Voting in the Deep South

I voted today at the smallest polling place I have ever seen. I get a kick out of it every election that rolls around. I remember going to vote with my parents (in S. Florida) when I was a child and the lines for machines with curtains. Nothing like that where I live now. This precinct is NOT a waste of taxpayer’s money. No frills (no bathrooms or running water for example). Country living has been a real adjustment for me, but since we have been here 7 years, I have learned to appreciate the good things. No lines for voting is one of them.

Our candidates speak of Florida as if it is one place. A quick geography lesson that I know they had to learn is that in Florida, the south is the north and the north is south. Got that? The line of demarcation is Orlando. So I grew up on the West Coast of South Florida, where more people are from Ohio and Michigan than from Florida, so it was more northern. The East coast of Florida is populated more heavily with people from the North Eastern U.S. When I moved to North Florida, I moved to the deep South. I’m sure this makes for very interesting campaign strategies. Maybe now that I’ve voted, the governor will stop calling me. I seriously had EIGHT phone messages last night with election messages. Round One is almost over. Whew!

Free Stuff

I have been visiting dozens of bloggers tonight and now have the chance to win all kinds of fascinating things. If you haven't checked it out, visit Rocks In My Dryer's Bloggy Give-Aways this week for the carnival she is having. It's fun. I rarely actually win anything, but since I am Polly Positive, I am ever-hopeful.

The Waiting Room – Just Smile

Does anyone like waiting rooms? I don’t. Especially when it’s one you sit in for weeks… or months. That place where you are waiting for the next job/career opportunity to open up, or waiting for the college acceptance letter, or worse, waiting for something that is undefined. That place of knowing there is change coming but you don’t’ know what or how. It seems like most of my family is in the waiting room right now. I know what to say to them… “Be of good courage and have faith that God is working out His plan in His time”. Sounds good. Words are fine but I want ACTION and I want it now! Now I’ve said it. I am an action girl. This “Be still and Know” stuff is agonizing for me. Brings to mind the mess that Sara made in trying to hurry along the promised child and now she's responsible for bringing forth Ishmael. Wow- what a mess! So maybe I blogged out my frustration and can be more patient now. Sara didn’t having blogging as an outlet, poor dear. Light bulb! I can sing while I wait. And I can smile – smiling’s my favorite! (True for both Buddy the Elf and me) There, I really feel better now. I have to sit in a doctor’s waiting room this afternoon. I can practice smiling while I’m there. Elf therapy. If you need some smiling today, Click Here.

New Mercies & Grits

I just finished a good novel called New Mercies. (Great title!) It was set in Natchez, Mississippi in 1933. A character who had recently moved to the South from Chicago quipped, “Why would you take a perfectly good ear of corn and make it into sand?”, referring to grits. I shared this with the lady behind the desk when I returned the book to the library and her response echoed mine. “Well, he obviously hasn’t it had it cooked right!” I love grits. I had some this morning as a treat to start Saturday off right. It is a true comfort food to me and to everyone in my family. If you haven’t ever had it “cooked right”, I’m the one to show you.

It’s a cold and rainy day in the South, but I am thankful for grits and good books and fellow bloggers who create fascinating reading material that is often better than fiction. I am discovering a lot of talented writers out there who now are published through the world of blogging. Gotta love it.

Transformation Should Be Ageless

I am putting together a senior page for our youngest. It’s startling how the last 17 years seem more like 5 years.

When I look at the metamorphosis of my baby into a young woman, I think, “Have I changed in a measurable way too?” I hope so. I know that the growth and development of a baby from birth to age 2 is astonishing. The abilities of a 4 yr. old have far more than doubled what a 2 yr. old can do. Then from 4 to 8 is another giant leap. 8 to 16 is breathtaking and gut-wrenching. 16 to 32 are also marked with major milestones in learning, decision-making and maturity. Then what happens? Some people just stop. I never want to stop growing. Even when I’m gone from this earth, I will be transformed from glory unto glory! Wow- this motivates me to want to live in that reality NOW! Age-defying thinking… that’s what’s on my mind today. This is just another beginning for me too! That will be my focus… please remind me of that when I get sad.

No Regrets

We have entered the count-down days of my youngest child’s high school career. She has indeed made a career of it, and her activity level has been dizzying. I am planning the final banquet for the varsity cheerleaders, who just cheered their last game last night. Along with being in the midst of helping plan Project Graduation and pasting together memories for her senior page, there are lots of emotions moving through me.

One feeling is relief. I love working with the kids, but I suspect that teachers often think, “what is WITH these moms?!” I have had the “opportunity” to work with a toxic personality in my volunteer activities these past few years. Toxic people are my top pet peeve. I do not want their slime in my life. Not seeing this woman, hopefully EVER again will be a great relief. It has taken every ounce of diplomacy and patience within me to not react to her. I have never fought back but have gotten slimed regularly. I do not like confrontation, but have often thought, “Am I being a total wimp to let her run all over me and everyone else?” There have been 3 deterrents as I have secretly wanted to wring her neck and march off. One, I am reminded that we are the adults and supposed to be setting the example for our girls. Two, I never ever want to act like her. Three, I truly aspire to live by the law of kindness in all my dealings.

But is there a line? I know I didn’t cross it and I don’t have any regrets. Maybe that’s my answer. No regrets.

Bumper Sticker Politics

Seen last week:
Monica Lewinsky’s Ex-Boyfriend’s Wife for President

Makes you think. Makes me think, “Not a chance!”
It’s kinda funny in a sick sort of way.
My attempt at political humor. The race has heated up in Florida.