Sylvia's Journal

We spent a beautiful Saturday morning sitting in a circle around 5 candidates for various high level state jobs (governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, attorney general). Few people showed up so it was an intimate affair in which we could interact closely with the candidates, ask questions and observe them in action. It was worth giving up a morning that could have been spent planting and gardening. Up close the candidates were all impressive and believable, something flyers in the mail and TV ads don’t accomplish. Axel is an alternate delegate at the Democratic State convention a week from Saturday and so all the candidates are vying for delegate votes. They address him rather than me when they find out I am not a delegate, and we are inundated with dinner time calls from the candidates. You really have to want to do this campaigning, or at least put up with it, if you want to go into (elected) public service.

On Sunday morning my calendar alerted me that my vacation was to start in less than 18 hours. I didn’t need to be reminded. I have been trying to take a week off since March and this was the last chance to use vacation time that I would otherwise lose after June 30 when our fiscal year ends.

I am using my vacation to take care of a lot of domestic chores and wishes and have been puttering around the house. I also have been gardening, reading, knitting, and puzzling to my heart’s content. I am only checking email twice a day, primarily to make sure that my trip on Saturday is still on and preparations are under way in Kinshasa for my arrival and assignment.