My Grandma

My grandmother was born in Kansas. She was raised in South Dakota. She was a military wife. She has always been a staunch conservative.

She loved Ronald Reagan. She loves the works of William. F. Buckley, George Will, and all the conservative minds of this era.

She just turned 86. For the past 20 years, we have agreed to disagree on politics, because she has always been much farther to the right than I.

Grandma was hospitalized this week with a kidney infection. She had my dad get her an absentee ballot, because she was going to be out of action for a while.

She voted for Barack Obama.

I am completely floored by this news. I recently saw my grandmother in August before the conventions, and purposely avoided the discussion of Presidential politics, because I knew that would do nothing except create un-necessary tension.

I am guilty of underestimating my grandmother. And I am also guilty of underestimating the sensibility of my country.

Her major issue is Sarah Palin. She is obviously dissatisfied with Bush, but she hasn't heard anything out of either candidate that excites her. So, her vote basically came down to Joe Biden vs. Sarah Palin. And she is scared of Palin.

This is one of those "WOW' moments for me where i missed an opportunity to engage my grandmother in discussion about this. Luckily, she is on a road to recovery, so I will be able to talk to her about her vote, and talk to her about how important and proud that vote makes me.

I know nobody reads this, but I had to write it, because I am floored by this, and want to remember the moment forever. I love you Grandma.