Older Voter

As the rain drenched the forest outside, we were warm inside, digging into some old photos from our senior year in college. Back then we were idealistic newlyweds, hardworking, but broke. 

In November 1980, we voted for the first time together and we dreamed about the future we’d share.

 


But dreams don’t pay bills, so after graduation we got down to the business of earning a living.

 

I’ve written about our farm days—when we worked alongside our migrant labor, pulling weeds, and picking strawberries. We eventually failed, paid off our debts, and tried another route. America offers opportunities to try again.

 

While much has changed in our country since then, one thing never has:

 

Our freedom to vote. 

 

We’ve never missed voting in an election. Not once. We’ve seen good and bad results. We’ve lived through policy failures and successes. We’ve sat in long gas lines, suffered high interest rates on loans, and dealt with slowdowns and recessions. We’ve witnessed stock market rises and plunges. We’ve learned to adjust as life makes turns.



As the pictures reveal—we were once young. We’ve changed over the years, right along with our country.

 

The saddest thing for me aren’t the signs of my aging, but the division I see among our citizens. I’m thankful to be in America with both Red and Blue choices. But most of all, for the younger Americans, I’d like to show them we can still be united. #Red&Blue2022


Jesus had the strongest warning about division: “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and a divided household falls.” Luke 11:17


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