Today is the California Primary for our next President as well as the Mayoral Election in San Diego (it could be in other cities too, but since that doesn’t have anything to do with me I can’t worry myself with that information).
After I dropped Kamryn off at school, I was planning on hitting up my polling place and casting my vote. I love voting. I don’t know why, but I always feel like I’m doing the most American thing ever when I hand in that ballot. I want to throw my fist in the air and burst into song…
And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
I refrained. I don’t want my vote not to be counted for reasons of insanity. I did some research and there are some states that will not allow people deemed mentally incompetent the right to vote. California isn’t one of them so I guess I’m in the clear.
Rory was with me and he always needs to know what is next on the agenda so as we were driving home from dropping Kamryn off at school, we had this conversation:
Rory: Mommy, where we going now?
Me: I need to go vote.
Rory: Me get fishes there?
Me: What?????
Rory: FISHES!
(What in the hell is he talking about?)
Me: OH! No, not boat, Vote.
Rory: What vote is?
Me: I get to pick who I want to be president and who I want to be mayor.
(We’ll save the discussion about primaries for a later date since even this statement was reciprocated with a blank stare.)
Me: I get to decide who is going to be King of the country and our city.
Rory: (Raising his hand) Me!
Me: No, sorry, Buddy. You aren’t old enough.
Rory: Dan?
(Dan is my brother.)
Me: God, I hope not! (Having a nice laugh at my brother’s expense)
Rory: Me get fishes now?
Me: Oh, Buddy.
Rory loved the voting process because he got to cover his shirt with “I Voted!” stickers after charming the ladies (and one guy) handing out the ballots. They asked him if he was there to vote and he said “Yeah, me three.” and shrugged his shoulders like it ain’t no thang and a suitable response to their question. Bring on the stickers!
10:02 
I’m going to paraphrase Jeremy Clarkson… you poor Americans. You’re still under the misguided impression that you live in a free country 😛
Actually, I take great pleasure in educating my new hire classes about the American political system. At some point during training, someone always tries to persuade me to let them go to break / lunch / home early. I, of course, totally shoot them down in flames, which causes them to respond with something like “but we live in a democracy and we should be allowed to vote on it.”
To which I reply with, “no, you live in a republic. You elect officials to speak on your behalf and they vote and make decisions for you. I learnt that from watching the West Wing. I’m the one who’s currently in office and I’ve made the decision not to let you out early. Now shut up and get back to work.”
(And yes, i say shut up, because at this point I’ve probably known them 4-5 weeks and the class knows I like to joke around. Except this time I’m not. Only they don’t know that. See, reverse psychology. Clever, eh? ;))
I always suggest people learn about America through the representations of Hollywood. For example, if you want to know what it’s like to be a prostitute, I suggest Pretty Woman. What it’s like to be a high school student – Grease. Any other part of recent history – Forrest Gump.