My son registered to vote last week.
I know that doesn't sound like much to you. But my son marches to his very own, personal, private drummer. He as sworn for years that he would never register and would never vote. He is going to amass his immense fortune on his own, in his own way and he doesn't need politics and politicians.
He is eligible to vote for the first time. I have been prodding him gently. "This is probably the most important election you will ever see." "Sure, you don't need good government, but what about the rest of us?" But I know him well enough to know that he will just dig his heels in if he's pushed.
My daughter told him that girls like it when guys vote. Even that didn't help!
He surprised me when he asked if he could come to our caucus and surprised me even more when he went as a delegate to the congressional district convention. I think he came just to make me happy, which he did!
He's met John Benson, our state representative, Terri Bonoff, our state senator. He's met Ashwin Madia and heard Al Franken speak. He liked them all. He has heard me talk about Al for a long time. (I'd been hoping Al would run for something long before it ever occurred to him.)
But still, voting was out of the question.
We were in the car on Friday when he told me, "I registered to vote today. I just did it because I felt sorry for the guy who was trying to talk me into it. He was nice and he talked for such a long time."
Not wanting to push my luck, I said, "Well, now you can vote Al, if you want."
He answered, "I guess I might as well vote for all of them. Can I go with you on voting day?"
I'll be working GOTV that day and was going to vote early, but instead, we'll vote together his first time at 7:00 AM, I'll deliver him to school, and still have most of the day to be useful.
On November 4 my son will become a man, and I am so proud, relieved, and happy!