As I walked into Target I noticed several people staring at me. Wondering what they were looking at, I tussled my curls with my fingers in case they looked particularly Don King-ish again. Then I quickly glanced down at my clothing and suddenly I was reminded that the “I Voted” sticker with its tiny American flag was still attached to my sweater.
I’d forgotten about it because I was damn proud to wear it.
The first time I was eligible to vote in a presidential race was in 1980 when incumbent President Jimmy Carter ran against California Governor Ronald Reagan and Republican Congressman John Anderson, who ran as an Independent. Away at school I mailed in my absentee ballot.
It was a proud moment in time for me.
I’ve always been proud to be an American and the freedoms that we enjoy. As a woman I’m proud and thankful for the woman suffragists who came before me, fighting for the right for women to vote.
I have others to thank as well.
My maternal great-grandparents were forced to flee Russia amid the waves of pogroms that set out to annihilate Jews who were being persecuted in droves. My beloved grandmother used to tell me stories about escaping as a little girl. Her stories reminded me of the little town of Avatevka in "Fiddler on the Roof" and highlighted the heartache of leaving behind loved ones with the hope of finding a better world.
My paternal grandparents had the wisdom and foresight to realize it was time to leave their homeland of Germany weeks before Kristallnacht (or “The Night of Broken Glass”) when the Nazi paramilitary carried out a series of coordinated attacks against the Jews. With two young sons in tow, they escaped the most heinous crimes against humanity by sailing to America with the promise of hope and freedom.
Their ultimate sacrifices of leaving behind family and friends to escape to a new world of freedom allowed me to live a rich, full life in America. I never thought much about it as I was growing up because my childhood was filled with magic in a town that felt very Mayberryesque.
It wasn't until my first absentee ballot when I realized I had a lot to be thankful for.
I think it’s the human condition to take things for granted. As Americans we are used to our freedoms. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of religion are a small sampling of what we enjoy according to The Bill of Rights.
We also need to give thanks to our Founding Fathers for writing and ratifying the amendments to the Constitution that originally provided us with our freedoms.
This Thanksgiving we are headed to Boston for a much needed semi-vacation. Rich in American history, Boston is the perfect place to be mindful of all my family and I have to be thankful for.
As we sit down together for our Turkey Day meal, I plan on taking the time to reflect on all of my blessings. I have so much to be thankful for, and am grateful for the many freedoms my forebears allowed me to have today.
What are you thankful for?
for me, not just a right but a privilege and I enjoy the heck out of exercising it! It may be my favorite exercise of all! LOL
Absolutely! Vote!! and be thankful that we can!!
I also love voting. My oldest daughter was so excited when she turned 18...she got up extra early and was first in line at the polls, just because.
I am appalled by the low voter turnout yesterday and by how much we take for granted in this country. Yes, voting is something we should be proud of and be grateful for - and we should actually do it!
I will never forget how my older son insisted on flying home to vote during his first year of college. He hadn't changed his registration yet--and didn't want to miss out on his chance to cast a ballot. (He lived in LA--an hour's flight from here.) I have to say, his dad and I were proud of him--but suggested that he get registered in LA before the next election rolled around!
We can never forget what a privilege it is to be able to vote, especially given the conditions our forebears had to endure. I don't think we can ever take it for granted. I know I never will.
What a perfect place to be spending Thanksgiving!
I love voting too! Getting the sticker is so much fun! I too wore it proudly all day to the market, the car wash etc!
I wonder if my maternal grandparents and children were on the same boat as your grandparents and family before kristallnacht! My grandparents also had the foresight and left in late October 1938 from Germany. What a blessing to be grateful for!
Enjoying your daily posts.
I love this right and exercise it always! My husband and I used to go to the polls together, it was a treat we shared (despite most always canceling out each other's vote!). So I'm always a little saddened when it's a mail-in elections, as yesterday's was. Hubby and I don't go together and, most importantly, I don't get a sticker!! (They should include a sticker with the ballot, I think.)
You have such a rich heritage Cathy, the way you write about your family and all they had to go through is beautiful. As for voting? I am of the mind set (like others here) that it is a privilege. Like Lois, I am appalled with the low turn out.
Great post, Cathy. Fiddler on the Roof is one of my all time favorite movies. And I've been to the Richmond Holocaust Museum several times. I can't imagine what it must feel like to know that your great grand parents lived through such atrocities. I can see why your voter sticker holds such special meaning for you.
I too am thankful for the freedom that I have and my wonderful life. Your family heritage is great! I love hearing about your thoughts on voting too. My grandfather was the registrar of voters in Las Vegas when I turned 18 and he had a special ceremony in his office and had me come down to register to vote and I thought it was a big thing. Sadly now days so many young people don't feel like they even need to vote. Good for you!
I can't imagine not voting. Sure there are many, Many, MANY things we need to resolve so that our democracy can last another 225+ years (corporations are not people, the electoral college is no longer needed, elections should be publicly funded...) but I love this land and those who came before. I want my descendants to have something they can love too. I want to welcome the world's refugees... the most active volunteer and most giving person I know is an Auschwitz survivor. We don't know how fortunate we are. Great piece Cathy.
Voting in my village was "really good this year," according to the volunteer I talked to. 23%. Oh so sad.
As we have since our first election together, my husband and I walked up to the polls to vote last night. Last night, though, we placed our completed "mail in ballots" in the ballot box rather than waiting in queue. We slipped our ballots in the box as directed by the election official and quietly walked out the door. Halfway to the car, I stopped dead in the parking lot, looked at my husband and said, "Oh, wait, I didn't get my "I voted" sticker." I was genuinely bummed because, like you, I am proud and grateful for the privilege I enjoy.
Cathy, I didn't get that voting sticker. Wish I would have. What a great way to remind us of the precious freedoms we can savor in this great country.
Great post. Voting rocks! I'd get there to do no matter what!
Hi Cathy! Yes voting is a privilege that we should never take for granted. I have voted in every election and while I'm not as proud of some of the choices I've made, I have learned to become a much better and much more socially conscious voter in the process. Thanks for the the reminder to be grateful! 🙂
I love my sticker also...I felt the need to post it on Facebook...
Not all of my picks came in, but it was exciting to be a part of the whole process!!
Your Russian grandparents are so proud of you!!
I always vote, too, but feel like maybe I shouldn't bother. As a Democrat in Florida you may as well stay home! Total exercise in futility/frustration...and then you have to listen to the winners gloat the next day about teaching Obama Socialists a lesson.
Really REALLY tough to take without throwing punches back. Seriously, today I was close to knocking a guy out!
I remember how special it was to vote with my mom.... thank you for sharing your story and allowing me a moment for the sweet memory.
I am so proud of the fact that I have only missed voting in one election (a primary) since I was 18.
When my kids turned 18 and voted for the first time we always celebrated with a special dinner or a visit to the liberty bell or constitution center. (we live in the Philadelphia suburbs.)
My poling place did not give out stickers yesterday:(
I used to love taking my kids with me to the voting booth and giving them the sticker. Have fun in Boston!
I think the first time I was in a voting booth I was just a bit over one--then I continued going with my parents and pressing the lever until I rebelled
As Americans we have so much--and it all begins and ends at the voting booth.
You should lose the right to complain if you don't make that little effort!