The Loss of a Companion

 

 

 Disclosure: I am being woefully dramatic.

Today is a sad day. I am grieving the loss of my most faithful companion which has been with me through so, so many stages of life.

I know it is weird to admit but, I’m unashamedly and emotionally attached to my desktop keyboard.  I have had it through the divorce years, the Walk-in Tub years, parenting as a single mom, chronicling life’s ups and downs through blogging, “the Great Shunning,” the formative ‘Kinley years’ and now. This inanimate possession has processed the bulk of my soul-searching, has clacked out a lot of communications from contracts that took my business to the next level to heartbroken blogs, side hustles, content writing, airline ticket reservations and tons of everything in between.

When Gabe was in Afghanistan, it was my only connection to my son….Volker and I used to spend H O U R S on Skype….Jacob learned his A, B, C’s on this keyboard! Oh my goodness! The memories, the conversations, the secrets and confessions….the LAUGHS and ultimately, the resurrection of internal hope through supportive relationships kindled and nourished at this keyboard. This keyboard served as a lifeline in so many ways. I know I’m dramatic but finding a replacement for it feels a lot like the closing of a chapter…. here is a toast to its cushy familiarity and to more plane tickets and many, many yet to be experienced happy blogs…..

The Campaign Trail has some Pot Holes

 Crazy how saying YES to things can really, really change the trajectory of your life. Last spring, an acquitenance called me with news about his friend running for an elected position. A big, high profile position. 
I told him I've never been very involved in politics, but that I would be interested in hearing about his friend and learning more. One conversation lead to another and then to an in person meeting....and a volunteer position on someone's campaign. 

Over the summer I helped out by making calls and introductions. I spent my weekends making marketing materials, writing a lot of articles, blogs and website content. I learned a lot. I learned that making a change takes a lot of phone calls and elbow grease. 

Then- in late September a friend and co-worker of mine said he was really praying about running for office. A seat as a Representative in the NC House. I was proud of him and felt like he could really make a difference. I encouraged him and really believed that NC needed him. I was really excited  about his passion for the office and hoped that he would run.

The next week he came in to my office and said he was filling out some paperwork for the Board of Elections and asked if I could help him fill out the forms and double check after him.  

That weekend he made plans to attend his first public event as a candidate. We didn't have marketing materials or even business cards to pass out- but he was going to be there and make the rounds at an event called "Politics in the Park". 

To this day, I don't know how this all evolved into me being his campaign manager, but I'm bursting with honor and pride at being part of this process and journey. 

In November, I went to the Board of Elections with Brian and his parents to officially file for candidacy. He was "in it to win it" and we hit the pavement hard with spitballing, researching and marketing.

Every spare moment has been crammed with phone calls, social media posts, article writing, spitballing ideas for fundraising and creating campaign graphics. Every weekend spent making those spitball ideas become reality. 

Since announcing the campaign we've had our fair share of hurdles to jump. The state has redrawn district lines. We've gone from District 70 to District 61 and back to District 70./..which is a marketing nightmare. The primary dates changed from March to May with talk of it being extended until June. Brian's son had a serious football injury resulting in several weeks of hospitalization, numerous surgeries and now awaiting a skingraft. In January, I was diagnosed with severe anemia and needed emergency surgery which required a 6 week recovery. WE'VE CLEARED EVERY HURDLE. God has been faithful through all of this! 

The primaries are in just a few weeks. I'm looking forward to what God has in store for Brian and  Randolph County!