Jacob Voting in Brooklyn

My son jumped up in bed when I woke him yesterday morning and immediately wanted me to carry him out of bed. Normally he likes lounging half asleep in bed for 15 or 20 minutes before getting up. But today was election day and he was excited.

"We don't want to see ANYMORE of George Bush and John McCain," he keeps saying.

About a month ago he asked for an Obama button. Well, I figured he just wanted to be like mom and dad. But it went beyond that. He was PROUD of that button and showed it off at his childcare. He'd quiz people on who they supported,

He has been dreaming about election day with an excitement that rivals his anticipation of his birthday.

Joy, Jacob and I all went to vote together (Sarah had school...her main concern is that she no way, no how wants Sarah Palin to win). We voted at PS 282 in Park Slope. We expected a line but WOW! It was much longer even than the long lines in 2004. When we got there it went out the door, around the corner, down the street, around another corner onto 5th Ave, then we got in line at the restaurant Kiku. When we left we checked again and it went around yet another corner and halfway up another block. And everyone was eager to vote. No one complained about the line. Everyone realized that it was an amazing day and the long line was a part of that day.

The line in Park Slope, Brooklyn:

Jacob was patient through the whole wait. We had food for him so eating kept him busy for about half the way. Then he played with Joy's camera.

Jacob and me in line:

Our wait, despite a longer line than 2004, was not as bad as then. We only waited an hour. The election officials were amazingly efficient. We feared a three hour wait. It only took a third of that. We didn't even have to break out the emergency stash of toys to keep Jacob busy.

Jacob's excitement increased as we neared the school building.

He got to pull the big lever for both Joy and me. "We vote DEMOCRAT," he proudly said. "Certainly NOT Republican."

Jacob helping Joy pull the little lever for Obama:

And pulling the big lever:

As we were leaving, he was beaming with a sense of real accomplishment.

Even at 4 years old, Jacob knew it was a special day.

And, from Daily Kos, the final result:

Bookmark/Search this post with:

| | | | |