The stylus pen is courtesy of Mecklenburg County, NC to be used by voters at polling stations. Way to GO in the fight against COVID. (It may be a statewide stylus pen. If so - GO NC!!!)
I was at the grocery store yesterday and had a bit of a scare. After shopping and standing in line, it was my turn to check out. I get all the way through and my card comes back DECLINED!!! What???!!!! No!!!! So, I swiped again just knowing there was an issue with their machine. Again, DECLINED. Embarrassed, I asked the cashier to suspend the transaction while I called the bank. Looking at my phone I saw a message from my bank regarding fraudulent activity. My heart stopped as I thought someone had gotten into my account. Looking further, my activity in the supermarket was what they flagged - a whopping $76 worth of groceries. I'm looking at my transactions and trying to figure out how they approved 2 online transactions but the one where I'm standing there with the card and they decline it? Come on!!! Don't they know how embarrassing this is?
Instantly, my mind went back to a time, when I wasn't sure that the money was in my account. To a time where I was standing in line with $50 for food and gas trying to make it to payday at the end of the week. There was no overflow in the savings account like I had Sunday just in case there had been overspending on my part. Just that quickly, reality set in. I began to remember when I didn't have it and wouldn't have it for days on end. Just that quickly, I recalled how embarrassing it was to have to put groceries back. The snacks for my son or his favorite sports drink. Just that quickly, I remembered when.
I write this blog as a reminder to all of us of those days of past. Those days when our ancestors didn't have the right to speak their minds. They were blocked from going to the polls or were thought of as 3/5ths of a person. Not too long ago, women had to fight for the right to vote. There were boycotts back then too. Maybe your not old enough to remember when, but if you ever took time to sit at the knee of an elder you would have heard stories like Gramdma Ida use to tell me. Stories about the fights for basic human rights - you know, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This phrase is part of our Declaration of Independence. The stance taken to make this country a country. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." (Declaration of Independence)
Tomorrow, we all have the right to exercise our rights as citizens of this country. Not giving voice to one side or the other, know that your vote does count. It is the acknowledgement to those that fought for you to have that right. Your vote is your way of standing up to the governments (local, state, and federal) and letting them know that you have rights and you will exercise those rights.
If you haven't already, VOTE!!!!! If you know someone who hasn't, inspire them to VOTE!!!
(Side Note especially for my Mom, Aunts and Godmother: the transaction went through after I acknowledged that it wasn't fraud. Mater of fact, my supervisor had the same issue this weekend at a hardware store. No need for a GoFundMe account, checks in the mail, CashApp, etc. All is well. Luv You!!)
Be A Blessing and Not Just Blessed
- - Nakya