Early Voting and Happy Birthday Ma

Well, we did it. We waited on line at the North Regional Library in Coral Springs for 2 hours to vote early. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We met some very nice people and the time went really quickly. There was a lot of talk about the wording of the state amendments. It seems that in some cases if you vote yes you are really voting no. We had a real good time with that. One person brought her little 9 week old grey schnauzer puppy to the polls and Kerry was totally taken with the dog. Fawning over the dog took up some time. We were both very happy that we were able to vote and now the deed is done. I've made my choice and that's it. I feel very good about voting early. Of course, after we finished voting we treated ourselves by going to the Town Center Mall. Retail therapy is the best. LOL
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Yesterday was what would have been my mother's 89th birthday. Yep, she was a Halloween baby and she used to complain about it. She told me that her birthday parties always had a Halloween theme to them and that bothered her. She wanted a Happy Birthday theme. That was my Mom though. She was a complainer. It was what she did best. I was the listener. It was what I did best. I am still the listener only the complainer has changed. Now it's Kerry doing the complaining.

Kerry the complainer with Pat

This is how I remember Ma. This pic was taken by my brother Jon in the 70's. Note the ciggie.


Kerry reminds me of my mother in many ways. It's comforting, really. It's as if my Mom is still with me in some way. They are very much alike in their likes and dislikes and I often tell Kerry that she is just like her Nana. I guess having Kerry makes it a little easier to accept that my Mom is gone. She was my biggest champion and fan. She adored the ground that I walked on and I could always count on her. I totally miss the hell out of her.

Me and Ma at my baby shower...a long time ago

Happy Birthday, Ma. Yeah, I know. "Don't call me Ma".

Kerry's First Election

Kerry is going to be 22 on November 24. I remember the night that she was born in such detail that it seems impossible that it was almost 22 years ago. I think about her life to this point it seems like a blurr. So many wonderful times and so few problems. What a truly lucky mom I am.

Baby Kerry

Now that she is at an adult age there aren't as many "firsts" as there were when she was a kid. Things like first step, first day of school, first boyfriend, first car just kept coming while she was young but now that she is an adult there are not as many of those moments, those "firsts". There is one coming up, though. Kerry is coming home next weekend so that she can cast her very first vote in an election and it's the big one, too. The presidential election. She is very excited at this particular "first". She wants me to vote with her that day so that she can always remember it as another important life moment that we did together.

Kerry all grown up

I remember my first vote and it's a scary thought. I voted for Richard Nixon. Can you believe it? Richard Nixon. I am happy to say the second time I voted I had the brains to vote for someone else. It was George McGovern. I felt strongly about my choice and was very disappointed that we lost. I felt much better after Watergate happened. It proved that I had been right.

Kerry's first election is a pivotal one for our nation and I'm excited about sharing this with "the kid". She's old enough to vote. I guess she's not a kid anymore.