Public Service

It has been a full week of doing my civic duty in St. Louis.

One week ago was the municipal primary, for which I served as election judge supervisor. I have been privileged to serve as an election judge since before the chads were hanging, and have enjoyed seeing and supporting the technological advances.

Now, I have been voting since I could read the ballot. Mom always took me into the booth with her, and when I was growing up in the Quad Cities, there was indeed a booth. I helped pull the levers next to the candidates we had chosen (usually Democrats), and then she pulled the big lever to cast the votes. Magically, when she pulled that lever, the curtains on the booth opened! Okay, today I understand the mechanics, but as a child it was magic.

Voting in Missouri just never had the romance of that voting booth. A spindly desk with punch cards didn't thrill me. Still, I voted in every election, because the responsibility was instilled long ago. I believe that if you don't vote, you don't have the right to gripe.

And I volunteered to be an election judge. I'm always saddened by the poor turnout, even during a presidential election year. Last week, for example, at my polling place we had less than 500 voters, from a possible 13,000. Most people weren't aware that it was election day.

I get a lot of stitching done on municipal election days. Two years ago I completed almost a whole sweater.


This year I made two baby hats for charity, and a collar for my gray shirt. It's entirely coincidental that I choose mainly red yarn for my election day stitching - I'm partisanally blue, and colorfully purple!

Heads up everyone, there is another municipal election on April 7, and we vote for school board as well as mayor. Contact the Election Commission for details.

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of judging the high school NFL Speech & Debate District competition. These are the bright and creative young men and women who give me hope that this generation will be able to care for me in my old age. They are hopeful, and eager, and I suspect they will vote when they come of age.

I met a fellow raveler among the judges/coaches, and made a baby hat.


Monday I reported for jury duty. As directed, I brought no knitting needles, but began crocheting a cardigan/shrug/shawl. No, I'm not sure what it will grow up to be, and I lost my hook this evening between the den and the kitchen. Sigh.

The presiding judge was Thomas C. Grady, and I will gladly vote for his re-election whenever I see him on the ballot (usually I vote against the judges just because). He was genial, jovial, charming, and every Irish compliment Andrew Greeley could care to name.

Today I got knitting needles past security, who didn't even look at the image of my bags. Unfortunately, I wasn't chosen to serve on the final panel, and wasn't there long enough to do any stitching. Check back with me in two years.