Civic Duty

Notes from a voting center

Tomorrow is Election Day for the California Primary. On Saturday I volunteered at a local voting center. Contrary to my last experience which was insanely busy—it was the Presidential election in 2024—this day was long and lazy.

The slow drip of voters often included long stretches of literally nothing to do. Sitting at the intake table I amused myself with various designs made out of the chain which held the pen to the clipboard. I also made as many words out of ‘library’ as we were situated in the lobby of a library with that word emblazoned on the wall opposite me. And I prayed through our upcoming trip to Europe.

I chatted with a few voters, some of whom restored my faith in humanity and others who made me wonder.

My co-workers for the day were seasoned veterans of the process. I was the only volunteer of three to show up so they appreciated me which was quite nice.

I dropped in the next day to the voting center to drop off my ballot and to bring them cookies. I also gave a copy of my book to another worker who happened to be a fellow writer. Since I work from home I never have the ‘co-worker’ experience so I lived that one day to the hilt.

Life is made up of these small moments, chance encounters, opportunities for connection. I may never see any of them again and yet, we touched each other in a unexpectedly sweet way.

And now, reader, I embark on another big adventure I intend to detail soon. To London, Paris, Verona, and then finally culminating in my last intensive in Oxford.

And if you’re a Californian I hope you’re voting!

Till next time.