Eagles Over the Kennebec

We woke early -- earlier even then planned, thanks to Cat Assistance(tm), went to breakfast at Eric's in Waterville and then to the polls. We arrived about ten of eight to take our place in line; by the time the doors were opened, kinzel estimated about 100 people in line.

Inside, we were directed to split into three lines by last name -- unheard of in our (very) small town -- and people continued to arrive as we moved forward. My ballot was Number 94 at 8:15 a.m. and Miles to Go before we sleep.

After, in the interest of not sitting in front of the computer and hitting "refresh" all day, we drove to Belfast, considered the harbor, then went the Long Way to Bangor, where we visited Borders, and then came back to Skowhegan via Route 2. Lunch of tomato bisque and grilled cheese sammiches at Charrier's then onward to rolanni's eye doctor's appointment, and thence to home, where we're about to unlimber a deck of cards and get into some Serious Rummy.

Maine Natives: What was the name of the "campground" across from the Belmont in Skowhegan, where the Wal*Mart now stands?

I was heartened to see so many people bringing their kids with them to "vote" (in my family, every presidential election, the family would have breakfast, then we would all four walk down to the Community Hall, where my parents would vote, while my sister and I waited for them, then take the Long Walk home); one lady even brought her puppy, snug in a red, white, blue, and yellow sock to the polls.

Our cats, of course, voted early. Hex cast an absentee ballot for Ithaca. Mozart and Scrabble took the Cat Bus to Early Voting last week and so spared themselves the stress of waiting in line at the polls on Election Day.

...and now, we wait.