An Observation in My Neighborhood

This morning I decided to go for a few laps around my block. I admit shamefully that it's something I haven't done a whole lot since moving into this neighborhood in May. But anyhow, I counted eleven campaign signs, and all of them were for Obama/Biden or Christine Gregoire (our Democratic governor). I then walked up a few more streets and saw more Obama signs and only one McCain sticker on the back of a Land Rover.

On a sad note, I also noticed seven empty houses with For Sale signs in the front. Three I know have been there at least a year, because the neighbors told me that when we first moved in. Also several more are up for rent. We're renting the house we're in now after it had sat on the market for 10 months. Our previous home was one of the many casualties of today's market. A painful chapter in my life that I hope to one day move past. The only measure of solace I get in it is knowing that we're not alone. That so many millions more are facing the same, or worse, struggles.

And this is one small neighborhood in one small town in Washington... I imagine it's like this pretty much everywhere. It's a bittersweet feeling. One of sadness and fear at the current state of things, but one of hope for those who staked those signs in their front lawns because they feel that change is around the corner.

I'm not familiar with Lacey.

Lacey is just outside of Olympia. :)

I don't think Washington state will be close at all, in spite of what some are saying. Same goes for Oregon.