Hey, Americans! Please vote. I won’t tell you who to vote for (though there’s a little part of me that would like to), but I do want you to fill out your ballot and help this democracy do its thing.
In Oregon, we’ve had exclusively vote by mail since before I turned 18, so I’ve never actually cast a vote at a polling place. It’s almost strange to hear about people taking time off work, waiting in long lines, and filling out ballots alone in a little voting cubby. I love the fact that my husband and I get to do our voting sitting at the kitchen table after the kids have gone to bed, discussing the merits and drawbacks of the each candidate and ballot measure. I think you’d be hard pressed to find any Oregonians (Republican or Democrat) that have bad things to say about vote by mail.
For all of you locals who’ve asked and commented about it, yes, it’s true. My husband, Henry Storch, is on the ballot. He’s running unopposed for the non-partisan, volunteer position of director of the Benton County Soil and Water Conservation District. He won in a landslide two years ago (not much of a surprise), and we’re expecting another victory. It’s not exactly a highly prestigious job, but it’s kinda cool to see his name there.
I’ll be dropping off my ballot at our local public library this afternoon. It’s nice to cross that one of my to-do list. I hope you can also find the time to vote if you haven’t already.
On a completely random, different note, I got my goat bred yesterday. That was one more thing that had been nagging on my to-do list. This year, I bred Minnie to a Nubian buck, so now I’m looking forward to meeting her adorable little long-eared kids in about five months.
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I have a completely unrelated question – Are you at all related to John Muir?? I don’t know how common that name is in Oregon, but in learning your full name I was just curious!
Muir is my maiden name, and while I am related to lots of John Muirs, I don’t think I’m related to THE John Muir. My dad was born in Canada (BC), and his dad was from Quebec. Maybe somewhere way back in Scotland, we shared a common ancestor, but I don’t have any proof.
Ah – I see! How cool would that be though? 🙂
This is the first year we voted by mail. I love that we got to vote AND avoid the long lines. While I love visiting with my neighbors while waiting in line, this year I decided I’d rather spend the time doing other things.
I live in Maryland and have been voting by mail for approximately 15 years. I couldn’t agree with you more. I think it’s a much more contemplative and certainly easier way to vote than traveling to your undoubtedly crazy polling place, waiting in long lines, having to take time off work, etc.
Hope your husband won his election.