Thursday, November 13, 2025
While many are bemoaning the political and economic situation I think it important to celebrate the victories in life.
Last Tuesday, November 11, 2025 was Poll Worker Appreciation Day. This was voted on by the Virginia Legislature and passed. Now, I know, some are confused because wasn’t the election the week before? (Yes, and I worked 14 hours!) And wasn’t November 11th Veterans Day Yes. But it was also Poll Worker Appreciation Day. There’s nothing to say we can’t celebrate two things on the same day. Similar to holding two facts in your brain at once. But I’m a veteran of sorts – a veteran poll worker! I mean I’ve poll worked more elections than I can count on one hand (provided I don’t use my thumb.) so, I’m a veteran. Probably not good enough to get into the Veterans credit union – but still.
So, I asked my 13 year old niece Claire how she was going to celebrate Poll Worker Appreciation Day and she came up with the boffo idea that we should go out for gelato. A most excellent idea. I brought along some candles and matches to light the candle (I thought one was enough.) Unfortunately, the matches were NFG. (Not Very* Good – *I have a lisp:) These are the same matches we have had for 10-20 years and they never work. The little white tip that is supposed to ignite the bigger red part doesn’t. It appears to be too small (maybe a defect in manufacturing?) and crumbles when dragged across the side of the box’s lighting surface, which has be pretty much scraped smooth through multiple attempts at using it to ignite these sticks they claim are matches. Maybe, I should throw them out? I say that every time. Then I put the match box back in the drawer.
Here is a video that my wife took of the glorious celebration.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4Y4QxvE9HFw
I thought the festivities would end there – but I was wrong.
Claire wanted to go the back way to her house, which took us through tree lined neighborhoods. People were out and about. This gave me another boffo idea, which I mentioned to Claire. Maybe, I should stop, roll down my window and ask the strollers how they were celebrating Poll Worker Appreciation Day?
“No, Rick,” was her immediate answer.
Then I saw a couple walking toward us on the opposite side of the road.
I mentioned again – maybe I should ask them?
“No, Rick. Oh god, I know them. Don’t stop!”
This led me to start screaming, “HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO CELEBRATE POLL WORKER APPRECIATION DAY?”
At this point Claire decided it was a good time to investigate whether my car had a hidden pocket between the far side of the passenger seat and the car’s super structure.
I continued yelling, “HEY. HEY! HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO CELEBRATE POLL WORKER APPRECIATION DAY?”
Unfortunately, things happened so fast that I didn’t have time to roll down my window. I mean what with Claire screaming and all. “No Rick.” and “Please don’t.” and “Oh my god!” Actually, I’m not sure exactly what she was saying. And my yelling into the glass, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO CELEBRATE POLL WORKER APPRECIATION DAY?”
But I think I did us proud. As an uncle, and parent, and poll worker I think I helped inform the younger generation.
When I told her MTV was going away internationally she asked, “What’s MTV?”
So, there is still work to be done.
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