Super Tuesday

Today is Super Tuesday, when 24 states will hold primaries or caucuses, with 52 percent of all pledged Democratic party delegates and 41 percent of the total Republican party delegates available. Georgia is one of those 24 states, so J and I will be voting today.

This is the first time in quite a few years - okay, honestly, since Bill Clinton was a candidate - that I feel pretty good about the choices. Although I am an independent, it is no secret that I vote more with and for Democrats, and I like both remaining candidates. I was all set to vote for John Edwards when he announced that he was dropping out, so now I am faced with a decision: do I still vote for John Edwards and essentially throw away my vote? If not, do I vote for Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton? I like both of them, their policies, their ideas and their stances almost equally, so I really do not know what I will do until I am standing in the voting booth later this morning.

I like to vote. I think it is the single most patriotic action I can take. And who someone votes for is less important to me than if they do not vote at all. I hear so many people say that they don't have the time to vote, or that they don't care who wins, or that they don't like any of the candidates. I can't imagine NOT voting - it is one of the privileges that we as citizens of the United States enjoy and something that people in some countries can only dream of doing. Sure, I don't always like the candidates and it is rare that I find one with whom I agree on all issues, but I vote because it is my right and it helps my shape the future for my son.

And while I have never been a fan of Jesse Helms and certainly never voted for him when I lived in North Carolina, his words on voting are very good:

"My first reaction when asked to discuss this topic was to reverse the question and ask 'Why would anyone not vote?'

I vote because it is my birthright as an American citizen to live in freedom under a democratic and representative government.

I vote because there is no brutal tyrant blocking my way or rigging the process to gain or maintain power that has not been willingly given.

I vote because that right was secured for me by the blood of patriots and protected by generations of their successors – to this very day.

I vote because those who rule at the pleasure of the electorate are responsible to those whose support they have courted to fulfill the promises they have made.

I vote because there are millions of people in this world who would willingly risk their lives for our most basic privilege.

I vote because I am a citizen of the United States of America – the land of the free, and the home of the brave."

- Jesse Helms, former U.S. senator (thankfully former and not current!)

And this election year, my vote could possibly help make history: perhaps the first female president, or the first black President of the United States!

Barney, 1996-2008

"There are no ordinary cats."
- Colette

I received word the other day of the death of Barney, my friend Cynthia's cat. He had been in great pain for about ten days and was finally diagnosed by the wonderful doctors at the North Carolina State University Vet School with a tumor that was crushing his spinal cord; there was also the strong possibility of liver cancer. It was a very aggressive tumor and his quality of life outlook was not good, so Cynthia and her husband Steve made the difficult decision to have Barney euthanized. Having made a similar decision regarding our cat Daphne last May, we certainly understand their distress. They were able to hold him on their laps one last time and he purred for them.

Barney was marvelous, a real Mr. Personality. He was a neighborhood cat who first belonged to another family that neglected him. He knew a good thing when he saw it - he realized that Cynthia and Steve were compassionate people and chose them to be his new family. After having Barney hang around their house for quite some time, they received permission from the other family to adopt Barney. It worked out to everyone's satisfaction...well, except for Mocha, their other cat. She was not too pleased to have another object of her humans' affection in the family! But Mocha was an indoor cat and Barney was an outdoor cat, so in the end it worked out.

When we went over to their house for their great patio parties, Barney was a congenial host. He escorted guests through their beautiful backyard garden and loved to hang out on the patio where the action was. One time when we were all inside in the kitchen, he looked through the window and meowed pitifully as if to say "I want to be a part of the fun, too!"

Cynthia and Steve will miss Barney terribly. I am certain that Barney died knowing that he was loved, and that is a wonderful gift for anyone.