Posted in Family Life

Get it? "Boot-stomping good time" is the fair theme this year. Get it? Yeah. You should have seen the other title I had going.

It's been an interesting and very long day, with some interesting lessons.

I spent eight hours on barn duty in the home ec building, keeping the glass cases free of fingerprints and sticky remnants of ice cream, and showing people to the entries they couldn't find, and explaining the premium system to fairground newbies. (By the way, do you realize that the cleanliness and overall organization of each barn at your local fair eventually leads to the premium amount you earn for the ribbons you win there? Fascinating process, actually.)

In this long stint, I spent a lot of time thinking over the changes I'd like to bring to our failing fair and our poor little baking department. Highest on my list for both is the idea that grouchy old ladies scare little children away from entering their little projects the following year; if you're going to man a building or sit around demonstrating how to crochet or quilt, SMILE at the children! And everyone else for that matter. So, I was rather irritated with the scowling quilter who calls herself a "fixture" in the neighboring department. She would smart off that things couldn't get that dirty between my third and fourth rounds of Windex patrol. When I let her and the sweet old lady beside her know that I needed to head out for lunch and a bathroom break, she basically questioned that baking was suddenly in charge of the building. For goodness' sake!

Later, I learned that this poor woman has been sick for two weeks, recently moved and has been dealing with quite a bit of other hard things in her life. That doesn't mean I still won't take on the "we've always done it that way" cranky crowd, but I guess I should have a little more sympathy now and then.

So, feeling put in my place a bit, I finished out my shift and spent some time with this year's superintendent learning some more about the books. I finally got a call from my poor hubby, saying he still wasn't done with what he expected to be a 16-hour day, which meant I headed out to get him some dinner, pick up my little fair-worn dd at my sister's house, and head for the hinterlands. On my way out, I passed the Republican booth, and thought I'd wander through quickly and see which personnages of notoriety were stationed there for the day.

I didn't notice anyone I knew offhand, but a few people turned and said hello, including a darling little elderly woman in a blue dress with a slightly mismatched blue straw hat. She asked me to sign the log, and began to offer info on what the party believes, and on and on. I turned to her and said, "Sweetheart, I'm already working for your party." (I can't remember what I've posted and what I haven't. I am currently running unopposed for Precinct Officer of my neighborhood. I don't think she knows that, but somehow my answer pleased her.)

They introduced themselves all the way around, and two gentlemen I recognized by name as being somewhat familiar, the third being the state Republican delegate to the national caucus. She then asked my name. When I told them, I got definite recognition. The delegate turned to the lady and said, "This was one of our delegates to the county caucus." My thought was, Wow -- he must have been there that night, of course. Then the next guy said, "And she's good too." Now I got the hint; they knew me only from that night, and I must have made a bigger impression than I thought.

So, I blurted out something like, "I guess I made a pretty big stink, didn't I?" The third guy said, "Yeah, but that's what we need." At that point, I didn't know what to say. It's a big deal to catch the eye of politicians; you have to do something pretty intense to get that. I knew I was pretty vocal and pretty intense that night, but I just thought I was one of a crowd of us that want to return to true conservative foundations. Maybe it's the younger crowd/female gender phenomenon -- you know the one, the "you're pretty rare in this racket" thing.

It was definitely a boost to my ego, and a confirmation that I'm not the only one in my area feeling this way about a party gone liberal. I can't say it didn't feel good to have people recognize me (or at least my name).

On the other hand, it's greatly humbling. Number one, to be a spokesperson for so many people is a huge responsibility, no matter what level of politics I end up in, but I'm also sad that so many others don't have the education or training to do so for themselves. Why God would choose me to be one of those who ended up in the few effective school programs out there that taught the skills I use today, especially when there are so many others more passionate, more effective, more powerful than I am to do these types of things. His grace is overwhelming, and I so wish that I could pass on all that learning and experience to others on a whim, with the shake of a hand or maybe a simple statement of encouragement.

It also made me think of all the times I feel like I'm invisible in a crowd. I never am, and I do know it at some level. Too many people know my husband, my parents, my ministries, my friends, my church, me, even my car. That's probably the most frightening of all; my hubby calls me Mario for a reason. I'm not a Sunday driver by any means, and I pass anyone who's in my way. I forget how many people in our small region know me well enough to recognize me. What is that saying about me? I guess some level of aggressiveness is a character trait I've never managed to get rid of, but I always hope I use it in the right places (like at caucuses and with stick-in-the-mud fair boards).

After this happened, the radio in the car was playing the song "I Want to Leave A Legacy" by one of the newer Christian artists out there. I've always liked that song, because it is my heart's desire. I want people to see me as a Christian woman who did everything she could to remind people of truth, who laid a foundation that is based on Jesus and then supports a worldview that puts everything in life from politics to religion to education to the tiniest detail of life at the feet of Jesus.

My mother commented tonight that my reputation is beginning to precede me. I hope so, and I hope it's the reputation for doing the right thing, no matter what the cost. Isn't that what He's called us to? I think so. No, let me say that a different way -- I believe so. And that's how I intend to live