Election Day


Two months before my father passed away, he pulled on his navy cashmere coat and summoned all the energy he had to go vote. We went to the elementary school I had gone to as a child, and into the basement where there was a long line for the voting booth. Since he could not stand for long, my father squeezed into a first grader's chair until it was his turn. When he got home he collapsed from exhaustion on the sofa, still wearing his coat. Voting was a right he valued so much. He would never miss the privilege we have to choose our leaders.

I think he would have been horrified at the circus that was allowed to unfold this year - but he would have been out there today darkening the boxes next to the candidates names.

Even though it was warm in Boulder, I put on my father's navy coat today to drop my ballot off at the court house.