Screeching Past 4000 Posts While Voting

I don't look at my statistics that much, but I decided to today, and found that this will be my 4008th published post.

Kind of screeched past the 4000 posts milestone, because I had other things on my mind.  Like voting.  Like one of my spouse's cousins, who lives in California, and posted a picture (taken by a friend) of a shopping center near his home on fire.  I saw this morning that he is under an evacuation order.

I've voted in every Presidential election since 1972 (Nixon vs. McGovern). I've voted in churches, in schools, in a YMCA, in a library, in a mall.  

(Sorry about the glare).

But, until yesterday, never in an artisan food store called "Taste New York".

Early voting.  Until last year, New York didn't even have it.  It came just in time for the pandemic.

I don't need to tell my voting story.  Many had it a lot worse than I did.  I only had to wait an hour, mask on. The sun was shining.  I also had some nice scenery (above) to look at.

I think of people who waited six, seven, even up to 11 hours to vote.  Some had to watch armed "poll watchers" scrutinizing them.   

They are the true superheroes.  And speaking of superheroes, a little aside here - have you ever wondered how your favorite comic book superhero would have voted?  So did this doctor from India.

We in New York need to remind ourselves that this is not the first time we have voted through adversary.  Let's be grateful that Superstorm Sandy didn't come in time for Election Day, like it did in 2012.  Here's a little reminder.     2012 was a Presidential election year, too, but oh so different.

But, before I quote from my 2012 voting post, please, please, if you haven't voted yet, please be prepared to.  Have a plan. Our country is depending on each one of us.

And now, taken from my 2012 post:

VOTING IN THE POST SANDY WORLD

Today, in the United States, it is election day.  We are electing a President, the House of Representatives, 1/3 of the Senate and also various local officials.

This is your choice today: vote or don't vote.  But for many in the Hurricane Sandy zone, voting is going to be just another burden on top of trying to get to work, trying to find a place with heat, and trying to find gas for your car or generator.

If you vote, you are joining people like my mother in law, who was away from her home for nearly a week due to Hurricane Sandy.  When I spoke to her Saturday, the thing uppermost on her mind was - not when her power would be restored (it was, shortly after I spoke to her) but if she would be able to vote.

I assured her she would, but to call her Board of Elections to find out if her polling place had changed.

People here in states that allow early voting were standing on long lines back in October to exercise their privilege.  People in Hurricane Sandy-affected areas today are going to go to a lot of trouble to vote.  A cousin who had to be out of town today voted by absentee ballot.

Haven't made up your mind yet?  Not an excuse.  My suggestion: don't vote based on one issue.  Examine your future carefully.  You are voting for both a future you can imagine and a future you can't.  A future that now includes the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, and if we will learn our lesson.

Vote for the candidates that best express the future you dream of. 

Governors Cuomo and Christie (Democrat - New York and Republican - New Jersey) have joined in a common effort to make voting easier for their citizens.  Quoting from a news report (can no longer find the link):

" Gov. Andrew Cuomo has agreed to issue an executive order that will allow displaced voters to cast ballots by affidavit at any polling site they can reach Tuesday.
The order will permit voters to sign affidavits that they're legally registered to vote in the presidential and state races and cast ballots at any open polling site, even those outside their neighborhoods.
But they won't be able to vote for state legislative candidates unless the polling place is within the proper legislative district.
New Jersey is allowing voters to use provisional ballots at any polling site"

Decisions on the fly, to cope with the conditions we now face.  That is true leadership.  Look for that quality in your candidate.

So now, if you are in the United States, make your country proud. Get out and vote.  And, a special thanks if you were impacted by Sandy. You are participating in history. Be proud.

It does matter."

It matters even more now.

VOTE!

And may everyone I know, either virtually or in real life, stay safe from the fires.