We started a little later today than yesterday. We lagged. No Obama rally. We also had to switch rooms…not sure why. We got to our canvassing coordination place around noon. I think. We got our orders and headed out to our neighborhood. Once we got there, we were immediately made aware that this neighborhood wasn’t as well off as the one we had yesterday. In fact, not at all well off. This was the kind of neighborhood where you would likely see a car parked in the front yard hoisted up by cinder blocks. Here we found a diverse community of various ethnicities. The common threads were uncared for yards, dilapidated (but modest) homes, bars on the windows and doors, gates guarding the front door, no doorbells, and 9 out of 10 “Beware of Dog” signs. Yet everyone had dogs. Big dogs, little dogs, all barking like mad.
Today was really depressing. Depressing because not only did this neighborhood remind me of where I grew up, but the people there were really bad off. They’re all just trying to survive and hardly any of them are living. One house we stopped at, a friendly old man opened the door and asked us in. It was obvious he had some form of Alzheimer’s disease, totally unaware that you’re not supposed to invite strangers into the house. A youngish woman came to the door and asked the old man to step aside. A couple of rug rats ran to the door. This woman looked overwhelmed and you could read it in her eyes. Her husband, the name on our list, was at work and here she was caring for a forgetful old father and two rambunctious kids. She said it wasn’t a good time and asked us to come back later.
At another house, a withdrawn, stalker-type answered the door and said nary a word. We attempted to talk to him and at least find out if he was voting and for whom. Nothing. OK. So we started back down the drive way. “You thirtsy?”, he said as we walked. We didn’t quite hear him, so he said it again, asking us if we wanted to come in and get something to drink. RUN AWAY!!! “No thanks,” we replied and headed out. This sounds funnier than it was. He was actually really creepy and I dare not think about what might have happened if I’d gone alone. I might not be here writing this. Seriously. AJB and I joked that he had a gimp in the back room or girls tied up in his bedroom, but you know what? You never know about people and he totally had that vibe about him. Shudder.
One guy opened the door and chastised us for interrupting him during the football game. When he saw our Obama pins, he slammed the door. Several other houses slammed their doors in our faces. At a nice looking and well kept home, their 3 dogs started barking at us and began brawling with one another. We could hear the owner shouting at them until he finally came over, kicked one of the dogs really hard in the side and beat him with BBQ tongs. Then he walked away. The girl on our list, came out, told us she was voting for Obama and we left. I couldn’t wait to leave. What an asshole. If you know anything about me, it’s that I absolutely hate animal abusers. Poorly trained dogs should not be mistreated for their owner’s shortcomings. In fact, unruly dogs are a direct result of no training and abuse. I wished I’d kept their address so I could call Animal Control and report him. Fucker.
Roger, a 60-something man talked to us, but hadn’t voted since the 60′s. When we asked him how he thought government could do better, he said he didn’t care. We investigated further and asked him what he cared about. Nothing. He’d managed to take care of himself all those years, never got sick, and didn’t need government. He just didn’t care, he said. He wouldn’t vote. No way, no how. We asked if he cared what happened to his kids. Nope. They didn’t come visit him. This old codger lived alone, didn’t talk to his kids, and didn’t care one bit about the election. It didn’t matter and he was adamant about it. I imagine he has a lonely, bitter life. I just can’t fathom that. It’s not that he doesn’t know about the election, it’s that he couldn’t give a shit. I also sensed that he was a drinker and I believe he’s got reason. What a sad life he leads. When we asked him if he might consider voting to help other Americans who cared and need Obama, he declined. He stated that if he could take care of himself all these years without government, so should everyone else. I suppose government has nothing to do with the streets he lives on, the school he went to as a child, the unions he belongs to, his social security, the TV he watches, the registration of his vehicle, or any other unimportant facet of his life. I guess some people really are lost causes. At least, for our purposes today.
The most heart wrenching family was a middle aged woman and her 18 year old son. Their’s was the only house on our entire list that had any sort of pro-Obama signage in their yard or on their car. A homemade “Obama 2008″ sign was propped up rather sadly on their dirt and gravel front yard. Written by hand in washable ink, the words “Go Obama” on their car. When we got to the door, Stephanie was happy to see us and called her son over because she knew he’d be happy to see us too. They love Obama and will vote for him on Tuesday. We had some extra lawn signs and bumper stickers in the car, so I asked them if they wanted one of each. Their faces lit up as if this tiny gesture had made their day. As AJB ran back to the car, since they were so enthusiastic about Obama, I asked if they might be interested in volunteering the final days. Stephanie told me of her struggles and how life has been more than hard since she was diagnosed with breast cancer and her husband ran out when she started chemo. She told me about how they were trying to get the house in order and clear out junk, but were having a hard time of it. We made jokes about some of her stoner neighbors. We both agreed that Obama can’t cure all ills, but if he makes things just little better, it’s a step in the right direction. What a pleasant woman. I was really touched by her plight and was once again reminded why I’m out here. I can’t imagine what it like’s to be in her shoes, raising a son, fighting cancer, and just trying to make it day to day, but still having hope. And hope is what she had…and what she gave me. Her enthusiasm and good nature were like a shining beacon of light in that dreary neighborhood.
When you hear Obama talk about the people he meets, you feel for them, but you don’t know them. Today I met one of those people and I’m so much better for it. We said our goodbyes, but as I turned down the drive-way, I broke into tears. I cried because this woman has it rough, but remains optimistic. I cried because I know what it’s like to watch someone die from cancer and what chemo does to the body. I cried because Barack Obama has honestly made a difference in this country. Win or lose, he’s already changed this country for the better. We have something we didn’t have a year ago: Hope.
