A never to be forgotten conversation with my mother

Mom and Me

Only men can be president." I remember feeling disappointed and angry at the unfairness of what she had just said.

We had a neighbor, an African American man. I don't remember his name so I'll call him Mr. Jones. I remember he was very nice. I said to my mom, "Mr. Jones is nice so I'll vote for Mr. Jones to be president." Again, with a giggle, she said, "Honey, Mr. Jones is nice but black men can't be president." I thought for a minute and for some reason, the first white man who came to my mind was my father.

Let me say my father was the monster of my childhood.

I said to Mom, "you mean Dad can be president?" She answered, "Yes." My nine-year-old self walked away from the TV with feelings of the unfairness of what I had just heard. I said to myself, "Well, that's scary." I made a decision then that when I became old enough I would vote because I wanted to keep the scary guys out. I also wanted to vote for a woman to be president. I wish I could say, I registered to vote as soon as I became old enough, however, I was in my late twenties when I cast my first vote for Ronald Reagan. Unfortunately, I have not always been able to keep all the scary guys out. I'm proud to say that in the 2016 elections I did vote for a woman to be president. Better luck next time.

Not long ago I sat at a table of women. We all knew each other and we all knew where the others stood politically. Some of the women started bashing the Democrats and praising the Republicans. One woman stopped and looked at me and with what appeared to be a look of superiority said, "I guess not everyone here agrees."

I gave a reply that I had given to this same woman in the past. "The fight for me to be allowed to vote and to vote for whom I choose has already been fought and won. So all I can say to all of my sisters who vote is I'm proud of you for voting."

To my mother and my grandmothers. I agree everyone should vote if they want to. It doesn't matter the party, however, I must add, it also doesn't matter the gender, just make sure you vote.