BECAUSE WE COULD

The past few days' events feel surreal. Yesterday I drove by the Obama's headquarter in Ardmore where I went many times since it opened, bringing food for the staffers and volunteers, writing paper pads, envelopes and what ever they needed and that I could afford to give. This is where I signed to canvass and send people who wanted to do same and pick-up yard signs. Crazy as it may be but I miss the text messages from the campaign I was getting everyday on my cell phone and I fell sad to see the headquarter slowing getting empty after Obama's victory. But I am keeping my Obama ring tone "America, it's time to bring our troops home".
What a ride this experience was and how many late nights spent watching the news, reading of another possible stolen election! From the beginning of the campaign I told myself that I would not pay attention to the polls reminding myself of 2004. Whom was I kidding? In short, I put my personal life on hold, my kitchen table soon covered with mails I did not bother to open - most were bills not due yet- and the rest junk I would discard later. At work Obama was the talk of each day, the debates and the horror coming out of the McCain campaign. Everywhere I went I made sure I directed conversations on the elections , always carrying a bunch of registrations and a few bumper stickers. On my last day of canvassing I took this picture

Laurie, my canvassing partner of the day (Monday Nov.3), and I were in our township (Haverford) knocking at doors in neighboroughs both of us did not know existed. This last day was an eye opener of the divide among us and so close by. I should have taken a pic. of the streets we walked then. The house next to the one above had a Virgin Mary statue by the front door and this was one of the home we were to visit. For sure I thought the people would have rejected us but to my surprise the whole family was supporting Obama! YEAH! We were told that they did not want to put an Obama sign on their lawn for fear of the people supporting McCain - all of them "prolifers" and in adoration with Sarah Palin. A young man came out of the next door house with a small dog on a leach, said hello because we greeted him but when he realized what we were doing and saw the t-shirt I was wearing ( Obama's face with the writing "That One" underneath) he visibly became angry. Later on we crossed path with him again as he was walking back , dog barking pulling on the leach toward us. Laurie crossed the street, I continued walking and as the man and his dog came closer I smiled and looking at the animal said "why are you barking?" to which the man responded in a loud voice "He barks because he does not like your t-shirt and what's written on it!" blabla, we exchanged a few words, his "baby killer" me" war supporter" ( tss..tsss..I know, I know better than not to engage with such people but I could not help it.) Laurie was right, the guy could have had a gun on him or even go to his home and get one. We were done our work in that area and rushed to the car en route to another street.

At another home a woman told us that her brother living next door was supporting McCain and that she was trying hard to convince him to change his mind. Same thing there : No Obama lawn sign. In fact in that area we did not see any, just here and there a small sign at a window. That day most homes had their shutters closed, either people were at work or they did not want to get bothered. But we did get the chance to speak to a few and get positive feedbacks.

The day before was a better day for me. A much different area of Haverford, many good conversations and so much enthusiasm. The best experience I had was when I distributed lawn signs for Greg Vitali (my State Representative) in Ardmore. On my list of homes to go to was the one that had a Bush/Cheney (twice) on its lawn. I remember too well this house with all kind of patriotic signs : American flag, Vietnam veteran sign and "Support the Troops". All minus the Bush/Cheney were still there but this household was supporting Obama and our Democrats. Bravo!

At work I made sure everyone was registered and made a pest of myself questioning everyone if they knew their polling place and later on verified the answers I got. One of my coworkers was going to vote for McCain because her husband told her he was the right guy to vote for. That was about 6 months before the elections. Guess what? she and her husband changed their mind and even asked me for Obama's buttons! SMILE!

And here we are today. Me, with a huge stye on my left eye - my usual sign of maximum stress- But hey! all was worth it!
This week end, I am cleaning my garden. Bills are paid, kitchen table is cleared. For a little while I am taking my life back. More to do later on, but one day at a time!
WE DID IT!