New Orleans area- 3rd Pres election!

[beezlebum]

Just to share...

My first presidential election was in a very rural fishing village in Southeast Louisiana- literally on the bayou. I stepped out of mom's car into the shell rocks and looked a spitting distance to my left at the glistening bayou, fishy smell lingering in the air, and made my way into a crab peeling shack to my right to cast my vote for Al Gore in November 2000. I was 21 years old, newly wed, and my son had just turned one.

The second election I voted in was in the parish I grew up in, and where I currently live. We are a smaller parish right outside of New Orleans. Standing on the Mississippi River levee down the street from where I live, I can see the city lights, and a full view of the Superdome and city skyline from the bridge.

Most of my neighbors have expressed that they are republican and/or that they don't like Obama- only three of us are known democrats or Obama supporters, and most of us are almost afraid to admit our standing what-with the viciousness those repubs seems to feel towards Obama and "handouts-" the most common explanation for the republicanness is the intense hatred of all "handouts." Oddly enough, one of them has depended on Unemployment twice and Medicaid for two years and was rather keen on attaining food stamps after two hurricanes.

Ironically, this little parish that SEEMS highly republican tends to carry democrats.

I have never once had to wait in line to vote here. Turnout is usually relatively low, but even when high, I've never once waited in line- i just walk in, stroll up and find my name on the list, and make my way directly to my booth, cast my votes and leave.

One of my neighbors told me to be prepared to wait in line- never have before, I said. Oh, she said, but this is a major election, more major than any other, people are very much impassioned over this one. Nah, i said, even with tons of people showing up to vote, i doubt it. No one's in our tiny little district, i said.

HA! I just got back. For the first time, I waited in a line!! Now, bringing a snack and water as my well-meaning neighbor suggested might have been over the top, but WOW! I think I stood there for a whole 8 minutes! I voted!!!!!!