SHE DID IT!

There are times in your life, when people that you love simply just make you proud. But before I tell you about the pride I feel for my mother these days, let me introduce you to my little Democratic go-getters! My mom's run-off for County Commissioner of District 1 in Duplin County was yesterday. The boys and I loaded up and went down to Warsaw, the home base for her opponent, to help get out the votes for GaGa. I was so proud of my little boys! We got here at 3:30 pm and didn't leave until the polls closed at 7:30 pm. They handed out magnets to voters, the waved signs on the street corners and waved their sweet little hands to drivers, the yelled "Vote for my GaGa! She's the best!" They totally hung in there through the 4 hours at the voting station, onto supper (which they were STARVING for!), and then to the Board of Elections for the final tally and results. They were super proud of their GaGa, and I am super proud of their support for her!

Now, for those that don't know much about this election, let me give you a little history. First of all, my mom has done some amazing things in her life: raised two kids, had a long marriage, attended church almost every Sunday of her life, helped out friends, family and strangers alike, committed 33 years to teaching in the public schools, taught and led on every committee within our church, began a nationally awarded recycling site, been a Boy Scouts leader, and many more positions that I can't even remember right now. When she decided to run for County Commissioner, against Jimmy Dixon, we all thought she was a bit nuts. But, our family supports each other, even through our crazy endevours. She began with 100% effort, and she ended at 125%. I have honestly never seen my mother committ herself to anything like she did this election. Over the past six months, she has knocked on almost ONE THOUSAND houses to meet the people that live there. She has spent her days driving the distance of our county talking to people that she wanted to represent. And she didn't talk "politics." She didn't put down her opponant (although that would have been the easy thing to do); she didn't "go negative;" she didn't do the usual political things. She focused on herself and what SHE wanted to do as County Commissioner. It was awe inspiring.

In May, she had the most votes, but missed having the required 40% by 5 votes; we were stunned, disappointed and worn down. But did my mom stop for even one day to feel sorry for herself? NO! The next day she was right back on the roads working on a new plan to for how to, once and for all, defeat Jimmy Dixon. Her help was incredible! To see hundreds of people donate their money, time, gasoline and energy to go door-to-door, to appear in newspaper ads, to make phone calls, to round up voters that didn't turn out in May. . . . it was amazing.

My mom's hard work continued each day from May until June 24th, when she spent the day visiting the four voting sites in District 1. She greeted people, thanked her supports, and even got nervous when we thought that things might not go our way. But, at the end of the day, the honest, respectable, "clean" and good woman won.

And, you know what? I'm lucky enough to call her my mother.