Mom at 95

Last edited Thu Aug 14, 2014, 08:48 PM - Edit history (1)

Mom was born at the time when women in this country were finally gaining the right to vote. She and her siblings were raised by a single mother who well understood the profound ramifications of that right. Mom still remembers elections that happened in her childhood because their living room was the neighborhood polling place.

Years later, with four kids of her own, Mom found time to stuff envelopes and pass out literature for candidates, and she worked as an election judge until failing eyesight made that undoable. A couple years back she got an enormous kick out of knocking on every door in her apartment complex, handing out literature for my sister’s campaign for city council. I treasure the photo of Mom’s proud smile at that swearing in.

Always an avid reader, she still pays close attention to what’s happening in the world. Her curiosity is still lively, she loves going to the library and asking questions and learning the answers. And when she gets better information, she’s been known to change her mind; there’s no better example of that than her vote for Obama, the first time she’d ever voted for a Democratic candidate for president. And she did it twice, saying that he will prove to be the best president of her lifetime.

Happy 95th birthday, Mom. I’m so very proud of the example you have set.