Meeting the new man in our daughter's life and election night

My daughter is a beautiful 18-year old, with long red hair and a smile that will light up the room when she uses it. She's had a few boyfriends over the past year or two, but nothing serious. She's now a legal adult, but still a high school senior.

She met a new guy and is really happy with him. We finally got to meet him last night and took him out to dinner to grill ... er ... terrorize ... er ... get to know him better. Yeah, that's what I meant.

He's a nice, polite guy and we seem to have a lot in common with him. His father worked with hubby's mother for many years, so at least we have a connection to the family. The more we talked, the more we know he'll fit in just fine. He's encouraging our daughter to go to college and get her education. "I'll be waiting," is what he said. I like him already!

After dinner, we went to the after-election party to watch the results come in and let him meet the people we spend a lot of time with. He needs to get use to politics and politicians if he's going to hang around with us. Arielle registered to vote soon after turning 18 and she even volunteered to help out a local State Representative candidate's campaign this year. She's really grown into a special young woman. Of course, she voted. I couldn't be prouder of her. She can talk to anyone of any level of education and has friends in both parties. She's been around politicians since the third grade when I homeschooled her and took her to government meetings, press conferences, etc.. I can still see this little tiny girl following around our newest State Senator that year. Joe Scarnatti would stop and pose where she pointed since she also had a camera and he treated her like a person and not just an annoying little kid. When she went back to public school, he would make it a point to stop and see her when he was in the area. He's now our State's acting Lt. Governor as well as President Pro Tempe of our State Senate and still makes time for her. She was able to job shadow with him in Harrisburg and would love to work for him again.

There were more than a few tears after the final results were tabulated, but with the mood of the electorate, there was no chance for many well qualified candidates. In two years, the mood will have shifted because people will be sick of the non-stop bickering and the grid-lock. I truly hope that Republicans and Democrats will be able to learn to lean across the aisle and work together and not just play one-upmanship. The election is over, lets forget where we are different and remember that we are all Americans and deserve a political body that will work for us. OK, off my soap box and back to watching Stormchasers (my deep secret dream is to join them some day. Yes, little me out chasing tornadoes!)