Bringing My Tumbling Self to the Party

I’ve never been a member of a political party. Over the years, and for various levels of government, I’ve voted for just about every party. I never felt that one party represented everything I believe in or want for society.

Slowly, I’ve been getting pissed off so I decided I’d use my power as a free citizen. The party I joined isn’t perfect. There are things about it that also piss me off, but to a much lesser extent. I don’t think there’s a perfect ideology. (And those who do, scare me a little.)

So, there I was on Saturday morning, finishing a small volunteer job for this provincial party. I agreed to put literature in doors and mailboxes of a nearby town. I wouldn’t knock on those doors or try to persuade people how to vote. There was no way I would enter the eye of the storm. I was in radio for decades – I’ve had a lifetime’s worth of getting yelled at, thank you. But walking up to houses and passively leaving a card? I’m down with that.

It takes a lot to get me out in the cold. Apparently, democracy is one of the few things that will do it. I had little maps and lists and cards and had already done most of it on a much colder day. Saturday was cold, but not frigid. I was enjoying my walk, stepping carefully around chunks of ice and exceeding my daily step goal. I’d only talked to one homeowner who saw me at his door, and he was warm and friendly. It was becoming a good day.

I had even chatted briefly with a young guy out walking his dog. He was slipping and sliding on black ice, wearing rubber boots with no tread. After he nearly went over I said, “One fall can ruin your whole day!” We laughed a little. He was in his late teens. If he fell, he would get back up like nothing happened. Ah, youth.

Slip-Slidin’ Away

At the end of a driveway, despite having my eyes on my walk, I went down. It happened, as it does, fast but also in slow motion. I heard a distinct snap as I landed on my back. Specifically, on my wrist, on the left side of my back. Flyers scattered on the road. A naughty word slipped out as I headed toward the pavement.

I lay there for a few long minutes trying to decide whether I’d broken a bone. I wriggled my appendages, one at a time. My left wrist and one rib ached but I couldn’t feel a break. I know people saw me. But no one came to find out whether I was okay. It can be funny when someone falls. Feet sliding out, trying desperately to find solid ground. I get it. But after you laugh, you make sure they’re okay, don’t you?

Gingerly, I got up and surveyed the damage to my clothes. Just some dirt on my winter leggings. I checked my phone, deep inside my layers. The screen was unharmed. I don’t know what the snap sound came from but it didn’t seem to be me.

There were only six more houses to go. Walking like Tim Conway as the old man on the Carol Burnett Show, I finished my task. As I crossed the street, I noticed a guy from another party, also visiting houses. We nodded at each other. When I got back to my car, I had to self-talk my way out of crying a little. The fall rattled me.

Falling for You

Falling is scary when you’re a little older. I’m so grateful I didn’t crack my head or it would have been much worse. It hurt when I sneezed, my wrist and hip were painful. I expected to feel it even worse the next day. Even though I felt pain in more areas, it wasn’t as bad as when it happened. That made me feel lucky.

There’s no lesson to learn, unless it’s to wear spikes whenever I’m outside. (Derek also suggests a helmet at all times!) I was being extremely careful, but they don’t call it black ice for nothing. A friend said, “Maybe the people who saw you belong to another party?” That’s funny, but I don’t think that’s it. Maybe they were waiting to see whether I moved, and once I did, they thought – ah, she’s okay. I can only speculate.

My party’s candidate doesn’t have a hope of winning this riding. It’s been with one party forever. But you have to at least try. Remind people that there are choices. Express your preference even in this tiny way. So few people bother to get out and vote in a provincial election. It’s something I’ll never understand. “What does it matter?” they say. “It’s just one vote.” Yup. You just get one.

I couldn’t imagine not making my choice count for what I think is important. Like I said, I just don’t get it. The provincial election is on Thursday. Will you make it count?