It's a lower middle class backwater. I've lived in this town for decades now, but I've never been

[struggle4progress]

on these streets before today. The houses are small and none of them new

Everything says neighborhood

Glass storm doors are closed against the chill, but behind them many of the main doors are open. Here a little two-story antique, dwarfed by nearby trees, has a real porch, wide and deep with a gabled roof, a place six or eight people could sit comfortably around a table in the summer evening, socializing with each other and anybody walking the street, and from one of several chimneys a plume of smoke rises

On one corner, children just off the school bus are playing together. Now and then, one or another excitedly runs past me into the house to bring a mother to the door I've just knocked. When I'm finished there, several of them are loudly disappointed that I haven't knocked on their door, so I pause for a minute to tell the younger generation what I'm doing and to give them samples of my wares. Minutes later, the children are no longer there: it looks like they've left some school papers where they'd been sitting, but my unexpected political handouts have disappeared with the kids, as if treasure

As I'm knocking one cluster of doors, a car parks in the street. The driver inside listens to music until I approach the door of that house, then and quickly exits: Sir! Can I help you? The tone isn't hostile but it is no-nonsense and watchful. I'm looking for his mother and his sister, who aren't home. I hand him my lit and explain why I think the election is important. He thanks me

Three or four houses down, I'm fumbling to leave my literature on the door when I'm hailed from the street: What are you doing? I ask this man if he lives there, and he says No, but a friend of mine of mine does! So I tell him who I was hoping to find and what I've left on the door after knocking without response. They're not home, he tells me. He takes the papers I offer him and says I ought to visit his house too. He's not on the list. His wife and daughter are, but he says they're still at work. So I give him my quick talk about the election. I always vote, he says. I let him know that's why he's not on my list. He thanks me, too

Near the last cluster of doors, six or eight teenagers are in the street, and they manage, house by house, to be standing at the end of the drive as I knock doors. So I repeatedly brush past, saying hello to one or another. When I'm done, I point out there's an upcoming election and ask if they're registered to vote. They are

[CaliforniaPeggy]

My dear struggle4progress!

Thank you for your most valuable work...

And I love these stories of yours!

Snapshots of life in your community...priceless views of how people live and interact.

Recommended

[struggle4progress]

4. Neighborhoods are all different. I kinda liked this one. People cared.

They didn't automatically trust me; they had a habit of sizing people up; they were willing to talk. The school kids seemed happy and sociable; the teenagers kept an eye on strangers

[whathehell]

18. If you liked it...Why did you call it a "lower middle class backwater"?

[struggle4progress]

21. I've tried to describe a bit about the place, including what I liked about it

Some of the neighborhoods where I've most enjoyed door-knocking aren't particularly well-to-do

[txlibdem]

22. Sounds like a nice place to live

The people looking out for each other, asking strangers what they're doing there (in a friendly way I am sure). If only all neighborhoods in America were like that again...

[whathehell]

23. Aww, Gee..

I guess you were born to "a better pot to piss in", huh?

HINT: A LOT of America isn't "well to do"...That doesn't mean they're a "backwater"..and your saying so tells me more about you than them.

[struggle4progress]

25. I apologize if I offended you. The street on which I live has a constant stream of traffic.

The streets of the older neighborhood, in my OP, weren't major connectors: one had a recently installed turn-around at the end; another petered out into a dirt road. This was a long-established neighborhood, but one located where I'd never expected a neighborhood to be, with fairly low traffic and no through traffic, rather off the beaten track. So I called it a "backwater"

[babylonsister]

1. You are a one-person GOTV machine, and I'm so

enjoying the tales you are telling. Thank you! I seem to hear in every story that people are paying attention. That is so encouraging!

Again, thank you! :fistbump:

[struggle4progress]

5. Most people aren't stupid

:)

[babylonsister]

15. That's comforting, because I had formed a

different opinion. :P

[struggle4progress]

17. Many are busy with their own lives, overworked, overstressed,

without the leisure or resources to spend on issues that seem too abstract or arcane to them -- and they're bombarded 24/7 by media propaganda intended to make them feel insecure and insufficient so they'll buy products to solve their problems. That's not the same as stupid

[texastoast]

2. YOU make the difference

And I know what you have been going through.

:yourock:

[struggle4progress]

8. Somebody's getting through to folk: I'd bet it's phonebank volunteers and

the community grapevine

[whathehell]

24. You mean...

Having to slum it in those "lower middle class backwaters"...:eyes:

[tabatha]

3. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

For the reports; for the effort; for sticking to it.

[struggle4progress]

14. I really hope we'll all be thanking the voters on Tuesday

[phasma ex machina]

6. K&R

[Hekate]

7. No words, just

:hug: :patriot:

[nevergiveup]

9. Thank you and bless you for all you do.

[oswaldactedalone]

10. Great job, struggle4progress!!!

Not to hijack your thread but I'd like to mention my GOTV effort today. Since '04, I go into the black community in our town and visit hair salons and barber shops. Unlike the white community, where you go for your hair care and leave, black salons/barber shops have almost a "community center" feel to them. I had one stylist tell me that they're almost a "home away from home" for some people.

Anyway, I was pleased today to see how many people wanted the voter guides, early voting, and polling place info I had. Some said they were leaving from their appt. to vote, others eagerly wanted the lit to help them vote Tuesday. At each place, probably 25 in all, I left additional voter guides behind.

Even before my afternoon activity doing that, I had some errands to run and had voter guides in my pocket. I'd see an African-American and ask if they were interested in one. Every one said yes, and some said I really need to vote, don't I?

Anyway, it was a rewarding day. Tomorrow, I head to some convenience stores in those areas, and stand outside giving out the same info. The impact you can have in a short period of time is amazing.

[struggle4progress]

11. Thank you! It really is important to talk to people!

You're not hijacking my thread: GOTV matters!

[diane in sf]

12. Thank you and I love reading your tales!

[Richard Steele]

13. K&R

[blaze]

16. K&R!

Your writing is so vivid!!

Thanks for all you're doing!! :patriot:

[lunatica]

19. Very nice and a thumbs up to you

[Crystal Clarity]

20. Thanks for all you are doing to help

And nicely written piece about your door-to-door. K & R :yourock: