When I heard my son ask if he could go with us to vote for the first time I was the proudest mother in the world. He had just turned 18 on October 28 and it was just in time to VOTE in November, 1994. I knew then that what I had hoped to teach him while growing up really . As a parent we do a lot of teaching just by being good role models at home and we may not even be aware of it at the time. Taking my son to vote for his first time when he was 18 was an exciting experience and a great accomplishment as an parent.
We lived in a rural area and his first voting experience was an experience to remember. Sitting in a bathroom of a local church was used as the polling place for that blustery, brisk but sunny November day. It was very crowded this voting day so to move the lines quicker they used the bathroom for privacy as all the booths were full. They handed hand my son a Bible to place the voting ballot on as there was of course no solid surfaces to write on in a bathroom that was about 4' by 6' wide.
The look on my sons face was one of surprise and then with a smile and a few laughs from all the voters around him he shut the door and did his duty as an American. I am sure that the the same thoughts and feelings that go through all the minds of a person that votes for the first time were going through his mind at the same time. His father and I along with my son had finished at the same time. To this day we all laugh when we talk about that day he voted.
My son voted every election since then and we all try to go together to this day. Now he has his own family I can be assured that he is teaching his own children the very same things we taught him about the power of your vote. As the Grandparents of his children we also tell them the story of their fathers first VOTING experience and use this moment in telling them how proud they should be to live in a country were they have the privilege to VOTE. SEE YOU AT THE VOTING POLLS ON NOVEMBER 2, 2010. Do you remember the first time you voted? Share your story with us or someone you know as you never know when you may be the person to encourage someone to VOTE! Kelly Says, VOTE BECAUSE YOU CAN!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2-AN EXPERIENCE YOU WILL REMEMBER
If you are 18 this should be one of the most exciting times in your life because you are now an adult and it is your duty as an AMERICAN to VOTE. Voting for my first time at age 18 and is a life experience I will never forget. My first vote occurred in a small rural town in Kansas and the population of the town was about 15. All the farmers came for miles to VOTE here in this small town. Most of the people voting were a lot older than me and this surprised me as I knew many 18 year old people lived very close by but were not there. The building was antiquated as it was built in 1887 and the paint was worn. History lived in the walls of the building and if they could talk what they could say.
The town was located by a railroad tracks and had been a thriving community until a fire destroyed all but a few homes, a small church and the town hall which is where I voted for the first time in my life. I believe that was about the last year it was used for voting as it was about to fall down. I felt empowered as I sat down with the official voting ballot in my hands selecting my candidates in 1979. Each mark on the ballot was done slowly and carefully with a lot of thought put into it. I felt it was a large responsibility to make the choices of the person that would listen and vote the way I would on the important issues. It took me longer than most as I wanted it to be right. Turning it my voting ballot and receiving the I VOTED sticker made me realize how proud I was to have the power to make these choices.
Who I voted for was not what is important in this story. WHAT IS IMPORTANT WAS THAT I VOTED. No other country has this right. I really felt apart of this Republic and I was now a citizen of this great country that could make changes by VOTING. Many of my friends laughed and made their excuses as to why they did not or would not vote. Most felt it was just a waste of time. It surprised me at the number of people that were 18 that could care less or had no clue as to who was even running. They felt no responsibility to vote and I kept hearing that your vote did not change anything.
These type of statements are what motivated me even more to encourage educate first my own children and next my friends to vote and show they cared about this country. My friends apathy made my convictions of my beliefs and values even stronger and I thank them today for teaching me a lot. I took the time to care about AMERICA.
One year while standing in the rain to vote they came outside an announced who the winner was and even though it was not the candidate I was going to vote for I stayed in line to place my vote. It took about an hour to vote but I stood in the rain so I could do my duty as an American. I saw several people leave when they announced the winner but not me, I stayed and VOTED.
I knew then that I would raise my son to take the responsibility of voting seriously. I would not care who he voted for as that was his choice but to VOTE was all I asked. I was a proud parent when my son asked my husband and I if he could go with us to vote for his first time. Kelly Says, Values and Beliefs need to be taught in the home so take the time to do this as you will never regret it!
The town was located by a railroad tracks and had been a thriving community until a fire destroyed all but a few homes, a small church and the town hall which is where I voted for the first time in my life. I believe that was about the last year it was used for voting as it was about to fall down. I felt empowered as I sat down with the official voting ballot in my hands selecting my candidates in 1979. Each mark on the ballot was done slowly and carefully with a lot of thought put into it. I felt it was a large responsibility to make the choices of the person that would listen and vote the way I would on the important issues. It took me longer than most as I wanted it to be right. Turning it my voting ballot and receiving the I VOTED sticker made me realize how proud I was to have the power to make these choices.
Who I voted for was not what is important in this story. WHAT IS IMPORTANT WAS THAT I VOTED. No other country has this right. I really felt apart of this Republic and I was now a citizen of this great country that could make changes by VOTING. Many of my friends laughed and made their excuses as to why they did not or would not vote. Most felt it was just a waste of time. It surprised me at the number of people that were 18 that could care less or had no clue as to who was even running. They felt no responsibility to vote and I kept hearing that your vote did not change anything.
These type of statements are what motivated me even more to encourage educate first my own children and next my friends to vote and show they cared about this country. My friends apathy made my convictions of my beliefs and values even stronger and I thank them today for teaching me a lot. I took the time to care about AMERICA.
One year while standing in the rain to vote they came outside an announced who the winner was and even though it was not the candidate I was going to vote for I stayed in line to place my vote. It took about an hour to vote but I stood in the rain so I could do my duty as an American. I saw several people leave when they announced the winner but not me, I stayed and VOTED.
I knew then that I would raise my son to take the responsibility of voting seriously. I would not care who he voted for as that was his choice but to VOTE was all I asked. I was a proud parent when my son asked my husband and I if he could go with us to vote for his first time. Kelly Says, Values and Beliefs need to be taught in the home so take the time to do this as you will never regret it!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
COMING BACK-Flu Bug bit me but did not stop me
The flue is a bad sickness to come down with because it comes out of the middle of nowhere, with little or no warning, and takes its time about going away. I was sick for 7 days with it and still am out of sorts. This caused me a trip to the hospital and money I do not have as I am unemployed. It is my worst nightmare at this time in life but looking at the whole picture there is never a good time to get the flu. With that said there is no way around it because you have to have to stop and take time to nurse myself back to health because if you do it only half way you end up in the hospital like me dehydrated and really sick.
As I sat in the hospital I began to think how the flu is like the sickness that is going on in our country. It was like an invisible microbe infected some parts of the government and instead of letting it get totally better we just patched it up hoping it would not get sick again. This did not happen and the way you can tell is by all the civil unrest in your communities and country. Pretend you are the doctor of the United States and the only thing you have the cure in your fingertips. All you have to do is VOTE for the candidate that you feel has the right cure to make the sickness better. Remember there is no right or wrong answer but doing nothing may end the United States in the hospital and the cure gets weaker if not used in time. I just want you to think about this and I will get back with you on my next post soon.
Just wanted to let you know that I am not abandoning my blog but it was just put on hold for a couple weeks due to illness. I'M BACK now so stay tuned as I have a lot to say now that I am feeling better. Recovery is great and it gives you time to really think about things. It changes your perspective when you are lying in a bed helpless. I am bursting at the seams about all I want to say. Until then remember to STAY HEALTHY and WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER YOU TOUCH ANYTHING. YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THEM INVISIBLE BUT DEADLY MICROBES CAN ATTACK YOU!
Keep in ind that NOVEMBER 2 is just around the corner and I have a little longer to convince you to vote.As I laid in the hospital bed I realized that the same flu bug is hitting our government and if we do not nurse it back to health then it may affect important things like FREEDOM, COUNTRY and GOD.
Kelly Says, Do not let an invisible microbe that we can't see, but know it is there, attempt to weaken or kill the strong foundation that we have worked hard to keep ourselves and our nation healthy.
As I sat in the hospital I began to think how the flu is like the sickness that is going on in our country. It was like an invisible microbe infected some parts of the government and instead of letting it get totally better we just patched it up hoping it would not get sick again. This did not happen and the way you can tell is by all the civil unrest in your communities and country. Pretend you are the doctor of the United States and the only thing you have the cure in your fingertips. All you have to do is VOTE for the candidate that you feel has the right cure to make the sickness better. Remember there is no right or wrong answer but doing nothing may end the United States in the hospital and the cure gets weaker if not used in time. I just want you to think about this and I will get back with you on my next post soon.
Just wanted to let you know that I am not abandoning my blog but it was just put on hold for a couple weeks due to illness. I'M BACK now so stay tuned as I have a lot to say now that I am feeling better. Recovery is great and it gives you time to really think about things. It changes your perspective when you are lying in a bed helpless. I am bursting at the seams about all I want to say. Until then remember to STAY HEALTHY and WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER YOU TOUCH ANYTHING. YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THEM INVISIBLE BUT DEADLY MICROBES CAN ATTACK YOU!
Keep in ind that NOVEMBER 2 is just around the corner and I have a little longer to convince you to vote.As I laid in the hospital bed I realized that the same flu bug is hitting our government and if we do not nurse it back to health then it may affect important things like FREEDOM, COUNTRY and GOD.
Kelly Says, Do not let an invisible microbe that we can't see, but know it is there, attempt to weaken or kill the strong foundation that we have worked hard to keep ourselves and our nation healthy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
