My grandmother loved to tell the story of coming in to Ellis Island when she was four years old. She recalled how everyone was whooping and hollering as they ran to one side of the ship to see the Statue of Liberty. Fearing that the weight shift would cause the boat to capsize after surviving the long and difficult journey, she stayed at the opposite rail and jumped up and down to provide a ballast.
With so many indicators pointing to a Kerry win, I feel the same way. I believe land is in sight. But, I want to have both feet firmly planted before the celebration.
The doctor says it's kidney stones that have had me so miserable these last few days, but I wonder if it's not the battle between the feeling of possibility that started growing with the first debate and the rational fear that another election can be stolen.
I've noticed the symptoms are exacerbated with Swift Boat veterans ads which have resurfaced in heavy rotation on the Florida television stations.
The pain strikes a little lower everytime I hear a Republican spinmeister say Osama bin Laden released the latest tape because he is afraid of Bush and supports Kerry.
It almost knocked me over when I noticed that one of my neighbors was putting Bush-Cheney stickers in trick-or-treat bags last night -- despite the obvious irony.
Charlie, Jen and I are going to our polling place when it opens tomorrow morning to make sure Jen can vote before her first class. This is her first election and she is both excited and awestruck with the responsibility.
Yesterday Jen realized that there were several other races on the ballot, but all she knew about those candidates was what she heard and saw in ads (which she instinctively doesn't believe). She was relieved to discover she only has to vote in the contests she has studied.
If Jen is the model for the flood of new voters coming to shore, I'm going to feel so much better on Wednesday.


Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs