The time is now

Commentary by Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig

I just couldn’t wait.
   Usually, it’s like clockwork … I head down to my local polling place the first Tuesday in November, every fourth year, and exercise my freedom to vote.
    But I just couldn’t wait. I have seen so many television ads that I now sing “Imagine” to myself throughout the day. I’ve seen so many election signs that I can tell you where they are blindfolded. I’ve begun to answer everything with a “maybe” to avoid hearing a “yes” or a “no.”
    But more importantly, there is this invisible energy pulling me, this uncontrollable excitement that has taken hold of me and millions of other Americans. It’s sort of like a kid waiting for Christmas to arrive.
    I had to break tradition.
    So on Monday, I headed down to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters Office to take part in the early voting process. Making sure I had no campaign or candidate paraphernalia on my person — except for the cool “laugh. dance. vote.” t-shirt I bought from the Ellen Shop — I made my way to the basement of the courthouse to participate in a piece of history. And I wasn’t the only one.
    About 30 people had the same thing in mind … and not only registered voters. There were parents with children and a few non-voters, too. My 23- year-old son, visiting from Arizona, even joined me. He made fun of me wanting him to take my picture as I cast my vote … that was until he saw one woman asking another to shoot her holding up her official ballot. My son is looking forward to returning to Arizona next week so he, too, can vote.
    There are many reasons people are rushing out in high numbers to cast their vote early. Sure we will elect the first African American to hold the office of president or first female to hold that of vice president. There are propositions, especially in California, that are garnering almost as much attention as the people running for office. But more importantly, our country is at a crossroads: We have a choice to make changes that are long overdue or a choice to continue with too much of the same.
    I know many, like me, love tradition. But this year we could all use a little change.
    Don’t take the chance that the lines will be so long that you won’t have enough time to vote during your lunch break. Don’t risk that some accident, unexpected situation or “natural disaster” (not to jinx it!) causes you to miss Election Day entirely.
    Don’t wait. Vote today.
    Need a little more “stirring?” Read my Thursday through Tuesday thoughts at www.stpminute.blogspot.com.

Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig is an award-winning, professional journalist who resides in Oakland. If you have an individual, organization, issue or other topic that may be of interest to the Globe’s readers, contact her at  talk2mfc@yahoo.com.