I voted. Maybe not such a big deal but maybe it is. I come here today to tell you that every time I vote I tear up. My breath gets caught in my chest. I become overwhelmed with emotion. I’m simply walking into a middle school cafeteria but suddenly it’s like I’ve won an Oscar. I’m thanking everyone along the way, huge smile (behind my mask but they can see it in my eyes), I’m overly ebullient,chatty, and excited. I want to hug everyone. We are here! We are voting! We are amazing!
Today I voted for a Black governor. I voted to legalize marijuana. I said yes to all the ballot measures to give money to parks and recreation. And I was beyond beyond.
I’m nearly 60 years old and I have been voting since I was 18. That is 42 years. For ten of those years, I voted in two countries. Israel and the US. I had those same overwhelming feelings when I would walk into the polling station in Tel Aviv that I do here in Baltimore. Even more so when I would go to the US Embassy in Tel Aviv (where it should still be, but that’s another newsletter) and file my absentee ballot for elections back in the States.
And there it was again today. As I walked up to the school an Asian American woman was walking out. Two Black women were offering instructional ballots. A young white man was hurrying back to his car. It was democracy. I was so proud. I don’t know what the outcome will be, but at this very moment, I am proud.
Please don’t let me down, America.