Sisters, I wasn't prepared for that emotional POP.

[pnwmom]

Last edited Tue Nov 1, 2016, 10:43 PM - Edit history (4)

That emotional jolt to the heart I felt walking back to the parking lot, after putting my ballot in the official box at the mall. After voting for a woman President for the first time in my life.

We have mail-in voting in my state, so I could have just dropped our ballots in the mail. But what fun is that? So I drove our ballots to the mall. And there were other women voting there, too – and only women – which I hope bodes well! And we were not there to shop. All the women I saw just aimed themselves at the ballot box and went straight back to their cars.

I have felt all along that Hillary would be buoyed up by a wave of women from the left and the center, and I still feel that today. But still, my own personal reaction – that sharp burst of deep feeling – took me by surprise.

Sisters, see what happens when you vote. You might be surprised, too.

P.S. And to all the loving brothers out there, I thank you for good judgment and your support!

WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER!

[northoftheborder]

1. I let out an unexpected WHOOP when leaving the polling building! Surprised my old white-haired self!

A man behind me chuckled!

[pnwmom]

2. My WHOOP was all internal -- but deeply felt, all the same!

In fact, WHOOP pretty much describes it!

[oldtime dfl_er]

126. I had tears

of joy!

[ProudProgressiveNow]

5. K&R nt

[jehop61]

6. An amazing moment

When I finished my ballot, I reread my choices and tears came to my eyes at my choice for President

[raging moderate]

58. Yes, me too.

I keep thinking about my three-year old granddaughter. I hope she got to watch her mother mark that ballot.

[Cha]

7. ..

I cannot wait! Mahalo for the eloquent prep, pnwmom.

[pnwmom]

8. Mahalo, Cha!

[Hekate]

9. You are all giving me a lift just reading this thread. I can hold on for another week!

[Cracklin Charlie]

14. It's so hard to wait.

I'm taking my little granddaughter with me, if we ever get to vote. She will probably wonder why Granny is crying in the vote booth.

I promise when she gets bigger, I will make sure she knows why.

Happy Voting, Everyone!

[calimary]

30. That's all we can do, Cracklin Charlie.

Make sure the young 'uns DO NOT forget. Make sure they KNOW. Make sure they understand what it took to get here. The fucking damn ridiculous detestable and so damn UNNECESSARY STRUGGLE!

Make doggone sure we ourselves get to the polls WHENEVER there is an election. And DO NOT slack off during the midterms! That's how we got the damn teabaggers! That's how we lost the House.

And Then...

Make doggone sure our young, the younger generations DO NOT lose sight of what it took to get here. Even to this point right now, with the election still a week away.

Tell the young college-bound girls about Roe v Wade - how it used to be. How monstrous it was. How girls and young women DIED. Sometimes they bled to death. Outside, on the curb, into the street. In great pain, and terrified, and more often than not, alone.

Tell them about those bad old days when you could actually be arrested for sitting at the lunch counter if you had black skin. How you couldn't use the same doors, the same restrooms, the same water fountains, even.

Tell them how, even TODAY, if you drive across the country from one end to the other, you will cross state lines where your marriage might be illegal, and not honored.

Tell them that stuff. Don't let that history slip away! For all we know, the more the CONS and radical evangelicals and other assorted knuckle-draggers are able to gain power, the less this will even be taught in schools! They've already decided that civics class is no longer necessary. So it's MASSIVELY up to us to help them know.

[niyad]

39. when your granddaughter is older, have her watch "iron-jawed angels", the hbo movie

about the american women's suffrage movement. and "shoulder to shoulder", the pbs series about the british women's suffrage movement (not available on dvd (WHYYYYYYY????? ) but all episodes available on youtube.

[homegirl]

60. 50 year anniversary

Saturday, October 22, 2016 our local chapter of the National Organization for Women celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the organization. We had a wonderful, extremely well attended event, we showed a 20 minute DVD of the life of Inez Mulholland, the woman on the white horse, who gave her life for the cause of suffrage. We also honored the women "firsts" in our county:
City Council members
County Supervisors
District Attorney, and others.

We outlined our plan for a huge celebration August 26, 2020 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment.

Above all we reminded everyone to vote and to see that everyone votes.

Some numbers haunt me-it took 72 years from Seneca Falls to August 26, 1920, and it has taken 96 years before a woman candidate for a major political party has been the nominee. Let's all help Hillary break the glass ceiling!

[niyad]

61. thank you for this lovely post. amazing how damned long we have been fighting this battle.

hey, donnie, you love the 2A people so much--watch the 19A's run you out of town.

[Scarsdale]

101. Astounding

It shocks me to the core that ANYONE would think there is an actual contest here, between the two candidates. One is accomplished, intelligent, has a proven record of doing the right thing. The other one - well - the other is an orange clown with no CLASS at all. He faces multiple lawsuits and would have little time to actually do the job. He gets his advice from the Kremlin. Only very low intelligence people fail to see the stark differences, and they will vote for tRump.

[stopwastingmymoney]

51. That's wonderful, love it, nt

[Squinch]

10. No early voting in my state. I can't wait!

[pnwmom]

11. I wish everyone had early voting -- it certainly beats having to stand in line

on election day.

I hope you enjoy your experience when it finally comes!

[Squinch]

118. My local polling place is fun, though. It's very social and has always been a pretty happy bunch.

And usually there's a bake sale going on too.

[ncgrits]

12. I voted in NC on 10/20. Was unexpectedly emotional.

And then when I saw Hillary and Michelle, two women alone on the stage before a cheering crowd of 12,000 in Winston-Salem, I cried the ugly cry!

Sisters, we've got this!

Edit! P.S. Seeing Obama at UNC-CH tomorrow! Crying expected!

[pnwmom]

16. Have fun tomorrow! I'm so jealous!

[stopwastingmymoney]

54. Did you go?

I was in Chapel Hill last week and wished to go but unfortunately we left the day before.

I would love to see Michelle speak

[ncgrits]

78. I was there! It was awesome!

And seeing Michelle's husband tomorrow!

[stopwastingmymoney]

87. That is so cool! I'm jealous

It was interesting for me to spend some time in a swing state, y'all sure are getting a lot of attention (hehe, see what I did?)

[tanyev]

13. Me too.

I popped my sunglasses on as I left the voting area because I was tearing up. Good tears.

[Lucinda]

15. KNR

[yardwork]

17. Felt the same way when I colored in the little oval next to her name.

I was surprised how I choked up.

[archiemo]

18. I voted with my daughter and it meant so much to share that monumental moment with her.

[mcar]

19. I felt it too

Watching my 19 YO son cast his first presidential vote for a woman got me too.

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. My wife walked out of the booth crying

Y'all are saving us all!

[pnwmom]

26. Hey, we appreciate every man on the team that we can get!

[handmade34]

21. I live in a very small town

so it was just me and my partner voting... but I know who he voted for

talking to my youngest son after he voted, he teasing told me "I voted for every woman on the ballot!!" (both president and governor)

[brer cat]

22. Yes, it was very emotional.

I was surprised how strongly I reacted. Great feeling!!

[shenmue]

24. I felt so proud when I mailed my ballot

All Dems!

[UtahLib]

25. After voting,

I turned to my husband and said, OMG, I can't explain how good that made me feel! He was in total agreement.

[PJMcK]

27. In New York, we don't have early voting

And since I'm a man, I won't have quite the same emotional experience as you ladies share.

However, I am proud to cast my vote for the most qualified candidate in the history of our country. It's about time the United States had a smart woman running the show, as other countries have done.

Hillary Clinton has the potential to be a transformational president. Our country needs that.

[pnwmom]

28. Thank you, PJMcK! I appreciate every man who understands how important

this is to all of us -- and appreciates the kind of person Hillary Clinton is.

She'll need all the support she can get to win this thing -- and in the years ahead.

[LoveMyCali]

32. Sucks to not have early voting doesn't it?

I can't wait to cast my vote for Madame President.

[apcalc]

31. Women , our sisters, are going to save this country's ass.

[pnwmom]

35. With the help of enough smart and caring men!

[apcalc]

52. Yes! For sure!

[Silver Gaia]

33. You know... if just reading your message to us is making me cry...

how am I going to feel when I actually do this in the voting booth? It's been a long time coming, sisters. I am SO ready to do this and I WILL on November 8th.

Thank you so much for sharing this with us, pnwmom. I think it is important that we support each other by sharing our experiences.

[pnwmom]

34. You're welcome, Silver Gaia. It's been gratifying to see I wasn't the only teary one.

[BigMin28]

36. Voted Saturday

In deep red Texas. My Mom, who is 80 and still works, and my daughter, 33. It was a great feeling. 3 generations for one cause. Elect Hillary. I am very hopeful. There were about 35 voters there , all women. Lots of high 5's outside. And knowing smiles and nods. We all kinda knew we were in this together. made me a little teary-eyed.

[pnwmom]

38. Welcome to DU, BigMin28!

[BigMin28]

42. Thanks!

It's good to be here.

[NastyRiffraff]

67. Wow, 3 generations!

Great story, BigMin. And welcome to DU!

[BigMin28]

75. Thanks you!

[LittleGirl]

100. Welcome to DU

and I voted early for AZ (I live abroad) and so did my spouse for the first women President! The tears are joy!

[Demsrule86]

37. Both hubs and I got teary...it is remarkable.

[unitedwethrive]

40. I'm looking forward to it!

Voting on the actual election day here!

[nolabear]

41. I voted and then we toasted Hillary with champagne.

Solidarity, Sisters!

[niyad]

43. k and r and thank you for sharing a bit of your soul with us tonight.

[pnwmom]

44. Thank you, too, niyad! I know November 8 will be a big day for you, too.

[niyad]

46. it has been a very long battle for this moment. will be sharing with friends at a watch

party so we don't have to behave ourselves!!

[flamingdem]

45. Yea Sisters and Brothers

This will be momentous

[pnwmom]

47. Yes, to all of our sisters and brothers who can rejoice in this moment!

[progree]

48. I traitorously crossed gender- and race- lines to vote for Hillary today

(White men are supposed to vote for Trump, so I'm told)

[pnwmom]

49. With enough brave men like you, we're going to win this thing together!

[cilla4progress]

50. This thread is SO beautiful

And I needed it terribly much! I am one of those subject to anxiety, and when my husband and I filled out our mail-in ballots Sunday night, we were mostly pissed OFF!!

Thank you ALL for reminding me of the historical nature of this election, and its special meaning to we graying women. I almost lost connection to that, and you saved me!

[pnwmom]

57. I'm glad if it helped you -- and let's keep reminding each other

WHAT A FUCKING BIG DEAL THIS WILL BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[artemis starwolf]

55. Me too!

I got all choked up, thinking about how I was part of history bring made.

[Ms.Lib]

56. I felt it too while filling out my AB

It was such an honor & privilege giving my vote to Hillary, definitely a moment I'll never forget. I already feel like she's my president.


GOTV Florida!!!

[ladym55]

63. I got teary

My husband and I early voted 10 days ago. We did it in person at the BOE. I guess I didn't expect to get emotional filling in the bubble for Hillary Clinton for president, but there I was with a giant lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. My husband and I were casting our ballots for a woman, and a very special woman at that.

[mountain grammy]

64. My husband dropped off our ballots

But when we sat down to fill them out, I felt overwhelmed seeing a woman's name there. I just stared at it while my husband gleefully colored in the box next to her name, humming some tune. Finally, I said hallelujah, and voted for President Hillary Clinton.

[NastyRiffraff]

65. I WAS surprised, pnwmom

I posted this on another board, but here it is for DU:

First early voting day in Maryland...I expected to be excited, even moved. But as I filled in the oval beside Hillary's name, it hit me, like a big boulder on my chest, what an awesome thing I was doing. I had been happy and excited when voting in the Primary, but this! this was something I'd never done before...something no one has done before this election. Tears filled my eyes; I had to actually wait in the voting booth to finish my ballot and collect myself.

When I got out and into the scanning line, a woman in line saw me, with tears on her cheeks she gave me a grin and a thumbs up. Sniffling, I returned her gesture. I probably won't ever see her again, but I won't forget her, or this wonderful, amazing experience!

And today, I was downtown shopping, with my "We Made History" button on my coat and a woman stopped me, gleefully yelling "We made history!" We fistbumped, and were joined by a man who said he used to work for Trump in NY and he's as bad as everyone says as an employer. We all chatted a bit and then went on our ways, but it was great meeting Hillary people.

Thanks for this great thread, pnwmom

[pnwmom]

66. It's wonderful to read all these stories, isn't it? Thanks so much for sharing yours!

[cry baby]

72. My 89 yr old Mom smiled like the cat that ate the mouse

when she and I voted on the 1st early voting day in Texas.

I just cried.

And then we drank champagne!!

[Frogg]

97. Mum and Me

My 85 yr old mum and I voted early in NC this past week. It was an amazing experience and doing it together made it one of those cherished memories I shall always hold dear!

[cry baby]

110. I hope she was as proud to vote for Hillary as my mom was.

Cherished memory, indeed.

Welcome to DU!

[HipChick]

73. I already shed tears thinking about this...

can't wait for it to roll off my tongue next week..Madame President...

What we going to do with Bill though? First Man? I am going with ex-President..

[ohheckyeah]

74. I know the feeling.

My husband and I filled out our absentee ballot Sunday and he delivered them to the post office yesterday. You have no idea how I wish I could have driven them there myself.

[pnwmom]

76. I kept nagging the men in my house to do theirs because

I was so anxious to get this DONE. Of course they didn't see the hurry since the election is a week away . . . .

But I conducted my own mini-GOTV operation (complete with a phone call to my daughter who, alas, can't vote till election day) and I was determined not to wait any longer.

[ohheckyeah]

80. My husband shocked me. He had said he

Wasn't,going to vote. Then he not only did but did so proudly.his best friend voted for Hillary, too. Both were of the attitude that they couldn't face their wives and great nieces if they didn't. I'm proud of both of them. These are country boys surrounded by redneck republicans. They don't back down when challenged for being liberals. Whale saving, tree hugging, bleeding heart liberals. It gives family members heartburn.

[pnwmom]

83. Did you happen to see this post?

I love this guy -- a "liberal redneck" addressing other rednecks with some plain talk and common sense.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017408719

[ohheckyeah]

115. No I hadn't seen that.

It's great, but we aren't quite. that redneck sounding

[DemonGoddess]

82. I'll get my kick in the gut November 8th

. It'll be GLORIOUS!

[riversedge]

84. I went to the Town Hall--during noon lunch hour. All was quiet except for a lone

clerk. I marked my early absentee ballot for Hillary--and Russ Feingold and down ticket Dems and put it in the envelop. Quiet.

It only hit me as I went out-whow. I just voted finally for the first women President. Somber and excited at the same time.

[pnwmom]

85. Same with me. There was this little delayed reaction

before it hit me -- as I was walking out to the car.

But it was wonderful.

[CaptainTruth]

86. AWWWW!!! I early-voted a few days ago, & I'm a guy, but I have to say ...

I felt so damn much pride when I filled in that oval for Hillary Rodham Clinton.

I filled in the rest of my ballot & when I was done I had to go back to the top of the first page & just look at it for a while, just look at that oval next to Hillary's name (& the empty one beneath it with Cheeto Benito's name) ... I wanted to take out my phone & take a pic of it, but I wasn't sure if that was legal so I didn't.

First time in my life I've ever "savored an oval."

[pnwmom]

89. Awww. . . .

I'm sorry you didn't get a picture of it.

I filled mine out at home, and then photocopied it. And I think I'm going to frame the copy. In the meantime, I've posted the Presidential vote on FB, so people can see how it's done!

You and I and all the rest of us are about to make history, just like we did eight years ago. I can't wait!

[CaptainTruth]

91. I know, now I'm kicking myself! I should have taken a pic. I think it's actually legal.

My only consolation is that I have a photographic memory (not for everything, but for things I want to remember). It's what got me through calculus & physics & finally to an electrical engineering degree & beyond (I could picture textbook pages & read formulas off of them).

I committed that ballot to my memory, I can picture it in every detail, & I guess that's what really matters.

I sincerely hope we all make history pnwmom! Trump (& his hate hate & racism etc) need to go down in flames!

[pnwmom]

92. I wonder if it's possible to get a sample ballot somewhere?

Or, if you knew anyone who hasn't turned theirs in yet, you could make a photocopy before they filled it out -- and then fill it out and save it at home.

My family's engineers would be jealous of your photographic memory. That must come in handy!

[kcr]

88. I can't wait to vote

[CaptainTruth]

90. And I guess I was like you in this regard:

I could have used a mail-in ballot, but I didn't. I wanted to go to my early-voting polling place in person, & do it in person. That was important to me.

As a side note, the elderly gentleman holding the door open was hilarious. I voted Saturday mid-day & there were no lines (another benefit of living on an island). I remarked to him that I was surprised there weren't more people there, I was expecting a crowd, & he said "Oh, you should have been here yesterday, we had 55 people show up, 54 of them were crying & 1 was vomiting," ... with a wry mischievous smile.

He was clearly joking (about "candidate unpopularity&quot & I totally LOLd, he was hilarious.

[pnwmom]

93. I finally went to the Hillary store

and bought a Hillary pendant necklace. So no one who's seen me can ever say that no one likes Hillary. I am an introvert and I wouldn't be wearing this Hillary heart every day if I didn't mean it!

I was a supporter to begin with, but when I saw her in the debates against Trump, I was in awe. What a strong and capable and caring woman. We're so lucky to have her in this battle against Trump.

[Hulk]

94. Dropped mine in the box today too...

Live in Washington State though, so sort of not a exciting as if I lived in a "swing state". Swingers....schsh!

[Frogg]

95. My 85 year old Mum

We live in a small mountain town in NC...close to Asheville which is very progressive but far enough away to be smack in the middle of what I imagined to be a little Trumpland. My 85 yr old mum and I voted early for Hillary last week and it was absolutely amazing. She could not believe that we were walking into a voting site and casting a vote a woman. She said she never imagined that could happen in her lifetime. It was one of the most empowering experiences of both of our lives.

We have watched this election season with keen interest and are repulsed on a nightly basis at the Trump dump and his wee willy Trumpites. The delusion of this "cult"! It is a cult...all of the traditional brainwashing tactics, fear-mongering, paranoia, seperation measures are there. It is just frightening. I am watching family members, friends and loved ones being sucked into this cult and am powerless to do anything to intervene. It is a very powerless feeling. I had to do something...my solution...I volunteered to hand out Democratic candidate slates at the early voting poll site to try and assuage my feelings. The upshot of this? It was a fascinating window into who was and wasn't voting for the Dems. I had hoped that I would not be screamed or growled at by Trump voters and maybe I would actually get a few Dems coming by...I was shocked! About 65% of the folks streaming in wanted the Dem slates, not the Trump ones! Women, families, older folks, young ones. It was amazing! My belief in humanity is somewhat restored. If you are feeling sick and helpless to intervene with your loved ones, go and volunteer. You might be pleasantly surprised to find the demographic Trump is so sure he has indoctrinated into the cult may not just be a sure bet for him at all!

[pnwmom]

96. Welcome to DU, Frogg!

I think your post would be so encouraging for people to read here, but I know you don't have enough posts yet for an OP. Would you mind if I made an OP to point people to your post?

[Frogg]

125. Of Course

Please do!

[mahina]

127. Welcome to DU, Frogg. That is so encouraging!

Awesome post.

[annabanana]

128. To a chronic worrier, your post is pure sunshine!

Thank you and welcome to DU!

[Mc Mike]

102. I saw footage of Jesse Jackson crying when the election was called for Prez. O, in '08

It wasn't because Jackson didn't get to be prez, himself. It was relief, justification. It was because, at last, a truth that millions of civil rights people had fought for decades for, was recognized and certified by a massive majority of our voting citizens, in front of the entire nation.

This election is exactly like that election.

[pnwmom]

112. Yes, that's what I think, too!

[Mc Mike]

124. We're all doing our best to

make Barbara Mikulski cry like that on election night.

I won't mind seeing Palin cry, too, but her tears might be a bit different.

[leftynyc]

103. Just READING your post has tears in my eyes

NY doesn't have early voting and it's not a contested state but I can barely contain my desire to vote for Hillary (and all the down ballot races also but....). It warms my heart that all the men in my life are also voting for Hillary. I feel blessed.

[Evergreen Emerald]

106. I was moved when I filled out the ballot, and cried when I submitted it.

I then printed a copy of Susan B. Anthony's grave site with the "I voted" stickers and I am having it framed.

[TNNurse]

107. I wanted to be able to call my mother and tell her.

[Fla Dem]

108. I was so overwhelmed at voting fo HRC I took a picture of my ballot. Just because.

I've never done that before in 50 years (of course we didn't have iphones in the dark ages), but felt this was such a historical vote I wanted to have a record of my ballot.

[ismnotwasm]

113. It was an incredible feeling

So meaningful to me--even before I filled the ballot--just looking at her name--gave me tears of hope and joy

[MadDAsHell]

114. Michele Bachman is a woman. So is Sarah Palin. I don't care what they have between their legs...

if they're not progressive!

Our win is from her politics and policies, not her genitalia.

[LanternWaste]

116. One may celebrate both, if applicable.

One may celebrate both, if applicable. And in this particular case (the one the OP was referring to, you know...), it is applicable.

Or, one may simply minimize it through petulance.

[MadDAsHell]

117. I'll take the latter ;) nt

[Piedras]

119. California early voter for Clinton/Kaine

I'm a male California early voter for Clinton/Kaine. It felt really good to hand my ballot over to the post office yesterday. No tears. A strong resolve to bank another vote for the best candidates for the highest offices in the USA! F the deplorable hateful dangerous Putin supporting Trump ticket.

[awoke_in_2003]

121. When I voted last Monday...

it was the busiest I have ever seen the polling place (never early voted before, always did it on election day), and the percentage of women seemed much higher. I hope this bodes well (Tarrant County, TX)

[classof56]

122. I dropped mine in the ballot box at our local library.

Must say, lord how I love vote-by-mail! Just now realized what a good feeling it was to cast my vote for our first woman President. Felt it when I filled out the ballot, but now realize that like you, how great it was to send that ballot on its way.

Hear us roar!!!

[trueblue2007]

123. I CRIED.