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Tuesday, November 08, 2016

Tell me

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious vote?

(h/t Mary Oliver)


Birdy and I were in New Hampshire on Friday, walking house to house to talk to people about their vote, and that line above appeared, and then stuck, in my head. "Your vote is so precious," is what we were basically saying, all day. It's the very reason we were there.

I know you are voting or already voted. But email or call or text one person today who you think might not, for whatever reason. Remind them how precious that vote is, how precious they are.

I am, as always, so grateful for your being here with me on the planet.

23 comments:

  1. I think it's awesome that you're engaging your daughter in the political process. I hope the US gives her a president she can look up to tonight!

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  2. My daughter, unbeknownst to me- saved a "future voter" sticker from TWO YEARS AGO and brought it out last night with plans to wear it today. She's 10. I dressed as CLOSE as I could get to a suffragist (long white skirt, white ruffled collar long sleeve shirt, white waistcoat and wore a green and purple bracelet) to go vote today. I also just MIGHT have a 1916 "Votes for Women" poster as a permanent feature in my living room. And I'm also on call with the Texas Democrats (we exist. Promise.) to drive people to the polls. So with Her. So.

    www.thesomethinggarden.com

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    1. Bless you, Lauren, and your Texas Democrat compatriots.

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  3. Anonymous10:37 AM

    Brought my three kids with me to vote this morning. Told them they might end up being late for school, but I wanted them with me for this vote. It was the first time our little library where we vote had a police officer outside. I brought my kids in and they watched me, probably slightly embarrassed at how giddy I was, how I help up my ballot so they could see the oval perfectly filled in, how I asked if I could keep my little golf pencil. There is so much that feels precious to me right now. --Cathy K

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  4. Voted 2 weeks ago!! I spoke passionately over the weekend with someone that I may have swayed. She was getting so much one sided, false info. It IS precious!!

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  5. Anonymous12:02 PM

    I wish I could vote, but I'm not American. It's so great that you and Birdy went out, I hope you met lots of support! And that as many people as possible vote for the experienced and passionate lady, not the self-obsessed, pathological liar of a tangerine!!! (we are so worried in Europe). It seems to have got lost in all the bizarre accusations and sidetracking, but a woman for president would be amazing...
    Angela

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  6. Sitting here in Europe on Wednesday morning and grateful for your efforts and the joy you bring to the world. Thank you.

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  7. Deirdre1:57 PM

    Thinking of you, Cathering. My 7 year old daughter said this morning, "it's appropriate that it's raining" today in Pennsylvania.

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  8. I immediately thought of you this morning when my daughter looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "I don't want him to be our president". Neither do I, baby, neither do I.

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  9. Anonymous5:46 PM

    I have no words only grief for the choice made by America today :( my heart was torn in two by Brexit and since then I've been terrified trump would win but always always & fervently hoped I'd be mistaken. What a horrible day to wake up to, to be a mother of daughters in and to. Thanks to your lovely blog & birds for reminding me that our future is hopefully these lovely young people who do still want freedom, equality, humans rights & respect

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  10. Anonymous6:31 PM

    I've been reading your words for 10 years now, since I was a senior in high school and my mom (an early childhood educator) subscribed to Wondertime. I found your blog around the time I left for college and have followed along ever since. I can remember feeling somehow connected to your family when I felt homesick for my own. I remember reading your recipes when I lived in a cooperative house: laughing at the dishes with co-op roots and wondering what stories (and lentil-heavy dishes) I'd share with my children one day. And as a queer college student and later a queer educator I remember feeling grateful and touched by your writing on gender and parenting.

    I struggled today, and when things felt darkest I found myself navigating back here to your blog. It happened almost reflexively, like the part of me that felt so alone and unsure reaching out to hear from someone who's words have been a comfort in the past.

    Thanks for your writing over the years, and for the words I know you'll share later this week or this month or this year. Sending you and yours strength for whatever lies ahead.

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    1. This made me cry yesterday. Thank you for taking the time to write it. xo

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  11. Anonymous8:36 PM

    What do we tell our children? My own little boy cried. Then I had to go to work today and look my high school age, mainly Latino, students in the face. And I cried. What now?

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    1. Okay. This inspired me to write today. Thank you.

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