This is only the second presidential election I have had the privilege to participate in, but I have had an interest in politics from a very young age. When I was in 3rd grade and was nominated by my classmates to be the Halloween Carnival Princess candidate I had to fill out a form where I let the student body know what my favorite color was, favorite animal, favorite subject, and what I wanted to be when I grew up. “The First Female President of the United States of America,” I wrote. I remember a giggle or two bubbling up from the crowd as I stood on the stage.

But I meant it.

Every year in school I was a class officer and involved in student government. Eventually I was elected to serve as Student Council president my senior year. I went on to be chosen to represent my school at Girls State, a mock government program (a week-long camp) that teaches young women about how various roles in the government work. What that made me see was that there was no way I had the patience to sit through hours and hours of legislation (I won my race and was elected state representative for my district), especially whenever the stinking governor (a “Sooner”—the equivalent of a Democrat at the Oklahoma Girls State…“Boomers” were the Republicans) would veto all of our bills except for the one about picking up dog poop. Anyway. More importantly, it sparked a fire in me that lives to this day. I remember leaning over to a friend during an evening full of speeches by some state politicians and saying, “I think I’m a Republican.” (Look out world…)

November does something to me. It is the culmination of years of work for a lot of people and the air is electric with hope—real hope. Not just some campaign slogan. The hope that your candidate will carry this election and go on to lead our country into the next few years.

We’ve established that I am passionate about it, right? Good. Something else I should say is that while I am loud, proud, and very Right here on my blog, I am not some rub-it-in-your-face loud-mouth in real life. Yes, I will get into it and talk for hours with fellow conservatives, but I am in no mood for a debate, ever. Honestly, if you are a liberal, I know where you stand. I have liberal friends and family. I don’t talk politics with them because I believe so deeply in what I believe, that it would be impossible for me to keep things separate and peaceful. Plain as that. Close-minded? No. Made-up-my-mind, “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus (No Turning Back, No Turning Back)”? YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

Point: I am not confrontational. There is not a bone in my body, not even the tiny ones that make up my pretty little fist, that likes to confront anyone.

This election cycle has brought me to my knees with an onslaught of verbal and emotional attacks, with even a bit of vandalism. The worst of which happened last week.

I would rather not go into great detail, because if the person who did this to me happened to read my blog, the last thing I would want would be to offend them further than I (apparently) already have.

A long-time friend of mine chose to step out of my life and a very important part of it, because I am not voting for Barack Obama. This person could not explain to me why they were voting for Sen. Obama, nor why I should. I am at a loss. Honestly, I chalk it up to ignorance. This person literally knows nothing about Obama’s stances on any issue, only that he’s made it sound as if they will receive substantial tax breaks if he is in office.

Now, dear, you get to find out.

And now, sir, you get the chance. Go out. Do well. I am patient and will be waiting right here in four years.