November 5, 2008

Election Day


I love election days for several reasons, including the fact that at my designated polling place (my daughter's elementary school), voters are treated to free cookies and patriotic music played by the school band. For presidential elections, the professionals (AKA: the middle school orchestra) are brought in.

On most election days, my polling place is a hub of frenzied activity and excitement. Yesterday proved to be a disappointing exception. My husband voted early in the morning and was met at the polling place by long lines, hostile picketers, and several cranky and impatient commuters. I made the poor choice of voting in the middle of the afternoon, when all of the protesters were on their lunch breaks. The only person with whom I could pick a fight was sitting on a splintered bench next to the front doors. The woman was holding a handmade poster (complete with pithy political statement) in one hand and a sandwich in the other. It was raining and the woman's sandwich appeared to be from the tuna fish family, so I left her alone.

Poking around my daughter's school during school hours is made difficult both by the pesky "visitor" badges that parents are required to wear and by the nosy hall monitors who tend to hang out in front of all of the windows through which I want to look.

My plan was to tour the school before I voted. My path to the art and music rooms was blocked, however, by a menacing looking woman dressed in a red, white, and blue sweater vest. When I cast a longing look at the vast, vacant stretch of hallway behind her, the woman shot me a "don't even think about it" look and pointed in the direction of the gymnasium. I was forlorn.

My good spirits further diminished when I exited the voting booth and went into the foyer to claim my free cookie. I was distraught to discover that without any warning or posted public notice, the elementary school PTA had taken over the refreshment table and were charging money for the cookies. Even worse, I had left my wallet in my car.

My sorrow of leaving the polling place with an empty stomach was pacified little by the melodious sounds produced by the middle school orchestra. The band was playing, appropriately, the theme song of Titanic.

16 comments

gigi said...

Oh now that's funny.

Unknown said...

Okay I will admit I laughed so hard I snorted at that last line :)

HW said...

Wait. They wanted to charge you for the cookie?
I think that's voter intimidation....

Cuddles, Kisses & Tantrums said...

the titanic theme, unfortunately very appropriate.

Skubaliscious said...

Seriously. Nothing is free anymore.

{leah} said...

I'm with hw charging for cookies!!! What is this world coming too?

Malea said...

I'm trying to think of a timely way you could have yelled out "I'm the king of the world!" I'll leave that up to you. Click on my blog, if you have a moment, and see my ode to thy great ideas in FHE.

AW Cake! said...

It's sad to be disappointed on election day. I went in and voted then requested a sticker so that I could proudly wear it and show everyone how cool I am. They didn't have any - my balloon was totally deflated...

Carrie said...

The theme to Titanic...how appropriate!

Nikki said...

Yea - is the economy so bad that we don't even get free stickers anymore???

Nancy B said...

Forget cookies. In these uncertain times, what's called for is a good, stiff drink...on the Lido deck...as the ship is sinking.

janaemadsen said...

I don't ever get cookies. and we didn't have to wait in line. Too bad the rest home I vote at doesn't have any good protesters.

Anonymous said...

All you that think the titanic theme was somehow appropriate music for this election are sadly missing one of the most significant moments in our country's history. Whether you agree with the new president elect's policies or not, this is a GIANT step forward for our country. Really, he was elected by a landslide and not just by the blue states. He was clearly the people's choice AND he's black. I really didn't think I'd ever live to see that happen. It almost seems like a miracle. This country is NOT going down like a sinking ship. Things are tough right now to be sure but there's never been more reason to have hope.

Anonymous said...

I think the Titanic thing was referring to her sadness at not getting a cookie - as far as I can tell, she didn't say anything about any candidate.

Jana said...

It is sad but true that my disappointment had nothing to do with the candidates, but rather, was over not getting a free cookie. I didn't even think about a sticker...

I wasn't offered one of those either! The horror!

Liz said...

seriously.. charging for the cookies? Come on people!