Richard's Last Vote

[Autonomy]

I hadn’t seen Richard for almost a year. He was a spry, youthful 80, always a quick wit, and quick with a friendly smile. He was a rare Republican, I thought, who had a way of making one feel welcome, and not on guard. But that last time I saw him, he was sullen, angry. He didn’t smile at me when I greeted him at the meeting where I saw him and his wife, Emily, regularly. During the meeting I made an oblique reference to the Iraq War – I don’t remember exactly what it was, but it was something about bringing the troops home. Richard tore into me after the meeting. His lips were pulled tight over his mouth and his face was reddening. I had never seen him other than happy go lucky, so I was a bit taken aback, but I tend to counter attack when it’s about something I really believe in. So we had an all-out argument right there. I called him "Dick", in a sarcastic manner. I immediately felt bad about exchanging angry words with someone so much older than I, and who was in failing health.

I thought about Richard often in the next year. I stopped going to the meeting where I saw him regularly and started going elsewhere, largely because of my resentment towards him. I often thought I should mend our fences and make peace, but I never got around to it. Maybe after the election I would feel better about it. Then I could rub it in his face when my Dems beat his Repubs! It would be all in good fun, and we’d surely have a laugh over it.

On election day, I was standing outside the polling place, greeting voters and supporting my Democratic candidates, when Emily came walking up. She was just like Richard, always smiling and cheerful. But I hadn’t seen her, either, since the heated argument last year. As always, she smiled and greeted me warmly. She told me she had seen me walking around the neighborhood from time to time, and that she would honk next time she drove past. I expressed my surprise. I hadn’t seen you guys at all, I said. Her smile dropped and her eyes watered. Richard passed away two weeks ago, she said.

It’s really bothered me in the past few days. I had flowers and a card sent to her house, and they arrived this morning, but I felt I should have made my amends with him sooner. I let my ego get in the way.

So I was taking a walk around the neighborhood today, and suddenly I heard a honking behind me. It was Emily. We stopped and talked, and what she told me explained everything.

Richard was a lifelong Republican and had supported the Iraq War vehemently. But the week before our argument, Richard and Emily had received news that their grandson had been killed in Iraq. Since then, he had a change of heart. On his deathbed, he filled out an absentee ballot, and for the first time in his life, Richard voted for a Democrat. In fact, he voted for nothing but Democrats! It’s not that he changed all his political beliefs, Emily told me, but that he was voting against the Iraq War. He was voting to bring the troops home before another family had to go through what they were going through. She said Richard had come to despise Bush and the neocons who lied us into a war, and that he had expressed his desire to make amends with me, too. I guess both of us let our egos get in the way.

Emily told me her belief that Richard was in a better place, and that their grandson was showing him around the place. I said I was sure about it. Just before she pulled away, she made sure to tell me that she had always voted Democrat all her life, but had never told Richard. This was the first time in their lives that they both voted the same way. She said she thought that Richard's last vote was his most important.

I watched her pull away, a faded yellow ribbon sticker peeling off the back of her car as she went home to an empty house.

I walked in my front door and turned on the news. More soldiers killed in Iraq. I realized that every day brings more reason to fight against this war.

BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!

[JeffR]

1. A solemn K & R for a very touching post

:patriot:

[Booster]

2. And another K&R here. RIP, Richard - ya done good.

[brokensymmetry]

3. K&R. I have no words.... n/t

.

[CrispyQ]

4. Sad.

I think many true conservatives are waking up to the fact that their party no longer represents their conservative values. They can call themselves what they want, but actions speak louder than words & these are not conservatives.

I'm so sorry that Richard & Emily had to lose a grandchild to see what their party has become. But I'm glad they finally did!
:hug:

[NanceGreggs]

5. An incredible story ...

... and so beautifully told.

Thank you.

[progressoid]

6. ...