Mrs. Saunders proudly wore her Obama button during the campaign of 2008. The octogenarian was determined to see her dream to fruition. A lifelong social Democrat, she marched in the 60’s for liberal causes.
Although frail with illness, she faithfully wears that button everywhere: to the mailbox to get the mail, to the grocery store accompanied by a home care nurse…. She even wears it to her doctor’s office where she is convinced she has made some converts over to “our side”, she says as she winks at me.
Mr. Saunders is losing it. It is 102 degrees outside , and yet he wears three layers of clothes including a wool jacket. He walks around the compound inspecting things like the dent in someone’s car, making sure the back fence is locked, the flowers the neighbors have growing on their wall…. One day I see him turning in circles in the laundry room. “Why am I here?” he seems to question the machines.
Three years later, they have both passed within three weeks of each other – shortly after their 60th wedding anniversary. But they saw the dream become a reality and they never lost faith in the president or hope for the future.
I wonder if they have met “Stanley,” Obama’s mama? I wonder if they are preparing for the next election by wearing their Obama buttons in heaven? Or perhaps now they are both twirling in circles in an angels’ waltz being watched by God….
(First published 9/12/12)
