Carmela in '24

My mother has a keen interest in this year's presidential election, something she hasn't manifested since she voted for JFK in 1960.

So much so that she has decided she wants to share her enthusiasm with the other tenants in her Philadelphia apartment complex. 

"I want to go door to door," she said.

There's only one problem: She wants to canvass for Carmela. I can hear the conversations now. 

Mom: Hi there! What do you think of Carmela? 

Tenant: Who?

Mom: You know, the one running against Trump.

Tenant: I've got dinner on the stove. Gotta go.

Mom: Hi there! Can I persuade you to vote for Carmela?

Tenant: Sorry gotta go, but thanks for stopping by. 

Mom: Hi! Do you think you might vote for Carmela?

Tenant: Who? When's the last time you voted?

Mom (Not wanting to give her age away): Clifton.

Tenant: Who? 

Mom: You know, the one who had sex with that girl Levinsky.

Eventually the apartment dwellers will have had enough. 

Building supervisor to mom: Please refrain from knocking on your neighbors' doors to solicit votes.

Mom: I wasn't trying to split votes. 

What's an aspiring election volunteer to do? Head to the local dollar store? Pass out handmade flyers at Wawa? Head to another apartment complex?

She'll have to settle for just talking about the election, althought that can be dicey. There are people out there who can't argue politics these days without turning so angry, the spit flies out of their mouths like a jet stream.  

Mom and I agree - on what, on whom - I'd rather not say. But she has plenty of questions. 

"How can someone who is is going to jail run for president?" 

Me: There is nothing in the Constitution that specifically rules that out.  

"In the what?" (She will acknowledge not paying much to history or social studies in school. Then again, the Supreme Court can't seem to decide what the Constitution is either.)  

Next question: Is Biden still the president? 

Me: Yes, until Jan. 20. (Again, not a social studies fan.)

But honestly, mom's interest in the election at the age of 89 makes me proud. We watched "the great debate" together as if it were Oscar night, though she always falls asleep on that after she critiques some hair styles and gowns. ("Nobody knows how to dress anymore.")  

But she stayed wide awake for the debate. In fact, she was as alert as an infant seeing its mother's face for the first time. I think we'll spend election night together; heck, we could even invite some of her  neighbors.

By that time, mom will have voted for Kamala. Because Carmela won't be on the ballot.



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