Instead, I will be making a confession. This year, at age (almost) 27, I voted for the very first time. I feel almost dirty saying that. I had the opportunity to vote in the 2004 Bush v. Kerry election and chose not to. I was off at school which is totally NOT a good excuse. I went to school in the same state I grew up and I went home every weekend. I wouldn't have even needed to worry about an absentee ballot or any of that other fun stuff. I just didn't want to vote.
I didn't vote in the 2008 Obama v. McCain election, one of the most monumental elections our country has experienced. This actually came down to laziness, as pathetic as that is. I registered to vote online and, apparently, it didn't work. I found out about a month before the election that it didn't work. I didn't fight to fix the issue, I simply didn't vote. It wasn't until I renewed my license in 2011 that I registered to vote. Even at that, I didn't vote in the primaries.
This morning, though, I voted. For the very first time. Chalk it up to becoming a mother or realizing that I really do have an opinion in how my country is run. Maybe it's because I firmly believe that, unless you vote, you can't complain and, darn it, I want to be able to complain!
Up until last week, I had no idea who I was going to vote for. I watched (some of) the debates, I read up on the candidates, and I reflected on the last four years. Still, I was undecided. In the end, I chose who I chose - and I wasn't swayed by celebrities endorsing one candidate or the other, I wasn't swayed by my husband's political leanings, I wasn't swayed by friends or family. I chose MY candidate, the man I thought could lead this country successfully for the next four years. I had a say, I voiced my opinion. And, tonight, we'll find out if my guy won.
