We Like Ike By Mary Bodel
My father is the historian in our family. His memory is a vault, and he’s able to recount scenes from his life with vivid detail. He entertains and offers lessons with his storytelling.
He told me one of my favorite family stories for the first time when I was eight-years-old.
“Tell me a story please daddy?” I asked.
“Tell you a story. All right, since I just got done voting, I’ll tell you about the first election I helped in.” I settled in for a good story.
“It was 1952 and there was an election going on. There were a lot of problems happening too, especially in West Virginia. It had been raining all fall. Bridges were out. People were stranded at home. Some couldn’t get to work, some couldn’t get out to buy food.
“I remember a whole lot of grey those days. Thought we’d never see the sun again.
“I was just a kid, but I knew things were serious. I got good and sick, too. Even if the sun came out, I wouldn’t have felt well enough to go out in it.
“It was flooding on Election Day, and many people had a hard time getting to the polls. This was before everyone had a car, so some had to either walk or use a horse and buggy. I wasn’t old enough to actually vote, but I did have access to a car.”
“They still used horses and buggies?” I asked.
“Yes, they sure did!
“Anyway, everyone was busy that day, working to control the flooding with sandbags or helping move folks out of flooded areas. I was excused from helping with the flooding because I’d been sick, but I was well enough to drive.
“I went out and got people, brought them in to vote, and took them back home. I have to admit, I didn’t have a driver’s license, but that didn’t matter.”
My father’s eyes danced with that admission. All those years later, he was proud of his teenaged self for doing what had to be done despite illness, natural disaster, and rule-breaking. He was satisfied at having played a part in the political action of the day.
“Who won the election?” I asked.
“Dwight David Eisenhower won the election. I was glad I could help.”
He told me one of my favorite family stories for the first time when I was eight-years-old.
“Tell me a story please daddy?” I asked.
“Tell you a story. All right, since I just got done voting, I’ll tell you about the first election I helped in.” I settled in for a good story.
“It was 1952 and there was an election going on. There were a lot of problems happening too, especially in West Virginia. It had been raining all fall. Bridges were out. People were stranded at home. Some couldn’t get to work, some couldn’t get out to buy food.
“I remember a whole lot of grey those days. Thought we’d never see the sun again.
“I was just a kid, but I knew things were serious. I got good and sick, too. Even if the sun came out, I wouldn’t have felt well enough to go out in it.
“It was flooding on Election Day, and many people had a hard time getting to the polls. This was before everyone had a car, so some had to either walk or use a horse and buggy. I wasn’t old enough to actually vote, but I did have access to a car.”
“They still used horses and buggies?” I asked.
“Yes, they sure did!
“Anyway, everyone was busy that day, working to control the flooding with sandbags or helping move folks out of flooded areas. I was excused from helping with the flooding because I’d been sick, but I was well enough to drive.
“I went out and got people, brought them in to vote, and took them back home. I have to admit, I didn’t have a driver’s license, but that didn’t matter.”
My father’s eyes danced with that admission. All those years later, he was proud of his teenaged self for doing what had to be done despite illness, natural disaster, and rule-breaking. He was satisfied at having played a part in the political action of the day.
“Who won the election?” I asked.
“Dwight David Eisenhower won the election. I was glad I could help.”
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I am a fifty-seven-year-old married grandmother. My husband and I have been married for thirty-five years. We have two children and three grandchildren. I have voted in every election since I became eligible to vote and plan to continue doing so. Our children also vote and pay attention to politics so as to know who to vote for and against. |