I voted! A tradition I learned from my mom

When I was a little girl, I remember going with my mom and watching her vote. The place we voted at was inside the city motor pool or fire station--I'm not sure which because I only remember a few things distinctly. It was a large building that had booths with fabric curtains set up inside. Outside the building, people shouted, held signs and gave out slips of paper that encouraged us to vote for a particular candidate. The booths were large and the election helpers would give my mom a card that she put into the machine. I remember the metal on metal sound the curtain made when you closed it. It surrounded you. The voting was very private.

I went to early voting this year. Apparently, El Paso, TX had the lowest early voter turn-out in a decade! I can believe it. It seemed empty where I went to vote, though the lighting was cheerful and everyone was glad to see me to use the touch-screens of democracy.

I vote because I want my children to vote. I vote because I want politicians to know I exist and that I'm watching. I know that as individuals, our voices are often limited or seem limited. But if everyone showed that they were paying attention, by casting a vote... one way or another... "they" will know and take notice in the government.

I miss my mother. I hope that carrying on in her footsteps in small ways, ways that I can remember her and cherish those memories, too, that she lives on. I always think of her when I vote.

Tweets from the week

Archiving tweets and retweets from the week... I know the Library of Congress is going to archive all the tweets in the world....but I'd like to keep a record of what I'm thinking about and saying, too for myself. Read more about the LoC project here!

Already voted or planning on voting? Take a picture and help @everylibrary raise money toward a $500 goal! librarianwardrobe.com/post/345002961…
— Nicole Pagowsky (@pumpedlibrarian) November 1, 2012

Try this IFTTT Recipe: Notify facebook friends of zombie outbreak from the CDC ifttt.com/recipes/51773
— Susan Barnum (@megalibrarygirl) October 31, 2012

Putting finishing touches on my costume then off to work!
— Susan Barnum (@megalibrarygirl) October 31, 2012

And that's the news!