Her Future is So Bright...

This morning, after waking to a daunting future of a Conservative's worst nightmare, I had a pleasant surprise. Over the past few months my five year old has become interested in the presidential race. She had figured out who was running and why (sort of). She knew their names and was beginning to ask a lot of questions. She had heard fer friends and teachers at school talking about Barack Obama. I tried to, as best could be explained to a kindergartner, tell her why I would not be voting for BO. It was because he was basically trying to take my and other people's money. Through simplicity for a child I see the further truth in my explanation. Well this morning while the little ones were watching Dora or the Backyardigans or some other fingernails on the chalkboard cartoon, I told her that Barack was going to be our next president. She looked perplexed and then a little sad. She told me that yesterday her class had had a mock election. She then told me that only one person voted for John McCain. As she told me this my back was to her as I was spreading tuna salad on whole wheat bread for her lunch, and it hit me. I turned and asked, "...you were the only one who voted for John McCain in your whole class?" She smiled shyly and nodded yes. I had to ask her again to make sure. I knelt down and told to come here. I then gave her a big hug and she said softly to me, "I just wanted to vote for the guy you liked Daddy".

Now I know this was not how it probably happened, but I imagine my little girl in class holding her hand up high, by herself, when her teacher asked the entire class who would vote for John McCain. While the rest of her classmates and friends raised their hands for Barack. Perhaps I am imposing fatherly valor to a simple kindergarten activity, but I remember being in school and how important it was to be like everybody else. I have to tell ya' friends...my little girl has got guts, she is going places.