Humbled

I went to my polling place after I left the gym this morning. I expected that since it was early, I'd be in and out in a few minutes.

I was greeted by some nice folks who told me the line started one door up from where it normally was. No problem I thought, it will be all of fifteen minutes instead of two; then I got in the door. There must have been 300+ people in the line I was in with more coming.

It is not often I am gobsmacked in the course of a day, but there it was. I was humbled and moved by my fellow citizens all standing in line for what they knew would be over an hour. They were all standing there waiting to exercise their franchise. Every type of person was there, the old grandfather, the young college student, the daughter of immigrants - every one wanting to make their voice heard today.

Through an accident of address, I was able to skip most of the waiting(only about 30 minutes or so). However, the actual voting area was full up. I sat on an old piano filling out my ballot scribbling my ovals in and hoping my tiny scribbling can make this nation better for my wife, son, and daughter.

Whoever the next people running the government are will have a host of problems to fix, but I have had my faith restored in the ideals of my country and the decency of my fellow citizens.

May every one's vote be counted, and may the next leader take this day of enfranchisement as a symbol of the electorate's sacred trust in him. Thank you my fellow countrymen and women for voting today.