Carolyn Creative

I voted!  I have cheerful sticker proving this fact currently clinging to my green coat.  It’s over!  I did it!  Now, we just have to wait, but not long — and soon we’ll know who will be our next president.

Actually, I had tried to vote twice.  Three times, if you count the time Kevin and I walked to the main library to Early Vote, but decided against it because the line wrapped around the building and we were hungry.  

First, I visited the precinct near my parent’s house.  Silly me, I never updated my registration, so for all the voting officials know, I still live with my parents.  Which wouldn’t be that bad.  They have TIVO, after all.  I waited in line for about a half hour, not too painful — I saw many yoga students and made some new friends.  There were also snacks.  But when I reached the check-in, there was a threatening sign mentioning that if you’d moved recently, listing your old address was a violation of the law.  They mentioned a provisional ballot, yet encouraged me to visit my proper precinct on Trade Street.

On Trade Street, there weren’t any snacks, but there were many chefs from Johnson and Wales wearing poofy checked and striped pants.  There was also a lady with awesomely long florescent pink nails, who took a long time to type in my information because she had to be mindful not to damage the aforementioned nails.

The most delightful thing?  There was no complaining.  In any other situation — airports, the DMV, the Apple Store — any line exceeding twenty minutes enrages Americans.  They’ve got things to do.  They are too busy to deal with that kind of crap.  But today?  People were patient.  They were proud and excited.

I felt a little verklempt when I pressed the button for president; I’m not sure if it’s related to the fact that this is the first time I’ve felt hopeful about a candidate or because I’ve basically had PMS since my wedding in September.  I left the precinct and walked across the street to claim my free cup of Starbucks with my “I voted sticker.”  But the line was waaaaaaay too long.  No way.  I’ve got things to do ….