Editor’s (Neeta aka navajo) Note:
Please WELCOME bleeding blue as our NEW Saturday diarist for CUA.
And I must say, YAY!
Have you ever made a impulsive life-changing decision?
On the night of January 11, 2006 I walked into this room filled with 100 or more people, all chatting away. I didn’t know a soul. I really hate situations like that, the shyness of my youth comes surging back...I’d have much rather been home watching NOVA that evening. Instead I was at my first Democratic Party meeting. My thought was: “What did I get myself into?”
This pickle I found myself was the fault of picking up the newsletter from our Legislative District Democratic Organization the prior Sunday night. I was a member due to my attending the presidential caucus in 2004 and making a contribution, so I got the monthly announcements. I had attended the precinct caucuses sporadically starting at age 19 with my parents. The next was in 1984 with my wife and our 3-week old son. I was a delegate to the larger LD caucus that year…same in 1988 and 1992. Other than voting and writing a few checks, that was just about the extent of my political involvement.
2006 rolled in and the crap continued to accumulate: Bush. Iraq. Cheney. Katrina. Torture memos. the fact that Governor Christine Gregoire eked out a win by 129 votes after 2 recounts. All of that (and much, much more) was a big mound of ugly.
It was New Year’s resolution season.
So, for the first time, I actually read that darned little newsletter…rather than using it for Recycle Bin Chow. I read that they were trying to recruit Precinct Committee Officers and I knew that my precinct had been unrepresented for as long as I had lived here.
Thought bubble: Maybe I could do that! Or not. Yeah, let’s go with the “or not”…I’d never want to go out and knock on doors anyway. Screw that.
But...later that Sunday night, I made a rash snap decision, one that would affect my free time and much of my energy going forth….I composed a message to the District Chair and offered to be a PCO. I blame wine. It was that one glass of wine over my limit, pushing me up and beyond my normal comfort level...
...Carlo Rossi made me click “SEND”!
Then…BOOM! The next morning at an indecently early hour, I got a call from the chair. I was to be at the next meeting, which was the coming Wednesday at which I would be appointed. “When you come, grab a beer and come find me…oh, and pay your dues!” the chair told me. “You’ll have to say a few words.” (Just great, public speaking. Another thing I don’t enjoy doing.) Fortunately I was one of about 11 people confirmed that night, and time was tight. I think I mumbled when questioned: “Yes, I am a Democrat.” and then blurted: “I don’t know what I’ll be doing…but I will do it anyway.” No getting out of it at that point.
I slowly met people, and as I increased my volunteering, I learned what what I was best suited for. I was offered a spot on the executive board as the leader of the Outreach Committee, served a term as the male representative to the larger county central committee, and doing much of the graphics, including door-belling pieces…all while serving as PCO for my neighborhood.
And Oh! I edit that darned little newsletter now.
Have you ever made a impulsive life-changing decision?
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