Today is November 4th - Such a Special Day!

November 4, 2014.  An important day!

November 4th, 2014 is circled on my calendar for two very different reasons:

Reason #1.  Today is my "SITS Day"!
I am the featured blogger on The SITS Girls website today.  I have been looking forward to seeing my blog spotlighted there!

http://www.thesitsgirls.com/blog/

For those of you who are wondering what “The SITS Girls” even is:  

The SITS Girls was founded in 2008 and is now an on-line blogging community for bloggers, with 75,000 members. It is an incredible resource of information, opportunities, and support for bloggers.

Joining SITS was one of the best things I have done for myself as a blogger. It's pretty exciting that they are highlighting my blog there today! 

Thanks for making this an even bigger celebration for me today!
Whether you followed the link from The SITS Girls, or found this blog by some other way - welcome! I hope you will take a look around now that you are here. I'd be thrilled if you would follow this blog, and connect with me on any (or all) of my social media sites. Many thanks to everyone who already does.

(Just click on any of these buttons in the sidebar of my blog to connect with me!)

I really hope you say hello - both in the comments here, and/or on my feature post at The SITS Girls today. I will reply to everyone who does. If you have a blog, I will be sure to visit!

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I mentioned there were two reasons why today is such an important day . . . 

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Reason #2.  Today is Election Day in the United States.

Today I am sharing with you a “guest post” by a very special writer - my daughter.  

If you need any convincing of why everyone should have and exercise their right to vote, the powerful message of this essay she wrote may persuade you. (It also may surprise you!)

Being born later than her due date turned out to be a
bigger disappointment than we ever anticipated!

Born Too Late.  By E. F. 

I was born a few days too late.
     
Literally just a few days. I was due the 6^th of November, yet born several days later. This seems inconsequential; lots of babies are born a little late right? However, as I discovered in 8^th grade, I really was born too late.

     
I was always one of those kids that get involved with politics way too early. Arguing with adults at the dinner table about social issues, trying to engage in political discussions on the playground, way too informed for my own good. Some people found it endearing, others tried to avoid arguing with me. When I was ten years old, and the Bush-Kerry election was the hot topic, I spent lunch going from table to table trying to convince kids who to vote for. I knew, of course, that my fellow fourth-graders wouldn’t actually be able to vote, but I hoped that they would go home and convince their parents. 

     
So in my eighth grade class on American History and Government, I was in my element. With a great teacher who allowed us to engage in some amazing discussions, I finally had an outlet for my political frustrations. It was pure bliss. Until one day I discovered the horror of my birthday.

     
As immersed as I was politically, my greatest wish was to vote. I was fascinated with it, and I loved the idea of my voice having an effect on the leader of our country. While others dreamed of their eighteenth birthday with the idea of lottery-tickets and finally reaching adulthood, I simply couldn’t wait to put a mark on the ballot. As a fourteen year old the year of the Obama-McCain election, I couldn’t wait for the next election cycle to make my voice heard.

     
That is, until the day my history class looked up the date of the 2012 election. Immediately my teacher knew something was wrong. “E., when’s your birthday again?” she questioned. I answered proudly, confident in making the cut. Instead I was met with silence, and then my teacher very gently had to break it to me that I would not be eighteen until a few days after the election.

     
I was crushed. How could this have happened? All I wanted was to be able to put a check on a ballot, and instead, due to my delayed arrival to the world, I would have to wait another four years to help decide our national leader.

     
Since that day, I have discovered ways to make my mark on the world other than casting a ballot. From volunteering for a local political party to writing opinion articles for our school newspaper, I have found other ways to get involved. The inability to vote may have actually aided me, forcing me to find other ways to make a difference. 
     
Either way, one thing is for certain. In 2016, I will be waiting outside a voting booth, thrilled with the opportunity to cast my vote in the presidential election.

Voting is both a duty and a privilege - Don't forget to VOTE!

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!