I Voted

As I was on the way to vote today I had a memory of when I was younger and in elementary school. Back in the day, our elementary school in PA was the polling place. I remember vividly the hallways of my elementary school being crowded with polling booths. I remember the curtains for each "stall." I remember seeing the adults' shoes poking out as they were taking their time behind the curtains to vote.

But what I remembered most was the feeling of giddiness that came with that day. For that day was the day of the bake sale! Not only were the hallways crowded with voters, but there were also tables set up with baked goods to be sold. I was always sent to school with a bit of money to buy myself a giant brownie or a giant rice krispy treat.

So, I guess I equate voting with that memory - of the almost electricity charged atmosphere mingled with the anticipation of a baked good. It turns out it's a good memory and so my memories and thoughts of voting are positive.

This year, however, I have been dreading voting (if I want a baked good I'd either have to buy one - and it wouldn't be homemade - or make one) mostly because of the scare put into me that the lines will be terribly long. I'm imagining standing in line with my children for at least two hours. I imagine that just as we are about to vote, one of my kids throws up or something and we have to leave without voting after waiting in line for 2 hours.

Then I had an offer (or two) to watch my children while I went to vote. I considered it. Then I thought about leaving my children with someone for 2 hours. They'd probably never babysit for me again. But I needed to vote, so I took a friend up on her offer to watch my two boys. And off I went to wait in the lines.

I get to the church. The parking lot is almost empty. Where's the line? Am I at the wrong place? Nope. I had hit a lull. There was no line. I just walked in, got my ballot and was in and out in about 7 minutes.