Yes, I early voted. In a face mask

July 22, 2020 by Ken Leinart

So.

I early voted.

There was a bit of a crowd, not much, but enough that I had to stand in line for about 15 minutes before I entered the polling location.

Voting is kinda like washing your dog. You don’t have to do it, but the dog likes it and you feel good afterward.

If you don’t like that comparison, it’s a little like paying a bill early. You don’t really want to, but you feel good afterward.

Yeah, I kinda struggle with comparisons.

I guess the best comparison I have is that voting is like watching a Chicago Cubs loss — it just makes you feel good.

OK, still struggling with comparisons, I guess.

Let’s just leave it at it feels good to vote.

You do know the privilege to vote has been paid for, right? If you want to see the price paid, visit a National Cemetery — any cemetery really — read the names of the men and women who served our country.

Or go to the Anderson County Courthouse and look at that big memorial out front. It’s gray and kinda blocky-like with the names of some pretty important people on it.

I know it sounds corny, but I always feel like I’m honoring veterans — alive and those who have passed — and our current members of the military, when I cast a ballot.

I also get that feeling every day I come to work.

But hey, that’s me. I’m just a First Amendment kinda guy.

Also, I’d like to thank five or six people in front of me in the line while we early voted, who gave up their places so the woman using the walker could go in front of them.

Well, she and her son and daughter-in-law.

It was a nice gesture and it again showed the commitment we have toward one another.

We may disagree about a lot of things, but when push comes to shove, we tend to stand together.

It’s a good feeling.

Currently a lot of people are all up in their high and mighty selves about wearing protective face coverings — or not wearing protective face coverings.

Of all the things to get upset about during a pandemic, I would think that wearing or not wearing a face covering would be the last thing to get in a fuss about.

But that’s me.

I would think worrying about things like the health and well-being of others would be something at the top of the list.

Again, that’s just me.

“I don’t care if you’re going cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs because you’re self-quarantining in your house and have been for the last 146 days, I just care about whether you’re going to wear a face mask!”

Just seems odd to me for one’s person decision to wear (or not wear) a face covering is anybody’s else’s business. And even if you don’t believe the coronavirus is real, does it really hurt that much to make a gesture for someone else’s benefit and/or peace of mind?

Maybe that is too much to ask of some people.

And really, calling someone a “sheeple” because they choose to wear face mask is …

Well, it’s juvenile.

And the reason this has slipped into this particular thought thread is that when I early voted everyone was wearing a face mask.

There was a funny moment though when the poll worker looked at my ID, then looked at me, then back to my ID, and then back at me …

I guess I look different with a face mask.

“It’s really me,” I grinned.

Except he couldn’t tell I was grinning. I was wearing a mask.

“Can you verify your address?” the guy asked.

I probably should have told him I was grinning.