From Em's Pen 1

June 20, 1988

Dear Diary,

Everywhere I went today, I was bombarded by the sight of all those ugly election signs.

Sweetwater County is certainly taking sides! George H.W. Bush on one lawn, Michael Dukakis on the next.

House after house.

They're ugly. Such an eyesore. And what's the use? Do our votes even count for anything?

But I have to tell you, I ended up getting a really great laugh as we turned onto our street coming back from the dentist.

Our neighbors, the Whites and the Greens--hey, you can't make this stuff up!--have rival signs on their lawns. Mr. White is seriously Red, and Mr. Green is deep Blue. The signs are side-by-side on a strip of lawn between their driveways.

Someone (I can't say for certain that it was Mr. Green--it could have been anyone) has painted a hand on Bush pointing to Dukakis, and a dialogue bubble from Bush's mouth with "I'm voting for that guy!" printed boldly inside.

I grabbed my camera and captured the image, because you know as soon as Mr. White sees it, it's coming down.

Ami and Abe laughed right along with me the whole time, even though they have no idea what's so funny.

I hope it's still there when Jake gets home. But if not, I have the picture!! Yay, me!

Election years. Sheesh!