I voted last week by mail. I sat in my comfy home with my black pen and my election manual and I filled in all the appropriate (to my way of thinking) blanks. I pulled a stamp from my purse and stuck it on the envelope and I drove my new car to the Post Office on the way to my job. And, as I dropped the envelope into the mailbox – I gave it a kiss, put my right hand over my heart and said a prayer. No one saw me, and I wouldn’t have cared if they did. However, if someone had, they may have assumed it was a prayer-a-kiss-and-crossing-my-heart-and-hope-to-die so my candidate would win. And they would be wrong. It actually had nothing to do with the candidates. I’ll tell you what it was for: the kiss is for the men and women who are serving – or have served- in the armed forces, my heart - goes out to those who did not return- who ‘gave it their all’ – and my prayer is for the safety of those still out there – and for the families who grieve because their loved one came home in a flag draped box. A thank you, an atta girl/boy, a prayer and a vote. Small repayment for such a huge price paid for me. I told my grand daughter the other day that it would be disrespectful not to vote – so much has been offered by so many to protect this basic privilege. So, vote. And, if you have it in you – say a prayer while you do.
