A huge chunk of my day was spent in the garage assembling yard signs. Like many of the routinely tedious campaign tasks, this one has occupied much more of my time than anticipated.
Using a pair of the heavy duty gloves one of our volunteers thoughtfully donated to the cause, I’ve developed an efficient process: poke the wires in, turn the sign right side up and use my weight to push the wires down through the sign. Using this method, I’ve found I can save time and energy (and back strength) by doing three at once. This is a simple mechanical process leaving my mind free to think about the person responsible for my chores ….
My first official date with Art was a magical evening I’ll never forget. My niece, Melissa, helped me determine the right outfit to wear; my married daughter, Kirsten, gave me tons of long-distance advice on how to behave; my mom and sister were there to greet him as he came to pick me up. It was a cool spring evening and, always a proper gentleman; Art helped me into my coat as he complimented me on my clothes and hair. I felt like a princess as we dined on exotic dishes (I chose kangaroo stew) at The Blend before he escorted me into the Paramount. Afterward, Art suggested we enjoy pie & coffee at Perkins and, not wanting my Cinderella evening to end quite yet, I agreed. We spoke for hours, covering a wide range of topics. That first-date shyness quickly dissipated as we discovered many mutual interests, tastes, priorities and beliefs. But, the moment most indelibly etched in my memory is when Art was describing his prior experiences as co-founder of a family shelter in Oklahoma. His eyes welled with tears as he described one particularly horrific case involving an abused child. I realized then that not only does this guy have great compassion for others; he looks for solutions that meet the needs of the community. As we door-knock night after night after night, I often think about that first date. Over and over again, I witness Art engaging with people, and listening to their issues, and suggesting common-sense solutions. And although the rain may have put the kibosh on door-knocking tonight, I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s excursions and another opportunity to interact with voters in our community.
But for now, it’s back to my mini-assembly line!
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