And after work I voted. As I was walking into the polling place a man I suspect was in his eighties came up to me and offered me some literature about one of the candidates. It was a candidate I wasn't going to vote for, but when he said, "Please take one of these, I only have two left and when they're gone I can go home." I couldn't resist. It was my good deed for the day.
Where I vote there are two different Wards that vote in the same school gymnasium. I never can remember what Ward I'm in, but today before I could even register any confusion a woman working one of the lines yelled to me, "You belong over here." It seems they remember me from the last time I voted. I rode that day, too, and it was rather cold and there were snow flurries. Apparently, I made quite the impression.
After voting I encountered the same man I'd met outside on the way in. He was still there trying to get rid of the last piece of campaign literature. He asked me, "What kind of bike is that you're riding." I told him it was a SYM Symba. He told me he'd thought it looked like a Honda Cub. He went on to tell me about the Goldwing he owned for a lot of years and began to tell me about his other bikes. I told him I really wished I could talk longer, but I actually had plans for the evening and needed to get home, change bikes, and fed the cat. "Feeding the cat is very important, I know," he said, "I have two cats." Then he added, "They are my family."
My plans for the evening was to meet Heather at The Stone Spiral and listen to my friends Will and Shlomo make music. Alyssa, who I don't really know, is now playing violin with them. The only other time I heard her play with them she was brand new and was just becoming familiar with the material. Wow, tonight she was wonderful. What a great addition.
- 31F/-1C with a few clouds for the ride to work.
- 48F/9C and cloudy but with plenty of sunshine for the ride to vote.
- 43F/6C and dark for the home ride.
I think you can say you have truly found your home.
ReplyDeleteMy sense of being at home here has changed since I started riding to work. I think you may be right, now.
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It is cool that they remembered you in the polling place. We have vote by mail in Oregon so it is one thing I never have to worry about - which Ward I am in.
ReplyDeleteI am a little saddened that the old man's family is just cats, but at least he has cats. I imagine I'll be there one day too, lol.
He didn't say as if he were complaining. It was just fact. It was sweet and perhaps a little sad, but I really had the sense this man manages to meet people and stay active.
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