November 2024 Presidential Election

 Vote Early. Get out the Vote. Your Vote Matters. No Excuses Voting.

     Everyday of Early Voting for the 2024 General & Presidential Election, I walked my dog, Heisenberg, by my Polling Place to see how long the lines were to see if I wanted to go back and wait in line for a long time in order to vote. That I was even considering this was huge. I will be honest. I haven't voted nor have I cared about voting for years and I mean years. The prospect of 4 more years of Donald Trump as President had me panicked enough to be inspired. Everyday the line was too long. I was getting over a concussion, my 1st ever, and it was still nice enough outside where it would be stuffy & hot standing in line for even an hour. I didn't think the standing in line & hot, airless building was a good combo. Everyday, I told myself I would be committed and stand in line and wait to vote nevermind that I might faint in the process. And everyday, when I walked Heisenberg by, the lines got longer & longer. It was good to see so many people voting. Surely, this meant that Donald Trump, a convicted felon, would not be re-elected. Barack & Michelle Obama were on their own campaign trail to "Get Out the Vote" & obviously it was working. Educated, enlightened people were voting. When I walked Heisenberg by my Polling Place on these days, I usually asked one or two people how long the wait was. The lines to vote were long but, if they were moving quickly, I would consider going back to vote after I took Heisenberg back home.

     Finally, it was Election Day, November 4th 2024. It was a nice day here in Kansas City: not too hot & not too cold and sunny. I took Heisenberg around the block. I still hadn't voted and I probably wasn't going to because, today, surely, I would see the longest lines of all. To my surprise, as we rounded the corner East on 37th from Baltimore, there was no line of people waiting to vote. As we walked by the windows in front, I could see there was still no line. This was my sign. I raced Heisenberg back home,  grabbed my ID, raced back, voted & got my "I Voted" sticker. I chose the electronic ballot over the pencil option. I might be 63 but I was not going to be an old person who couldn't use technology when I knew I could. As I walked home, I felt proud of myself with actually following through on something I had wanted to do for 2 weeks. I had freaking voted in a Presidential Election and, like I mentioned earlier, I honestly can't remember when was the last time I had done so. I think it might have been when Walter Mondale ran for President in 1984. I like to get behind my Minnesota people. Now that I think about it, I don't remember who but he was progressive enough back then to have a woman running as his VP Candidate. This year, 40 years later, the script was flipped a little & a woman was running for President with a man, Tim Walz, from Minnesota as her VP Candidate. 

     My chosen candidates for President & Vice President didn't win. Donald Trump, a 78-year-old Billionaire, was reelected for a 2nd term. You have to wonder why a 78-year-old Billionaire Grandpa would rather spend his time being President than relaxing and hanging out with his grandkids. Obviously, he must feel like he has something to prove to whomever and, ultimately, to himself. He will be 82 when he leaves office. 82 is too old to be the President & Leader of the Free World. 

     I had high hopes my ONE vote would make a difference. Obviously, it did not. Prior to the Election, I saw a commercial on a couple Sundays while I was watching the Chiefs' and/or Vikings' games. In the commercial, various high profile NFL players urged people to "get out and vote". I wonder how they feel about the Election results. 

Your Vote Matters. No. It does not.