Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Today is November 4th - Such a Special Day!

November 4, 2014.  An important day!

November 4th, 2014 is circled on my calendar for two very different reasons:


Reason #1.  Today is my "SITS Day"!
I am the featured blogger on The SITS Girls website today.  I have been looking forward to seeing my blog spotlighted there!

http://www.thesitsgirls.com/blog/

For those of you who are wondering what “The SITS Girls” even is:  

The SITS Girls was founded in 2008 and is now an on-line blogging community for bloggers, with 75,000 members. It is an incredible resource of information, opportunities, and support for bloggers.
Joining SITS was one of the best things I have done for myself as a blogger. It's pretty exciting that they are highlighting my blog there today! 


Thanks for making this an even bigger celebration for me today!
Whether you followed the link from The SITS Girls, or found this blog by some other way - welcome! I hope you will take a look around now that you are here. I'd be thrilled if you would follow this blog, and connect with me on any (or all) of my social media sites. Many thanks to everyone who already does.


(Just click on any of these buttons in the sidebar of my blog to connect with me!)


I really hope you say hello - both in the comments here, and/or on my feature post at The SITS Girls today. I will reply to everyone who does. If you have a blog, I will be sure to visit!
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I mentioned there were two reasons why today is such an important day . . . 

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Reason #2.  Today is Election Day in the United States.

Today I am sharing with you a “guest post” by a very special writer - my daughter.  

If you need any convincing of why everyone should have and exercise their right to vote, the powerful message of this essay she wrote may persuade you. (It also may surprise you!)


Being born later than her due date turned out to be a
bigger disappointment than we ever anticipated!

Born Too Late.  By E. F. 


I was born a few days too late.
     
Literally just a few days. I was due the 6th of November, yet born several days later. This seems inconsequential; lots of babies are born a little late right? However, as I discovered in 8th grade, I really was born too late.
     
I was always one of those kids that get involved with politics way too early. Arguing with adults at the dinner table about social issues, trying to engage in political discussions on the playground, way too informed for my own good. Some people found it endearing, others tried to avoid arguing with me. When I was ten years old, and the Bush-Kerry election was the hot topic, I spent lunch going from table to table trying to convince kids who to vote for. I knew, of course, that my fellow fourth-graders wouldn’t actually be able to vote, but I hoped that they would go home and convince their parents. 
     
So in my eighth grade class on American History and Government, I was in my element. With a great teacher who allowed us to engage in some amazing discussions, I finally had an outlet for my political frustrations. It was pure bliss. Until one day I discovered the horror of my birthday.
     
As immersed as I was politically, my greatest wish was to vote. I was fascinated with it, and I loved the idea of my voice having an effect on the leader of our country. While others dreamed of their eighteenth birthday with the idea of lottery-tickets and finally reaching adulthood, I simply couldn’t wait to put a mark on the ballot. As a fourteen year old the year of the Obama-McCain election, I couldn’t wait for the next election cycle to make my voice heard.
     
That is, until the day my history class looked up the date of the 2012 election. Immediately my teacher knew something was wrong. “E., when’s your birthday again?” she questioned. I answered proudly, confident in making the cut. Instead I was met with silence, and then my teacher very gently had to break it to me that I would not be eighteen until a few days after the election.
     
I was crushed. How could this have happened? All I wanted was to be able to put a check on a ballot, and instead, due to my delayed arrival to the world, I would have to wait another four years to help decide our national leader.
     
Since that day, I have discovered ways to make my mark on the world other than casting a ballot. From volunteering for a local political party to writing opinion articles for our school newspaper, I have found other ways to get involved. The inability to vote may have actually aided me, forcing me to find other ways to make a difference. 
     
Either way, one thing is for certain. In 2016, I will be waiting outside a voting booth, thrilled with the opportunity to cast my vote in the presidential election.

Voting is both a duty and a privilege - Don't forget to VOTE!



This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

25 comments :

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks Jenn! It feels pretty exciting. I love the name of your blog! I'm a new follower!

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  2. Yay, Susan! So glad it's your SITS day. I know that everyone who clicks over will love your blog as much as I do. Great post by your daughter - she obviously inherited her writing talent from her mom!

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    1. Thanks Lana - My daughter's writing is amazing ... I think actually I've learned some things from her! Thanks for your always-there support!!

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  3. Happy SITS Day! Congratulations on that big achievement. It's so wonderful that you let your daughter write about voting today. It's great to see young people with a desire to be politically active. Voting certainly is important, even if it seems at times that our votes don't count, that change will never come. Only yesterday I was listening to a story from Decomcray Now! The War and Peace Report, in which journalist Greg Palast discussed the fact that 40, 000 voters were missing from the rolls in Georgia. In 2014 people are still fighting for the right to vote America!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Michelle. Thank you - for your comments here and on the SITS Feature. When I talk with my daughter and her friends, I see hope for our future.

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  4. Happy SITS Day! What a lovely post written by your daughter. I love her passion and enthusiasm for politics. Does she plan on working in that field someday?

    She will definitely cross my mind on Election Day 2016 :)

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    1. Thanks Shelly. I just enjoyed a visit to your blog. I liked you on Facebook and look forward to reading your future posts!

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  5. Hoping that you have a Happy SITS Day...congratulations!

    Rachel would like you to read We are Stronger in Our Broken Places

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for commenting Rachel, here and on my SITS Feature! I loved your article linked here - and I have shared it. Have a great day!

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  6. Happy SITS Day, Susan! And I love your daughter's post--our kids were both thrilled when they were finally able to vote, and we're a pretty political household, so her words really resonated.

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    1. Thanks Karen. It is amazing watching your kids turn into adults, isn't it?!

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  7. Happy SITS Day to you! I'm going to your blog asap and plan on following you there. Great job on this post!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Teresa! I always enjoy your writing as well.

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  8. Congrats on your SITS day, Susan!

    Oh E.F., I was born a couple of months late for voting in the 2000 presidential election (and I lived in Florida, at the time!). It was so very frustrating to be the only one of my friends who did not get to cast a ballot that year. So I feel your pain.

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    1. Thanks Tracie! It was a fun day. I will be sure my daughter sees your comment. She has been texting me election results (and her reaction to them!) all evening!!

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  9. Hi, I'm a new Sitsgirl but I'm happy to find your blog! Great story from your daughter.

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    1. Thank you! You will love SITS! I find more and more helpful things there all the time! Glad you liked my daughters's story!

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  10. So good to see a young person who wants to be involved in the electoral process. So many these days don't seem to want to be bothered. Women went through bloody hell to get the right to vote. It makes me furious when todays women don't appreciate what they went through. Next election you'll have to throw a big party for her lol.

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    1. If only she would be at home in November - so I could have a party for her!! My daughter is passionate about women's rights - and human rights in general! I think that you would like her, Delores!

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  11. Happy SITS day - and I love your daughter's interest/commitment/drive. And, as Delores said, our right to vote was hard won...

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  12. I am so sorry to have missed your SITS DAY! I even had it on my calender then things went haywire with Sarah and the next thing you know early on Nov. 5th we got Izzy and Caleb! First thing I have to say is wow! You must be very proud of your daughter! This story has me wanting to go volunteer for a political party or something! She is a born writer and it was very well written and definitely made me think! I wonder if Izzy and Caleb will someday be in the same dilemma! I am ashamed to say that I haven't even registered to vote in SC which is so unlike me because I have voted in every election since the year I was 18 (Lord, what a long time ago). It's one of those things I keep saying I have to get done but haven't this definitely pushes me to go do it! I just have to wait until the next time hubby has a day off through the week that isn't about some crisis or another! I can't drive anymore so that's why I have to wait! Maybe one day we will be voting her the next President in the U.S. wouldn't that be something! Great job Miss E.F.! Very impressed!

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    1. NO apologies Rena - I know how busy you have been! I will pass along your compliments to my daughter. She is an English major - and yes, she really can write! I am envious of all the writing classes she gets to take :)

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    ReplyDelete

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