Today I fulfilled my civic duty of voting. Since I have been letting unemployment get the best of me (I have been unemployed for going on three weeks now and have watched more television in that time than I think I ever did over the course of my college education), I decided to pick myself up by the bootstraps and get as many "one shot" jobs as possible. So far I have been a pumpkin carver, a babysit and, after today, an election poll worker.
With my dad's encouragement, I signed up to work as an aisle attendant at my high school alma mater. I worked alongside my father and my friend Hayley. Hayley and I got to show off the latest election fashion - bright green vests that designated us as aisle attendants from all of the poll workers. I must admit, that vest made me feel powerful.
It was exciting to see masses of local citizens come out to give their say on who they think should be running this country. Hayley and I ran into a few former teachers of ours and made a slew of new friends (most of them cute elderly ladies) who were also working at the polls. Though everyone I got to meet was interesting, there was one person who came to vote that stood out from the rest - none other than Ms. Mary Tyler Moore. When I first saw her walk in I thought that I recognized her, but brushed it off as a resemblance. Then she turned and I got a good look at her face. It WAS her! Thought after thought raced through my mind as I watched her tell one of the workers her address. Things like, "I grew up watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show!", "Is this really happening?!", "I just saw her on Oprah!", and "Who can turn the world on with her smile...?" I had no idea that she lived in my town and there she was, someone I had only seen through the glowing picture of my T.V. there breathing the same air as me!
I feel like my last paragraph deserves a disclaimer or note or something of the like. I definitely believe that people are just people, but I will admit that I have a somewhat serious issue with getting starstruck. Today was no exception. I looked at her. Looked away. Looked at her again. Stared at her. Looked away. Stared again. Looked at Hayley who was looking at something other than Mary. Looked at Mary again. Looked at Hayley who was now looking at me looking at Mary. Mouthed "IT'S MARY TYLER MOOOOOORE" in a very exaggerated way. Did my best to play it cool as Hayley asked me what it was that I had just mouthed in a very exaggerated way. Mouthed "IT'S MAAAARRRRRYY TTTYYYLLLLEERRR MOOORREE" again in an even more very exaggerated way while pointing in Mary's direction behind a folder. Got frustrated that Hayley could no understand my over exaggerated mouthing skills (probably because it looked more like a lion roaring than what I was trying to say). Finally gave up on mouthing what I wanted to say and shuffled over to Hayley to whisper it only to have her say, "I don't know what she looks like".
All in all, it was a very memorable and historic day for obvious political reasons as well as personal Mary Tyler Moore reasons. I am so happy that I got to play a part in the history of today by working through my unemployment as an aisle assistant.
No comments:
Post a Comment