Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Not Really Sure What To Call This One

I've been reading so many posts about the election today.  And it makes me hopeful and sick at the same time.  I just wanted to put a personal spin on a few things.

I think about my marriage to Michael and to think that I wouldn't be allowed the same right if I had found a woman to love instead of him is just crazy to me.  Love is love, it's as simple as that.

My parents got divorced when I was really young.  My Mom relied a lot on our family but we were also on welfare and food stamps.  I remember the social worker coming to check on the house.  I remember being so embarrassed about having the red reduced lunch tickets when all my friends had the regular green tickets.  I remember the 10 cent lollipops that we would get as a treat when we would go to cash the welfare checks.  And I remember that things got better but we never would've gotten by without that aid.

When Michael & I first got together, I got pregnant.  And when I was about 4 months along, I had a D&C.  My other option would have been continue carrying what would have been a stillborn baby until my body fully rejected it and then having to go through the entire labor process.  Having gone through the process with Molly and Emmett, I can't even imagine what it would've been like to do that and then just have nothing at the end.  The thought that there are people who are okay with that and want to get rid of any and all forms of abortion makes me heartsick. Especially when it's someone who will never have to personally have that happen to their body.

And every woman has had that moment in her life where she's been alone with a guy who has gotten a little too close, leaned in a little far, walked a little too fast so they're catching up to you in a dark street or parking lot...  And you wonder what you're going to do if he tries something, if you're strong enough to fight back, if you could get away.  

So if you're going to say that the social issues don't matter in an election... yeah, they do.