Jessie Nichols for HD14

Hey y'all -

Our country is in the midst of an election season, and the whole thing has given me a perma-headache. I don't know if this election is actually more vitriolic than every one before, or if it just seems that way because we all have facebook accounts that subject us to every political opinion held by our former high school classmates, casual acquaintances and extended family. Some of whom are idiots.

There's just so much misinformation and half-information out there that it makes me alternately sad and stabby. Your dad frequently comes home from work to find me with my head down on my laptop keyboard because I'm so frustrated that I'm unable to reach through my computer screen and throttle the person on the other side. One day, there will be an app for that.

I know a political post can be alienating. There was another "mom blog" I used to read, until she wrote a political post; in it, she told the story of going to the local deli and wanting to buy all 30 pieces of fried chicken in their window as they were starting their dinner rush. When the clerk suggested she should have called ahead with such a big order, she compared the deli's policies to Socialism - because they're too worried about providing for everyone who might want chicken - and went into a rant about how everyone should be empowered to make enough money to buy all the chicken they want. Or some such. I never read the blog again.

But let's face it: all politics aside, not letting the chicken lady know you're coming is just tacky.

No matter your political persuasion, I'm pretty sure we can all agree that we're sick of this election cycle.

One bright spark of hope for me has been the campaign of my friend Jessie Nichols, a working mom who got tired of the same-old and threw her hat in the ring, in between raising her kids, working at the feed store and running a small family farm. While everyone else was sitting on their couch, talking about how things should be different, she actually mounted a campaign for change. I find this inspiring. In fact, there haven't been very many videos on this blog lately because I've been working on editing Jessie's campaign video instead.

I hope you both learn an important lesson from this - that when it comes to making a difference in the world around you, no risk is too large and no gesture too small.

 

Laney - women have only been able to vote in this country for the past 92 years. Be sure when you grow up to make yours count.

Love,
Mom