Alea iacta est

I really do not like waiting in line. Back when China sent two pandas to Los Angeles to celebrate the ’84 Olympics, a friend and I went to the zoo specifically to see pandas. But when we got there the line was past a marker that said, “At this point you are 4 hours to pandas”. I turned to my friend and said, “I would not wait four hours for the second coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

So I’ve been really stressing over voting. Fairfax County’s “satellite” early voting stations only are open from 1300-1900, which is not a schedule I appreciate. But not voting in this election is simply not an option.

So yesterday I pulled up my big-girl pants and went over to the station in the People’s Republic, getting there at 1230. The line was not terrifically long—maybe about 80-100 people. I was fully kitted out: voter registration card, passport, utility bill (remember—courtesy of Virginia DMV, I still do not have a local driver’s license), umbrella, book, water; it was like I was going camping.

In the end, it only took me about 40 minutes after the polls opened. I cast my vote(s) and my ballot has been processed. I’d have waited longer—whatever it takes—although, in retrospect, not having put on sun block (it’s been a while since I’ve spent any time outside in mid-day) may have been a mistake. Still worth it, though.