Thoughts on Election Day

We voted last week, early voting, curbside. The poll workers were pleasant and personable, helpful. The early voting site was not ideal for them – an ancient school gym with no heat, no place to plug in a coffee pot, no microwave to heat food. But they were there, doing an important job for democracy. 

 Many others are voting today, and I am so glad. The news reports that turnout is heavy, both in person and by mail. It is important. I want people to vote, even those who will choose candidates other than those I chose. I want people to vote, and I want all votes to be counted – no matter how long it takes. 

 My father was born in 1918 and lived to be 98. He saw incredible changes in the world. It is astonishing to me that during his lifetime women were granted the right to vote. In the last year of his life, a woman was the nominee for President of the US, and he voted in that election… 

Today, I made an Election Cake. This is a yeasted cake, really more of a sweetened bread, with dried fruit and nuts. It has roots in Connecticut, my former home. Baking it today somehow connects me to the early, early days of this democracy. I wonder if those who made the cake in 1771 worried about the turnout; I wonder if they worried about voter suppression; I wonder if they worried about election deniers; I wonder if they worried about the future of their nation.

The cake is delicious. I shared a big piece with our neighbor. And maybe I will eat some more in the hours and days to come as we await the returns.

Election Cake