Waiting...and Waiting

I had no intention of going downtown to vote today. It was an impulse. I realized that today would be the only day that I could wait in line, regardless of length, without having to worry about either having the kids with me or having to leave the line to go pick up a kid and have to get back in line later. After 2004, where I waited in line for over 2 hours with a 3 year old in tow, I decided to take steps to prevent that from happening again.

I left the house around 9:00, in hopes that people would have slept in this morning after celebrating Halloween the night before. When I got downtown, there seemed to be quite a bit of traffic for 9:00am on a weekend. As I approached Veterans Memorial, the sight for early voting for Franklin County, I noticed every car in front of me moving into the turning lane in front of Veterans Memorial. Damn.

As soon as I turned into the parking lot I could see a crowd of people lined up outside and around the building. The 930 space parking lot was full but I managed to squeeze my Honda Civic between two cars that were not spaced properly. I walked across the parking lot and started looking for the end of the line. I walked the length of the building and around the back and finally found the end of the line.

It didn't take long for strangers to start talking to each other. It also didn't take long to realize that everyone was in line for Obama. I was right behind a very talkative young veteran who had served 8 years in the military including 2 tours in Iraq. Actually having the opportunity to hear first hand accounts from someone who had served in Iraq was worth the wait in and of itself. His description of the initial invasion was very different from what we heard on TV. He said that they cruised right through Iraq and into Baghdad with no danger whatsoever. The invasion basically consisted of the U.S. using their technology to shoot people from 2 miles away and then tanks would drive up and confirm the fatalities. He said that the "war" was basically over in 2 days, we could have declared victory and gone home. Instead, he said, they were left there with no orders, just sitting around waiting and wondering why they were still there. It was all very interesting. I could write a big, long post just about what I learned from him.

Anyway, the line was moving, and the news crews were arriving and along the way I met Attorney General candidate Rich Cordray, and Mary Jo Kilroy's brother. Then, an entourage of approximately 20 older gentlemen, better dressed than the rest of us, came walking down the sidewalk. I figured it was someone famous or "important". As they came closer I realized it was John Glenn. He stopped to do a quick interview and then moved around toward the back of the building. That was the last I saw of him.

After 80 minutes in line outside, I finally stepped inside the building. A guy who had just finished voting told us that he had gotten in line at 7:30. It had taken him 3 hours to vote and he said that he thought that they had made the indoor line longer since he had been through it. We were still on the ground level and had to work our way upstairs before we could really see how long the line actually was. When I finally reached the top of the stairs, I couldn't believe my eyes. The line went on forever, with ropes set up back and forth down long, long hallways 4 times down and 3 times up, with each row about 100 yards long. Plus an out and back down a different long hallway before we could even get in the main line. My wait had just begun.

Fortunately, I brought along Girl With Curious Hair, by David Foster Wallace, so I escaped inside of my book to pass the time. I started to feel like I feel when I'm on an airplane. That feeling of not being in control and just trying to find ways to pass the time. Plus that heavy eyelid feeling from reading and that hungry feeling from not eating. It was starting to get tough.

After 3 1/2 hours, I reached the final rope. Just then, a Japanese film crew came racing up the stairs and started interviewing a woman about 3 people ahead of me. The line kept moving and we walked past the film crew. 30 minutes later, when I was about 20 people away from the front of the line, the film crew was back. Everyone who they had interviewed was there to vote for Obama. They were searching for someone, anyone, who was voting for McCain, so that they could interview them. They couldn't find anyone.

I finally reached the front of the line, received my ballot, filled in my ballot, sealed my ballot and submitted my ballot. VICTORY! 4 1/2 hours later, mission accomplished. I was exhausted but it had to be done. A small sacrifice for the greater good.

Now get out there on Tuesday and close the deal. Don't forget, since this is an even numbered year, Democrats vote on Tuesday and Republicans wait until Wednesday.

I couldn't resist.