?  Can there really be more than one person who wants that job?  And how could politics get in the way?  Does a Republican coroner do things differently than a Democrat coroner?  Why don't they ever have a county coroner's debate?  I can guarantee that I would listen to that one!