Today is Election Day – so, naturally, my mind goes to thinking about the cows I saw this morning on my way to work. Now I am clearly not a vegetarian (not even close) – and I frankly haven’t cared enough to give a lot of thought to the philosophy of PETA followers – but, I do believe that daily lessons are delivered DAILY (and today it was cows). So here goes. I like politics – enjoy the political process (hey, I’m current listening to “The President’s Club” on Audible) – and can participate in an impromptu debate/discussion on social and economic issues at the drop of a hat. I’m fiercely patriotic and get choked up seeing soldiers return to their families from deployment and hearing the Star Spangled Banner. I believe with ZERO DOUBT that the United States is the BEST country on this or any planet and that our role in the world is God-ordained and vitally important. I am absolutely convinced that voting is a privilege, a right and a responsibility. This election has polarized Americans in a lot of ways – and without a lot of reasons – we really don’t “know” which guy is truly the best. We can easily hear what both sides are saying – we’d have to be deaf, dumb, blind and living in a non-Internet accessible cave to not hear. We are being fed a near constant diet of sound bites (or Tweet-sized) packaged to not only “inform” us of candidates’ key positions on important issues – but to further explain why the other guy has it wrong, is misinformed (or just doesn’t understand life). We are all aware of the impact of “Electoral Math” which allows the people of Ohio, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan to have much more importance today than usual (or is really deserved for that matter). We know that the President will play basketball today, we saw the Romney’s vote LIVE, and we trembled upon hearing VP Biden hint about 2016. We’ve heard about voter fraud reports where recently deceased convicted felons in this country illegally have voted more than once in both Florida and Ohio. (I even posted a picture of an “I Voted” button on my Facebook and I won’t be voting for 4-5 hours). But – do we really know which guy’s team is going to make a difference? Is my life better because Obama won last time? Will I be happier, healthier and be living a more rich life if the Romney / Ryan ticket wins? What will change? How will we survive?
Fortunately – I know the answer.
My life will be better in the years ahead because I choose now to embrace how blessed I am. I have a family that loves and supports me – a beautiful and brilliant wife that I adore. She’s a spectacular mother, a true partner that makes me better than I can hope (she’s a MUCH better wife than I am husband). I have six amazing children (yes, I count the daughter-in-laws as mine) who somehow, defying logic and all common sense) think I’m smart, cool, talented - a pretty decent guy. I have an adorable 5 year old granddaughter and two beautiful, brilliant and yet unborn granddaughters. I have parents and siblings that helped me become who I am and repeatedly resisted the frequent urges to smack me on the head with a very large shovel. I get paid to do a job I totally love that makes a difference in the lives of others. I AM BLESSED. So tomorrow (or Thursday, or next week, or after the December 17th vote by the electors of the Electoral College) when this great country has decided on the president – I will continue to love my family, go to work and do my best, continue debating the issue that matter to me (even when I don’t have all the facts) and continue to embrace the CHOICE that my freedom guarantees. As for the cows – on my way home I will see those same cows. They will look up as I drive by without even a little clue as to what is happening today in America or in my life for that matter – and then resume their mission to consume their full body weight in grass. They will wake up tomorrow and continue doing what they do – they will stand in the cold muddy field, eat, lick on giant pieces of salt, drink un-fluoridated water from a puddle and watch the likes of me drive by.