I'm standing awkwardly at the door, having just asked to speak with a dead man.

[struggle4progress]

Just a moment ago, I tried to explain the importance of the election to a man who never votes. Our conversation was pleasant enough, but I did not succeed, and I was off his porch again in a minute or so

Now I've walked up a steep drive, where a young man is chatting with an older woman. They see me but continue talking briefly. I try to maintain a courteous distance

When there's a pause, I identify myself and add I'm looking for So-and-so

Oh, they moved

A single address often involves several names, so I try the next one. Is So-and-so here?

He died, says the woman

I'm sorry, I respond

He was my husband, she says

I was dropping by to tell folk how important the election is , I tell her

She'll vote and she'll vote Democratic. I offer her an early election schedule, but she prefers to vote on Election Day

I ask the young man if he'll vote. He's old enough but isn't registered. The ordinary registration deadline passed a while back, but I point out that he can register during the early voting period

I didn't know that, she says

I tell him how. He gets an early election schedule from me and a few words about why it matters

Would he like us to mail him a reminder? Yes, he would, so he does my form. I offer him a voter registration card so he can fill it out before going to the early voting site, but he already has one

This is my grandson, the woman beams. He lives with his mother

A few more words and I'm on my way

Thank you, she says

I'm sorry about the mister

It's alright. Thank you

[ZombieHorde]

1. Thanks for doing this, struggle4progress. Recommended. nt

[hlthe2b]

5. Seconded...

:thumbsup:

[K8-EEE]

11. Thirded n/t

[enough]

6. And for writing about it. (nt)

[Grown2Hate]

2. You that go door to door are heroes to me. I did it for Obama, but it's REEEEAAALLY hard for me.

It's possible that I'm scarred from being raised a JW though. Good on you, and thank you!!! :)

[barbtries]

14. i really hate doing it

i've done it twice now, and registered voters in front of a grocery store (in an extremely red area). i'm just not quick with the small talk. in many ways i've overcome the shyness of my childhood but when it comes to canvassing it's all there. some people are really great at it and even love doing it - more power to them. every time i do it it's an onerous chore and i can only drag myself out there because it is so important.

having said that, i still haven't done it for this election. beating myself up over that.

[slackmaster]

3. I get mail for a dead man fairly often

He was the son of the previous owner of my house. Mostly I get collection letters for a small debt that he owed.

He and his fiancee were murdered in 1998 in a botched robbery.

I have his mom's address, but I would never forward any non-personal mail to her. I try to return it if possible.

Last week I got a solicitation from the AARP addressed to him. On my mom's suggestion I checked the Social Security Administration's death index. He's not listed. Apparently nobody ever informed them of his death.

[Toucano]

4. That happened to me once, too.

But it was the woman's adult son who had died quite recently.

She began sobbing and it was horrible!

I expressed my condolences as best I could, but she was still upset when I left.

Sounds like it went better for you. :-)

[struggle4progress]

10. It's hard to know what to say. I usually don't feel nearly as bad,

when somebody just hates me and wants me off the property, as I feel when I've asked for the dear departed

[66 dmhlt]

7. Your work is greatly appreciated. I'm deaf, so I can't do

Phonebanking or door-to-door - but I give thanks for people like you who can ... AND DO!

[lame54]

8. Rec for the leg-work

[geckosfeet]

9. I used to get calls for my wife after she died. It's tough. But most people are polite enough.

[myrna minx]

12. Thank you. n/t

[formercia]

13. Moving America forward, one vote at a time.

The boys killed off ACORN for this very reason.

[BrklynLiberal]

15. You are a great person.

[political_Dem]

16. K and R.

[voteearlyvoteoften]

17. Are you part of the problem?

If you are not calling, canvasssing, or donating..maybe. Remember... voteearlyvoteften. xoxo to struggle4progress

[Cognitive_Resonance]

18. Good work! nt