Proud to Be

Election Day 2008. An historic day for our country and an exciting day for one said eight year old.

He was just two weeks old the first time he went with us to vote for a president. Hubby and I took turns rocking his baby carrier so he would not disturb the many other people who stood in line to cast their votes, in another historic election.

Then he was just barely a four year old as he followed us again into a voting booth. It was once again time to pick a leader and he got to be a part of the process.

This time around he had just turned eight. His second grade teacher encouraged all her students to go vote with their parents, even if it meant missing some school time.

So he got to sit between mom and dad at Dunkin Donuts, instead of catching his school bus. After an invigorating donut and a chocolate milk, we headed to the polls. The election officials allowed him to go behind the curtain with each of us individually then winked at him as he walked away. "Don't tell anyone you got to vote twice!" they said.

He grinned and grabbed daddy's hand.

It will most likely be the first election he will keep in his memory. If not for the fact he was the only citizen who got more than one vote, then definately for the joy of being an only child in the middle of Dunkin Donuts when everyone else is at school.