Hello Everybody,
From Davis I took the train to Chicago, then to Pittsburgh, and then to Philadelphia. I am canvassing for Kamala Harris for President.
In October 2008 I took the bus to Philly to canvass for Obama. The Phillies won the World Series that year. Back then I wrote On the Bus for Obama.
Now I offer:
Mother (97) and daughter (76) going to Reno to have a full day at the spa. And to gamble a little. The optimistic mother has a “life verse”: All things work together for good for them that love the Lord (Romans 8:28)
Two older (70s) couples playing four-hand cribbage. Two younger (30-40s) couples playing bananagrams.
Man with full gray beard and fully tattooed arms.
Loudmouth fellow is cursing about baseball. Quiet gentle professor type just rolls his eyes.
Two young Asian women in elevator - one of them watching cat videos on her phone.
50,000 fit marathoners in town for the Chicago Marathon - an international event.
Amish families with plain clothes and distinctive hair coddling their young children. No cell phones.
Skilled carpenter grandfather who does not fly in airplanes taking 36 hour train ride alone to nephew’s funeral (he shot his girlfriend then himself).
Trans person (male => female) expertly and graciously handling all orders and payments in a crowded hip vegan gourmet Polish restaurant (borscht, pierogi, …). If I were their supervisor I would give them a raise.
Two teenagers avidly discussing their favorite virtual reality video games. On their phones. Everyone is on their phone - including me.
Older fellow waiting for his coffee wearing camo hat (Purple Heart Veteran) and sweatshirt (United States MARINES).
Man wearing Pittsburgh Steelers jersey with “#24 Porter” on front and back. Late 40s. The look on his face told me that if Trump loses he will be very upset just as if the Steelers had lost.
Overweight waitress kindly caring for the elderly regular customers who eat alone.
Man with nicely trimmed white beard wearing faded T-shirt with lettering on the back: “I oil my guns with liberal tears.” He seems to be the alpha male in a large family gathering at an Italian restaurant.
Lyft driver chatting on phone in Arabic with his friend about a conflict he has with the intractable Uber corporation.
Father who is all in for Kamala shaking his head at his hard headed 20 year old son who may vote for Trump.
70 year old grandmother with a long list of reasons Trump is horrible. She is anti-abortion Catholic but would be fine with her granddaughter getting an abortion if needed. We talked at length about Trump’s many disqualifications and ended by agreeing that prayer is indicated.
Buxom friendly woman is gladly voting for Harris. She says Trump is a liar, a fraud, and a pussy grabber. Her boyfriend is for Trump (which befuddles her) but he has other good qualities so they get along.
17 year old girl is sad she can’t vote yet. She said their yard sign for Harris/Walz went missing or was taken. So I delivered two more.
Old but vibrant man with weird whiskers meandering alone here and there keenly enjoying and observing the incredibly diverse human array.
We are all Americans.
How will we vote?