Thoughts from an older female voter living in a swing state

Plus, tips to help us get through the next few days!

Hello, friend, and if you live in the USA, fellow voter.

Thank you for being here. I’m grateful. Even more so if you stick around and read this post to the end. It got a bit longer than planned due to the last minute addition of my yard sign story.

October is a big month for advocates like me in Breast Cancer Land. You know, there are all those pink ribbons. It feels like a tug-of-war sometimes trying to figure out what side you should be on. Should you love those ribbons or hate ‘em?

It’s sort of like the state of politics today. So much division. So much deceit. So much confusion and distortion of reality. So much anger. So much worry, even despair.

The upcoming election is a tug-of-war like no other.

And now, here we are, just days away from November 5.

Today, I’m sharing some thoughts about what it’s like to live and vote in a swing state. I’m also offering some suggestions on how all of us can get through these final days. I would love to hear your suggestions. Lord knows we all need them.

And, I’m sharing about something quite upsetting that recently happened.

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Thoughts from an older female voter who lives in a swing state

I live in Wisconsin. Yep. One of the swing states the pundits and pollsters are always talking about. A lot is riding on what happens in the swing states. Those same pundits and pollsters keep telling us the swing states will decide our country’s future because the swing states will determine who wins the most electoral college votes.

This is a heavy, worrisome burden for us swing-staters. And, at the same time, it’s a remarkable opportunity for the swing states to shine. So much is riding on the shoulders of folks living in swing states. Folks like me.

The image below depicts the states and the number of electoral votes each is allocated. The tan states are considered tossups.

(Image above via 270towin.com)

Of course, everyone’s vote matters — no matter what state you live in. So, no one gets to slack off or decide to stay home.

I live in a rural part of Wisconsin — actually, in one of the reddest counties, if not the reddest, in the entire state. Based on the number of yard signs I’m seeing, my street leans red as well. (Now I realize it leans even further red than I thought.)

Okay, here’s where I insert my story about an upsetting thing that happened this week.

Husband and I were excited to finally get our Harris/Walz yard sign the other day. We decided to put it up that very night.

It’s so dry in our area, we had to lug a pail of hot water to the end of our rather long driveway to get the ground softened up in order to get that stake in the ground. Plus, it was dark. But we were determined. We got that sign in and it looked damn good.

We went to bed feeling good, too. And proud. Our voices on our red-leaning street would be heard. Democracy and free speech in action.

The next morning, we discovered our sign was gone. Stolen. Our mailbox had also been opened — perhaps a signal that someone had been there and wanted us to notice. (Not sure, though.)

We were shocked. (No one stole our Biden/Harris sign in 2020.) We felt sad. Violated. Disgusted. Angry. Mostly, (speaking for myself) disappointed.

Husband called the sheriff. Response was, “It’s too bad that happened, but what do you want us to do?”

Unsatisfying, but understandable response.

Lo and behold, on my morning walks since, I’ve discovered other signs in my neighborhood have also been taken. Mind you, only Harris/Walz signs. Trump/Vance signs remain. (Someone must be very worried.)

Granted, in the scheme of things, this isn’t a big deal. And yet, it is. My voice, my freedom of expression was stomped on. It’s unnerving to think someone is driving around in the cover of night looking for Harris/Walz yard signs to steal.

I’m not sure what this says about the state of affairs in general, or about my neighborhood, but it doesn’t say anything good.

Back to the main crux of this post…

Having said all this, there are (or were) more Harris/Walz signs around town and along the highways than there were Biden/Harris signs in 2020. This gives me hope. Until… I hear news reports stating Harris and Trump are in a dead heat, and that this election will be close. I mean, really close.

That’s when hope walks out the door and panic walks in to take its place.

I struggle daily to understand how this election remains close. Every day, I ask Husband, “How can this race still be so close?”

He usually responds with something like, “It’s not. The media and the pollsters just want to make you think it is. This country is not going to elect Trump again.”

I’m not sure if he actually believes what he’s telling me or if he’s just trying to make me feel better. I want to believe what he’s saying is true. Some moments I do believe. Others, not so much.

One candidate is a good, honest person. The other isn’t. It’s really that simple.

Character matters most, or should. I keep wondering why so many voters feel that good moral character is no longer the top attribute a presidential candidate must have. No matter what Trump says or does, his supporters stick like glue.

I finally had to stop trying to figure out why some people remain staunch supporters, no matter what the man does or says. It’s a puzzle that cannot be solved. Not by me anyway.

I won’t resort to name calling, slapping MAGA supporters with derogatory labels, or referring to them as ignorant, as some do. After all, I have Trump supporters in my family. These are people I love. They are good people. They are not stupid. Some have college degrees. (Not that that makes you smart.) Calling anyone stupid is not helpful or accurate.

And yet, I remain mystified. And frustrated. Because what happened to common sense and truth? Why do so many vote against their own best interest?

So, what is a woman like me, and maybe you, supposed to do as we enter the final days before the election?

How do we not get bogged down in negativity, worry, and even hate?

What do we do when that panic sets in?

I mean, we all remember 2016, right?

But even then, it wasn’t as bad as now because we know more. Trump has revealed himself, and the revelation and his plans for the next four years are deeply troubling.

I don’t have the answers for how to keep our sanity over these last days before the election results come in. But I need to do things. Hence, this article.

So, below are some self-care things I’m going to try to do to survive these final days before the election. (I’m sharing hoping they might help YOU, too.)

• First of all, I wrote this article, and it felt good. Damn good. I did it in a flurry of fast typing. My fingers could hardly keep up with my thoughts. I encourage you to journal, write an opinion piece for your local paper, or simply jot down your thoughts on post-it notes and stick them around your house. (Cuss words allowed) Heck, just comment here. (Please be respectful.)

Sure, writing might not solve world problems, but words have power — YOUR words have power — even if you’re the only one writing/reading them. It’s okay, and maybe helpful, to talk with friends and neighbors, too. But you also have to listen.

• I will try to remember all those wise sayings we’ve all heard forever. Such as:

Things will work out in the end. We’ve survived worse. Never doubt that a small group of people, heck, even one person, can help change the world. People are basically good. We have more things in common with our fellow citizens than things that divide us. We’ll get through this.

(Granted, the hard part will be to keep believing these sayings.)

• I will use my daily walks as time to clear my head, stay off my phone, and breathe in the crisp, fall air. I will take those walks, no matter the weather or my mood.

• I will not pay attention to polls and pollsters. Okay, not too much.

• When the news and/or opining by pundits becomes too stress inducing, I will turn my TV and/or phone off.

• When I eat an entire bag of potato chips or down that bowl of ice cream, I will not judge myself too harshly when I’m done. Comfort food, okay junk food, is sometimes necessary.

• Same deal when my house starts looking in need of a deep cleaning. We have to keep our priorities straight, right?

• I will remind every female (and male) voter I meet that politicians and the government have NO business WHATSOEVER telling a woman what she should do with her body. GOP obsession with this is twisted and sick. And yes, weird!

• Every chance I get, I will ask folks, who do want choosing the next Supreme Court judge(s)? I will also remind them how the three who helped overturn Roe got on the bench.

• I will try not to annoy family members who disagree with me politically, but I won’t necessarily be quiet either.

• More snuggle time with Ninja (my cat) and Titus (my Frenchie) will definitely be in order. There is nothing like pet therapy for all that ails and bothers you.

• I will remind voters who are younger than me (and that’s most of them) that one side offers an opportunity vision/economic PLAN for all Americans, and the other side offers, well, not that.

While it’s obvious I am voting for Harris and Walz, I am interested in everyone’s thoughts, regardless of political affiliation. I’m interested in yours.

Why?

Because after election day, we’ll all still live here. And, we will all have to live with the consequences of the most consequential election of our lives.

Finally, you might be wondering why I stuck in the words “older” and “female” in this article’s title. The answer is simple. Because I’ve seen a lot in my lifetime. I am older. Heck, I’m old. And living female in this country has always been very different than living male.

I’m counting on women coming together more than ever this time. So, if you’re a woman reading this, I’m counting on YOU.

Vote and encourage everyone you know to do the same.

For me, the number one issue on the ballot (after keeping our democracy intact) is a woman’s right to choose. My reasons are many and complicated. But, one thing’s for certain:

We are NOT going back! (So, actually, it’s not that complicated, I guess.)

Now, I’m wondering how YOU plan to get through these final days before the election.

Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts and suggestions in the comments. Pretty sure we can all use all the help we can get.

P.S. I would be humbled and honored if you liked, commented on, restacked, and shared this article on whatever social media platforms you are on. Let’s amplify without vilifying.

Because we’re in this together.

I read these word from

Joyce Vance

on “X” the other day, and they resonated deeply:

Kamala Harris is the president I've waited my whole life to have.

Me too. And we’ve been waiting long enough.

This is the sign I had in my yard for a few hours before it was stolen. Photo via kamalaharris.com I didn’t even get a chance to take my own photo. (And yes, I’m still upset about it.)

Pet therapy works wonders.

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Do you have suggestions for getting through the final days before the election?

Do you live in a swing state?

If you live in the US, do you plan to vote, or have you already?

Do you have a pet on call who offers pet therapy?

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If you read this entire post, thank you. I appreciate you.

As always, I see you. I hear you, and I care about what YOU have to say.

Until next time…

Take care of yourself, and be kind to someone.

Warmly, and with much gratitude,

Nancy

When your yard sign gets stolen, find someone who has something even better and take a photo of that. (This is the flag my brother proudly displays on his front porch.)