Lynn

A benefit of going places alone is that you meet people you probably wouldn't have otherwise. A week ago Saturday I went canvasing for the election. At the orientation Lynn said she needed a partner, and I volunteered.

She was full of energy and passionate about the election. I walked with her all day long, and we had long conversations about the state of our country and our lives.

I found that Lynn has three daughters, loves riding her bike, and has been married a long time. Her youngest daughter has a ballot performance this same evening. Her oldest two daughters have live-in boyfriends, and she is scared to death one of them will have a baby that she will end up taking care of.

They have had tough times lately, which is one reason she is out trying to make a difference in the election. He husband has never been unemployed before. They are dipping into their retirement to get by.

She agreed that hard physical activity takes the edge off of stress and heartbreak. Lynn likes to park her car out of town several miles and ride her bike in to work and back. She is planning to get a powerful light, so she can continue to do it in the dark of November and December.

Lynn said they are doing their best in spite of her husband's two heart surgeries in the last year. He went back to work too soon after the first one, and was layed off a month and a half later, ending his health coverage. He is already trying to find work after the second heart surgery, a few weeks ago, and is not telling prospective employers his doctor has not cleared him to return to work yet.

Lynn told me that even the best marriages have their ups and downs. She believes in one marriage though, and will stay beside her husband no matter what.