Election Day: A Conversation

On the way to drop off our ballots this morning:

Liam: "Why are we going to the balance?"

Me: "We are going to the Election Office to drop off our ballots. Ballots are these." (holding up super secret envelopes).

"Why are they balance?"

"Mommy and Daddy use ballots to vote."

"Why you have a boat."

"Vote...not boat". With a "vvv" sound. Like vacuum.

"BOAT". (he has a cold)

"Right".

"Why you have a boat?"

"A vote is a choice. Mommy and Daddy made a choice for President".

"What's a pwesidet"

"A President is someone who gets to be a leader. A leader of all of the United States."

"What the tates?"

"United States. It is where we live. We live in Oregon which is part of the United States".

"What weader?"

"We are choosing a new President as our leader today. On these ballots."

"Who da weader?"

"Well, I chose a man named Barack Obama and Daddy chose a man named John McCain".

"Why there two weaders?"

"Because Mommy and Daddy did not agree."

"Why?"

"Long story, sweets. It's kind of complicated. But only one leader gets to win."

Long pause. Liam eats a cookie.

"Mommy, I choose Tom." (as serious as serious can be.)

"Good choice, buddy." (smiling so big.)

And why not? There are still people out there stumpin' for Ron Paul.