Prioritize Yourself on Election Night
On November 8, 2016, I wore a pantsuit. I put my newborn daughter in a mini-pantsuit. My mother, sister, and baby niece came over, also adorned in pantsuits. We took a smiling three-generation photo at 5pm, joyfully preparing for the historical moment ahead.
Hours later, as we broadcast the results on our living room wall over cheerful chatter, I was the first to realize what the math was telling us. “She can’t win,” I said with rising panic, enough to break up the various small conversations happening around me, “The numbers, she… oh God, she can’t win.”
I can still see the wave of dread wash over the room. Each adult looked up, squinted, then recoiled. That night, we all experienced unanticipated grief and are still living with the hangover.
Nervous, I feel the need to protect myself this time around.
Here in Oregon, we have had mail-in ballots for over 30 years. Although the system is nearly fool-proof, most have opted to deposit their ballots directly, for both the security and the ceremony of the act.
My vote has already been counted, long before election night coverage will begin, and I know I have no further official say in the matter.
For this very reason, a friend told me she is taking a 24-hour news break on November 3. A complete detox…
