The “Cat People for Harris” sign is cute.  I don’t deny that.  But if I see one more of them I’ll scream, even though I’m a Cat Woman for Harris.

My neighborhood has more political signs than people.  That’s not possible, you say.  Oh no?  If there are three or four signs on a lawn, and two to four people in each house, it turns into a silent pep rally you can’t escape from. 

Most of the signs tout the Democratic candidates. Short and simple:  usually just a name.  Other sentiments are frenetically, erratically expressed:  STOP FASCISM, WE ARE INVESTED IN OUR CITY, WE STAND BESIDE PLANNED PARENTHOOD, SLOW DOWN CATS GEEZERS …. 

Walking past these endless signs, you descend into nihilism. Yes, the names of the Dems are all very well, and they got my vote (I voted early), but what do they stand for?  No signs declare: GREEN ENERGY,  FUND THE LIBERAL ARTS, END ALL WARS, VOTE FOR GUN CONTROL, CLASSICS NOW…  How about a sign that says, TIME’S UP:  YOU’VE KILLED THE PLANET!

No, you can’t say that. How about: CAT PEOPLE FOR THE PLANET!

We decided to vote early this year.  It’s not to avoid long lines:  we never have long lines here.  It’s because I was tired of the eternal pep rally of the signs. Now I’ve voted, it’s behind me, I’m ahead of the curve.  The signs will disappear along with the Halloween talking skeletons and mini-gravestones. 

Fortunately, we knew the names of even the lesser Dems from the political signs on the lawns. So. The signs are good for something. 

Hope for the best, expect the worst, as they say in Mel Brooks’ movie, The Twelve Chairs.  

There is little hope that the electoral college in this state will go Democrat, but our votes might help elect a Democratic senator.  

Tomorrow is officially autumn.

It is also political sign season.  As the election grows closer, the bold announce their political views on their lawns.  The signs proclaim enthusiasm for the Democratic candidates for the Senate and Congress.   There are many Harris signs..  And there are still a few Biden signs and a sole Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sign.

Politics is not really my thing. Still, voting is a civic duty. I fill in the bubbles on a multiple choice ballot sheet every election.  We used to be able to vote a straight Democratic ticket by filling in ONE bubble.  No more!   One year I messed up my bubble sheet (the ink from the official voting pen smeared), and an irate volunteer scolded me when I requested a new ballot. In her view, this wrecked the whole election! “It’s your pen,” I said. 

Voting has become more difficult over the years.  Nowadays I bring my ID, Social Security card, piece of mail with my name on it, and anything else I can think of.  I once saw them turn away someone who didn’t have an ID.  I felt indignant. Do they know how difficult it is to get an ID card if you don’t drive?  The DMV is miles away, off the freeway, almost in the country, not on any bus route, so if you can’t catch a ride, you can’t get the ID! 

But rock on! Get out there and vote.