Today I voted for all the women in my life. I voted for my wife, a nurse of over 30 years whose body has been worked over by the thankless job. I voted for my mother who raised a son as a single parent in the 70’s and persevered to obtain a Masters degree and work over 50 years as an educator, even doing some library help now part time in her late 70’s. She gave me the backbone and strength to obtain my own degrees and hopefully make some difference in the world with the education I was gifted. I voted for my wife’s mother who raised a daughter as a single mom in the 70’s and gave her strength and wisdom along with the knowledge that women have to work hard, often harder than men, to make it in this society.
I voted for my Italian grandmother and her 13 siblings who were raised in the depression and came of age during one of the toughest times this country has been through. And she smiled and laughed and raised two daughters cooking and cleaning not only her own house but her husband’s businesses and even took care of his elderly brother in the same house. She only had a 4th grade education but her wisdom and practicality were worth many pHd’s. She and my grandfather raised a second daughter, my Aunt, who became a lawyer and a CEO of a public/private health care company which offers services to thousands of California residents who are disabled. I voted for her too even though she is a Republican and may be voting for the other guy.
I voted for my grandma on my father’s side who was a Daughter of American Revolution, our family landing here on the Mayflower and genetically related to Governors and statesmen who more than likely were puritans and settled Massachusetts by pushing out the natives and gaining sovereign over the land by brute force. She was always unassuming but firmly in charge of the family farm and all the responsibilities that went with it.
I voted for all my LGBTQ brothers and sisters who have been made to believe they are somehow inferior and have been the object of laws and societal norms attempting to take away their ability to pursue life, liberty and happiness. I voted for all the female union members I’ve worked with who seem to have it tougher at their job than their male counterparts. I voted for stronger together. I voted for Hillary Clinton and my NYS Democratic candidates so we can all move forward together even if we have a divided and strained society.
I voted for a women Presidential candidate for the first time in my life only because it is the very first time I have ever been able to. I have been saying for almost 30 years now that the United States should elect a woman as President since for over 240 years we have allowed the males to run the country and it doesn’t appear that a woman could do any worse than they have. In fact, I am betting a woman, THIS woman, Hillary Clinton will be one of the best Presidents of my lifetime. Today with a forward looking belief that we can be STRONGER TOGETHER in the United States of America I voted for all the women in my life.