So last Sunday Gracie was going through a stack of my mail.  She does this quite often which probably explains why I can't ever find the bills....In this particular stack were a couple of presidential fliers from both main political parties.  Gracie just happened to pick up one from Barack Obama that talked about his early education initiatives - you've probably seen it - the one that says turn off the TV and read to your child....the same ad that runs on TV - am I the only one that sees the irony in people on TV telling me to turn off the TV...

Anyway, something in this colorful trifold ad spoke to Gracie - spoke to her in a big way.  Because after looking at it, she went from being completely disinterested in the election to some kind of preschool, political stumper for Mr. Obama.  She looked at the ad and then looked up at me, with all the earnestness her 4-year-old self could muster and said, "I am voting for Barack Obama so he will be my president."  I almost spit out my Diet Dr. Pepper when she made this announcement, partly because I'm continually floored by the things that come out of her mouth, but mainly because I saw, out of the corner of my eye, the vein in Steve's neck start to pop and his mouth drop open.  It is no secret that Steve is a huge John McCain supporter. Then, things got even more interesting. Gracie asked her daddy who he was voting for and when he told her McCain, she looked at him and said, "Daddy, can we discuss this?" and then my four-year-daughter and my 38-year-old husband began a political debate that has continued for the last ten days.  A debate that has included Steve telling Gracie that voting for someone just because they are nice (Gracie's original explanation for wanting to vote for Obama), Gracie telling Steve that he's making a big mistake for voting for McCain, and me trying to explain trickle down economics to Gracie in terms that she can understand.

Her political fervor has gone beyond the walls of our house...she's explained to her teachers who she's voting for and evidently, she's been discussing her voting plans with all her friends.   Part of me wants to laugh out loud at all this, but there's also a part of me that's bursting with motherly pride at her enthusiasm and her belief in her candidate.

I did not vote early this year.  Life has been hectic and I decided to wait until Election Day to mark my ballot.  The girls were at my grandparents while I did some work this afternoon and I decided that I'd pick them up and take them with me to vote.  Ten days ago, I'd have just left them with my grandparents for fifteen extra minutes and gone to vote alone, but with Gracie's interest in the election, I thought it would be a good idea to take her.  So, when I went in to pick them up and told them we were going to vote, Gracie threw herself on the floor, screaming (for all of her political savvy, she is, after all, still a temperamental preschooler).  When I asked her what was wrong, she said, "Mama, we can't go vote yet.  I have to make a sign - I have to make a sign for Barack Obama."  So, that's what we did.  We came home and with her markers, a sheet of construction paper, a dowel rod, some tape and some blue felt star stickers, Gracie made a sign showing her support.  And we headed up to the polling location.  On the way, Gracie asked if she would be able to give her sign to Obama.  When I told her no, she was disappointed - evidently, she thought that if you were voting for someone, they were actually there to see you vote.  I wanted to take a picture of her in the actual polling booth, but the welcoming lady told me that cameras are not allowed.

So, in my house tonight we have a staunch McCain supporter watching the results stream in on the television, and a fervent Obama fan fast asleep on the couch.  Tomorrow morning, one of the two of them is going to be disappointed.  I don't think I'll be disappointed whichever direction the election takes, but I have certainly enjoyed these last few days of this historic election as I've watched Gracie's enthusiasm.