As I sat down at my computer this morning I glanced out of the window above me. The morning was foggy and the outdoors scary, like when my glasses need a good cleaning. The neighbor’s goats, on the other side of the fence, were playing near a completely covered yellow-leafed tree. I wondered why those leaves haven’t fallen. But the goats didn’t seem to mind that it’s foggy and the yellow leaves haven’t fallen yet. They are locking and unlocking their horns and falling down once they can’t get unlocked. I declare I get more enjoyment from those goats than their owners do.
But I had better get on with my topic of the day. I saw on the television last night, a sign reading, “When Voting Begins, We Close.” The sign was put there by Walmart, so I guess they are closing their stores during the voting hours. That sign pushed the memory button in my mind. I know that many stores are having sales today so Walmart is an exception, but that wasn’t the case when I was a little girl in the thirties.
Voting Day was a real big day. It seemed like Sunday in some ways, because the school was closed. It was different though because all of us kids would be outdoors playing, instead of being in Sunday School. The stores were all closed too and the whole street was covered with flags and other red, white and blue banners. We had a parade too, well really, it was just the high school band walking down the street. But the street was lined with people, waving those small flags. Homes were decorated with flags too, and a Holiday dinner was planned. My brother and I were especially happy about that! It was during the depression and most meals were rather small.
I don’t know if that gives you a feeling of Voting Day in a small town in Minnesota, but it was a special day. The day when folks were real Americans and had a part in deciding who would lead us and they weren’t wrong. Maybe we should think of Voting Day as special. Did you vote or were you just butting heads like my neighbor’s goats?
GramMa's Thoughts 