florida, chapter 2: Obama

"Huck the Vote" is the brainchild of Nick Reich of PONY.  You've got 300+ young, motivated, typically liberal Ultimate players coming to the swing state of Florida just days before a momentous presidential election.  Why not organize them into staying for a few days before/after Nationals to campaign for Obama?

I first learned of HtV from Tim O'Shea, and was quickly invited to join the Facebook group.  Once I was more sure of Slow White's chances of making Nationals, and of my desires to go regardless, I gave this venture some consideration.  I had never been politically active in my life.  When else would I have the opportunity laid out before me like this, to remain where I was -- warm, sunny Florida in November, at that -- and work with some of the coolest people I know -- Ultimate players -- to bring about change I felt so strongly about?  I extended my stay through the election and began to get excited.  

-----

sorry to interrupt this expertly crafted blog post, but if i don't get these thoughts down now, they will be lost forever.  so forgive me while i eschew poetic prose, and let me get straight down to business.

i walk in monday morning to see alex nord.  hi howya doin'.  i am assigned to a car with julie sussman, her teammate jane, and dave bestock of shazam returns & sockeye fame.  we speculate on what blake, our assigned area's HQ manager, is like.  he turns out to be an affable, calm twenty-something.  we set out on the day's task: a targeted lit drop in north port, FL.  this consists of placing door hangers on select doors -- homes who have been identified as democratic, undecided, or non-partisan.  we alternate between teams of "red eagle" -- the minivan -- and blake snake -- the ground crew.  a long day.

tuesday, election day!  after much debate, red eagle-black snake decides to participate in "visibility" in bradenton -- standing on a busy street corner waving Obama signs at the morning commuters.  we were greeted with honks, waves, thumbs-ups, thumbs-downs, finger waves, and the finger.  "U-turns for Obama!"

back down to North Port and Blake.  today is door-knocking.  rousing up the vote!  and making sure the cavassers have done their job up to this point.  FL had early voting, so a lot of people had already voted by the time we got to them.  

i will forever remember sima.  this firely old serbian immigrant.  she hadn't voted, and intended to later, except that her daughter, from NJ, was out with the car.  i offered her a ride to the polls in Red Eagle.  she accepts and goes to put shoes on.  i excitedly run back to the van; dave asks if i'm sure she is voting for Obama.  part of me doesn't care, i am doing a civic duty and making sure someone votes!  dave verifies that my oversight isn't going to cost us ("oh yes, i'm voting for him," she dismisses his question, as if it weren't even a question).  after taking her to the wrong polling place (which we were fairly certain was the wrong place, but she was adamant and sometimes you have to humor the elderly), i go in with her to second, correct place.  not wanting to seem like i am coercing her, i stand back.  but the poll workers notice that i am with her, and bring to my attention that she needs assistance -- her eyesight is too poor to read the small print of the ballot.  so off i go into the voting area with her.  i read the ballot to her...and eventually end up just pointing at ovals for her to fill in.  the ballot is long.  there are 9 "amendment" questions...which are confusing.  i try to "translate" them into everyday language, so she can decide for herself, but she looks to me for guidance, and for some, eventually, i just tell how to respond...and we leave some blank.  we take her back home, and she fetches 2 cold sprites for dave and me.  sima, the one difference we know we made in FL!

canvass 'til dark.  watch the results roll in, while playing a drinking game.  one last swim in the ocean.  obama named president!  saw it first on the daily show -- will always remember that moment.  listen to / watch the concession & acceptance speaches.  both moving.  more celebration.  drive to "downtown" siesta key.  my name gets spelled in bricks.  back to Casa Blanca.  not much sleep.  up early.  blake has spent the night with nora...or lisa...so i see him in the AM and say good-bye.  to the airport with julie & jane...craziness still.  on the plane home.  back, exhasuted, in CT, before i know it.

depressed to be back.  it sets in almost immediately.  monday and tuesday were extremely tiring, yet i'd never felt so alive.  energizing to be working amongst a group of people who were equally excited and passionate about a cause.  i was happy to be doing the menial tasks of a worker ant, because i knew all the little pieces added up synergistically to a greater whole.  it felt invigorating to be part of something big.  i was inspired.  as cheesey as it sounds, the excitement of (half) a nation for one man, gave me hope.  gives me hope.  so much has been written in the past week about how obama's election symbolizes the rebirth of america as a bastion of hope, of possibility.  i believe it.

am left wanting more...more inspiration, more excitment for the cause, more enjoyment of working menially towards the big picture, more feelings that i can be part of something, more passion for a cause...

yes i can?