Yesterday I walked a block that I have never imagined seeing. My experience is that parts of a neighborhood may have different pockets of having much to little but mostly overall many are the same. But here I saw a stark contrast from one home to the next. In these 30 homes was pride, despair, the given up, going strong, and the fallen.
A once proud two story painted lady sat in the middle- burned out. The fallen. I wondered what happened to those folks. They took good care of this gem. The paint job was good, purple and yellow, and the porch had been sound. Then farther down I encountered a new construction home with a neat and clean yard.
Their neighbors have good siding but the porch needs help and the repair of the window, surrounded by plywood, languishes. Did they run out of money or was it needed for something else? Some around here have run out. There are abandoned homes with yellowed foreclosure notices on the window.
The first doors I knock on are new homes. I heard people but they would not answer. Maybe the mistrust of a stranger was too great? Come on- I do not look that scary. I do have a clip board and my Obama shirt among the coat!
I pass cleared lots and bypass the porches that look like I will fall through. The block is quiet except for a rare car. One more knock on a half boarded up place with some signs of life that had spilled to the porch- again no answer. As I move on I wonder - is anyone around here home and if so will they answer?
Around 13 houses later I come across a cat that just LOVES me. I hardly can hear over their purring or walk to the door while they graze my legs. The home needs help- the door is OK but they have plywood for a front window and the porch looks like it had water damage on the roof. As I am about to give up I see a woman walking toward me from the street. YES! Someone to talk to. This is her daughter's place. I give the little talk and she signs. My first ---YEAH! And to my surprise she says "let me go in and let them know you are here. It will be a minute". I wait as the minute turns into three but the cat is there to entertain me.
A young man in his twenties runs out of the house, some facial hair with glasses, skinny and not too tall. Apologizes for making me wait as he had to dress. I take a different tact but my message is the same... we need to support the President on getting our economy on track, create jobs, and lets tackle those things Congress and the previous President failed to do- energy, education, and yes healthcare.
"Where do I sign?"
"Right here" while I hand over my clipboard. He fills out the pledge.
That was easy! I can tell he wants to share a little more so we spend a few minutes. A co-worker is against the changes and he cannot understand why. "We need change". I tell him about some of the past healthcare woes of my family. We speak about how leaving Iraq will save some money, and we do not even want to be there! As I leave I remind him to contact the US Representative and the Senators, granted they are all Democrats, but it wouldn't hurt. This turned out to be my most memorable moment of the walk.
After working this diverse street it was time to go. As I return to our table at the library I DO "feel good". I knocked on 30 doors, spoke to six people, and have 4 pledges.
*******
Making new Obama friends.
As I get back to the table I chat to an organizer of this, Connie. I could tell I would like her. The group invites me to join them for lunch at a local Soul Food place- Gigi's.
What a great place! Good food for cheap and friendly locals. No credit cards taken, daily specials included homemade mac and cheese and BBQ ribs, and our waitress handles a dozen tables. After reading the breakfast part of the menu I loudly exclaim- THANK YOU for GRITS! Which had some smiling and looking at me but I did not care. As I tell my acquaintances it has been about six months and Canada does not have Grits. The waitress asks if I want cheese on them. "Cheese?" "Yes." I did ponder but then "No thanks- plain - it has been too long".
We do the getting to know you chat. Where you work, kids, what you have done for the campaign. Barbara, who is on disability, likes to read to kids. She helped President Obama in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Another has family who is struggling to pay bills. They wonder how they are going to keep their home after loss of a good paying job in construction. She asks Connie if she knows the President's mortgage plan.
Connie
After asking her friends to come with her to do something for the Obama campaign last year and tired of waiting, Connie thought why not do it herself? She took the leap and now "Look at what I have become". She worked a week with strangers for the North Carolina primary and the bracelet she has on is from the Inauguration. She was asked on Friday to help with the table and there she was. What a great attitude! She also is warm and friendly and caring.
I am glad I came to GiGi's. The food was great (try their sweet potato pie if you go - it's not too sweet) and the volunteers I met, wonderful.
***
On the long drive home I had this thought:
As in the countless others I have visited, I found that walking the blocks for Barack Obama brings out the best in me and others.
HOPE + ACTION
does
= Change
Mid America Mom
Moms for Obama
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