Although week four of Demcracy Summer has ended according to the Calendar, I still feel incomplete. Problem. Solution? BLOG!
Our week started early Tuesday morning at the Department of Homeland Security office, we were there again to welcome the newly naturalized citizens and inform them of their new right and duty: voting! Aside from the man wearing crocs with socks (on his special day!), the day didn’t vary from any other ceremony. We came, we saw, Sarah avoided the men’s restroom. Later that night, the Charlotte team did what it does best: phone-banked! We called dozens of people, (and I left at least 40 voice mails) and managed to get a good list of people to invite to our House Party.
Wednesday, we had a typical office day. We decided a theme for our house party (a luau!), designed our evite (it has beach music and hawaiian flowers), and worked on reformatting our youth mapping power point. All in all, it was a non-eventful day, however, I hit a personal record on being called a smart elec- 14 in an hour! This beats my previous record by 1. I get around.
Thursday, Adam came! Adam visited us and redirected our youth-mapping project. He got us back on track and re-energized the search. Later that night, we phone banked. And it was a disaster. Half of the numbers didn’t work, I got hung up on dozens of time, and between all the gibberish voicemails I left, it didn’t get any better when one of my callers shouted out “Michael Jackson just died!” Sad. Adam, Robert, America and I promptly diverted from our call list to call our mothers/signaficant others to relay the news. However, despite all the commotion, I managed to talk to one person, and she consigned to put our House Party information on her organization’s website. Victory! Afterwards, America and I discussed the disasterous phone banking sess and, we concluded sabotage. We have been so successful with our numbers and hitting our quota, the other teams sent us faulty phone lists. We know what’s up guys, so instead of hating, step it up. (Please know this is all said in jest. Maybe.) Oh and Tyler Hansbrough= #13 draft pick! Go Heels!
Friday was an interesting day as well. We spoke to Michael Dickerson with the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections about the precint/early voting sites for municipal/local elections and bantered with him about the NBA draft, his daughter’s college search and the probability of Robert getting arrested in the future. It was an eventful meeting and, it was a pleasure conversing with him. Later Friday afternoon, America and I drove to the South Park area to meet with Diane Frederick, a woman very well-connected with youth groups in Charlotte. Before we met her, America and I stopped to eat at Burger King, where I was astonished by the fat content in a grilled chicken sandwich, 21 grams…without Mayo! I was immensely saddened by this. Anyway, back to Ms. Frederick. She advised us on which groups to cal, which not to waste time on and provided advice on our House Party. She loved the Luau theme as well, which was assuring.
Saturday Morning! So, when Robert told us about this event on our first day of work, I have to admit, I was a little excited. I mean, I love breakfast, and when breakfast falls at a time when I don’t have to wake up early, I”m even more on board. I mean waffles at 11? Right on. However, I learned quickly how wrong my expectations were. Right when we arrived at the Blackberry/Wackberry/Worst event of my life, America, Robert and I were ushered into a “waiting room” and recruited to stuff 2″ by 4″ bags with Census propoganda- pens, magnets..etc. and properly folded pamphlets containing census information with 2 other women. I, being me, tried to strike up a conversation with the two ladies…to no avail. Apparently, they were not in the mood to jest with the Charlotte Conversation (which really consisted of me saying, so what connection do you have with the census burreau? crickets…). To quote my youtube idol, Bonquiqui, “Rude.” After America and I finished THEIR task (and mind you, I’m all for team work, but when someone asks “How are you?” answer with more than a snort), we followed Robert to the dining hall to find our tables. However, we hit a snag. The Blackberry ladies set up a table to collect tickets before patrons could enter the brunch. Robert had apparently already given our tickets to the lady, who apparently did not remember. So, after Robert sprinted off inside the doors, the lady with the 2 foot hat badgered us, repeatedly, “I need your tickets, I need your tickets, I need them NOW!” She sounded like a broken record. Finally, Robert told her he had already given her our tickets, another lady calmed her down, and America and I emerged into a sea of pastels and flowered hats, talk about overwhelming. We waded through the circular tables, somehow navigating around all the pushed out chairs and found ourselves standing in the middle of the room with no place to sit down. I repeat, we were standing in the middle of the room, blocking the entertainment, with absolutely no place to sit. Finally, we were seated, at seperate tables no less, and my tablemates looked at me as if my spaceship had just landed. I had to suppress the urge from warbling I come in peace. Meal time came and I felt reinvigorated, until I found out what it was. Well, I saw it, I still haven’t figured out what it was. When the table finished eating, the lady beside me leaned over to talk! Finally, I thought, someone wants to talk to me. She asked me to refill her tea. Fail. So all in all, not my best day.
As I look back over this week, I remember the book of Job. For those who aren’t as familiar, it tells the tale of one man so bound to God by his faith, that after trials, tribulations and possibly the worst experiences Hollywood couldn’t write , he still called out and worshipped God. I am in no way comparing myself to Job, well except that I am, but, this week I re-learned, it’s not always sunny. The days aren’t always the best; sometimes you have to stuff nylon bags and refill tea glasses to get to tomorrow, but I am faithful in tomorrow and all the promise it brings.
Sarah, QC
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