As both the temperature and the campaign heat up, Doug and I find ourselves stopping from time to time to reflect on the many blessings that have come our way. We have been going door to door all over the district recently, and we are thankful for all the positives aspects of this marathon meet and greet. Shady porches, friendly dogs, and the kindness of strangers top our list.
When the temperature hovers around one hundred degrees with the heat index well above that, stepping upon a shady porch is like coming upon the proverbial oasis in a desert. Sheltered from the sun and with breezes wafting over our sweat-soaked bodies, we gain strength and determination to carry on. Often people have the most inviting looking swings, hammocks, rockers, and gliders on their porches. We always look longingly at them, but we are never presumptuous enough to try one out.
Dogs, however, do make presumptions; they are never ambiguous. Either they like you or they don't, and when they do, they demonstrate it with their whole bodies. They prance, sniff, lick, bark, and wag their tails like flags in the wind. Fortunately for us, most of the dogs we have met on our door-knocking adventures have been the unequivocal friendly types. Cats, on the other hand, are downright apathetic. For example, one cat we came across, lay draped over the back of a sofa and gazed at us with one bored eye; meanwhile, the dog of the house practically turned somersaults of joy at our arrival. Hopefully the voters will be more of the dog variety.
Our tramping around in the heat seems to bring out the sympathy in people. We have been invited into the homes of complete strangers and given bottles of cold water. One man even told us he would vote for Doug because anyone out campaigning in such heat must really want the position. We are humbled by and thankful for the kindness of these wonderful people.
Speaking of being thankful, we owe a debt of gratitude to area fire departments, not only for the jobs they do to protect the public but also for food and hospitality. We partook of fried catfish prepared by the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department and barbecue cooked by the Cordell firefighters.
And finally, we are eternally grateful to the army of volunteers who showed up last Saturday to knock on doors in Elk City. Approximately twenty people all clad in their "Doug Haught for District Judge" t-shirts walked the streets and campaigned for Doug. Better friends cannot be found.
We are fortunate indeed to live here in Western Oklahoma where people are kind, hospitable, and empathetic. Remember a vote for Judge Haught is vote for one of Western Oklahoma's best.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Potlucks to Pavement by Judy Haught
The campaign continues with Doug and I traversing the five-county area of the 2nd Judicial District. It is 150 miles from one end of the district to the other, and those miles are filled with meetings, social events, and friendly people. We have filled this week by participating in potluck dinners and pounding the pavement.
We are always amazed by the hospitality that Western Oklahomans show complete strangers . At every social event we have attended, we have been treated like honored guests. We recently attended a potluck dinner at the Arapaho Senior Citizens Center where we received VIP treatment. We were asked to go through the food line first and then were seated at the head table. We enjoyed lively conversation and an entertaining program on Fathers Day and Flag Day. Then Doug was allowed to speak and answer questions. We had a great time and even promised to return for the July cookout.
Next, we hit the pavement in Cheyenne to canvass door-to-door with help from two wonderful friends. We met lots of new people, but we also ran into some old friends. Everyone was exceptionally friendly, and we left with positive feelings and gratitude for Cheyenne's gracious hospitality.
A day later we could be found enjoying another potluck dinner, this time with Shattuck's lovely senior citizens. Again we received special treatment and an invitation to return. We met many intriguing people including a 102-year-old lady and a man whose ancestors were Germans transplanted to Russia by Catherine the Great. What a history lesson! Topping off the dinner was some jazzy piano playing by one of the senior citizens.
After leaving the Senior Citizen Center, we hit the streets and knocked on doors in Shattuck. Everyone was exceptionally nice to us; even the dogs didn't have the heart to be mean although one dog did give a half-hearted effort to be aggressive. We were at a house on the outskirts of town when we encountered an elderly, overweight shepherd-type dog. When we got out of the car, he waddled up and gave a few obligatory barks. The look on his face said, "It's really hot out here, and I don't really want to do this, but it's my job." I guess we should have cowered a little to make him feel better.
We are always amazed by the hospitality that Western Oklahomans show complete strangers . At every social event we have attended, we have been treated like honored guests. We recently attended a potluck dinner at the Arapaho Senior Citizens Center where we received VIP treatment. We were asked to go through the food line first and then were seated at the head table. We enjoyed lively conversation and an entertaining program on Fathers Day and Flag Day. Then Doug was allowed to speak and answer questions. We had a great time and even promised to return for the July cookout.
Next, we hit the pavement in Cheyenne to canvass door-to-door with help from two wonderful friends. We met lots of new people, but we also ran into some old friends. Everyone was exceptionally friendly, and we left with positive feelings and gratitude for Cheyenne's gracious hospitality.
A day later we could be found enjoying another potluck dinner, this time with Shattuck's lovely senior citizens. Again we received special treatment and an invitation to return. We met many intriguing people including a 102-year-old lady and a man whose ancestors were Germans transplanted to Russia by Catherine the Great. What a history lesson! Topping off the dinner was some jazzy piano playing by one of the senior citizens.
After leaving the Senior Citizen Center, we hit the streets and knocked on doors in Shattuck. Everyone was exceptionally nice to us; even the dogs didn't have the heart to be mean although one dog did give a half-hearted effort to be aggressive. We were at a house on the outskirts of town when we encountered an elderly, overweight shepherd-type dog. When we got out of the car, he waddled up and gave a few obligatory barks. The look on his face said, "It's really hot out here, and I don't really want to do this, but it's my job." I guess we should have cowered a little to make him feel better.
Altogether, our visits to Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Shattuck were rewarding experiences, and we are grateful to the citizens of those towns for their welcoming spirits. They took us in and made us feel a part of their communities. Remember a vote for Judge Haught is a vote for someone who respects and cares for your community.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Decisions, Decisions by Judy Haught
There is a lot to do in a campaign, some of it fun and interesting like socializing with voters and some of it just mundane like choosing the color for a sign or slogan. But most of the activities involve decision making. Should we canvass door-to-door or make phone calls? Should we buy the white campaign shirts or the blue ones? Should we go to the car show or to the art festival?
Recently some of the good decisions Doug has made on the campaign trail were to attend a community coffee at Shattuck and to eat with the senior citizens at Erick. To make it to Shattuck by 8:00 A.M., he had to keep Army hours, which means he had to get up long before daylight and hit the road really early. But the journey was worth the effort. The people at Shattuck could not have been friendlier or more gracious. They move their coffee get-togethers from business to business, and that day they met at the local tire shop where the owners welcomed everyone with coffee and freshly baked coffee cake. Doug left with warm feeling for the people of Shattuck and a full stomach.
Leaving Shattuck, he raced back to Sayre and heard his morning docket; then it was off to Erick to visit and dine with the senior citizens. He was warmly welcomed, and one man even read Doug's bio to the crowd. The people were truly pleased that he stopped by. Nothing means more to a candidate than friendly smiles, kind words, and a genuine interest in what he has to say.
Another wise campaign decision we recently made was to attend the monthly potluck dinner at Cowden. We saw the announcment in The Cordell Beacon and wondered if we should go; after all, we had never even heard of Cowden. We got out our trusty Oklahoma atlas and checked to see if Cowden were truly in our district. Sure enough it is in southeastern Washita County. So we ran byKFC and headed for Cowden, atlas in hand. Cowden constists of an abandoned school building, a community center, a memorial, and several friendly people.
As soon as we walked in, we were taken over by country hospitality. The people all introduced themselves and made us feel at home. Doug was taken over by a group of men, and I was commandeered by a group of fun-loving ladies. As with other small rural communities we have visited, one of the most intriguing parts of the evening was learning about the history of the place. Cowden was once a thriving town with a vital school. The history of the town and school was revealed in pictures lining the walls. The pictures are truly a piece of Americana. One picture in particular caught our eye; it was a picture of Cowden Boy Scouts taken in in 1943. They are standing by a pile of scrap metal with a homemade sign that said, "Scrap the Japs!" I wish I had a copy of the picture to frame.
One of the things Cowden folks are most proud of is their memorial. It is a beautiful large granite monument with pictures of the town and school engraved in it. Surrounding the pictures are the names of all the people who made up the community. The families of all the dinner attendees were represented on the memorial.
We had a great time at Cowden and look forward to their next dinner because we would like to become regulars, even if we are not native to the community. The Cowden decision was a winner. Again we were reminded that Western Oklahoma has the best people in the country.
Speaking of decisions, remember that a judge makes important decisions every day that affect the lives of many people. A vote for Judge Haught is a vote for an experienced, wise decision maker.
Recently some of the good decisions Doug has made on the campaign trail were to attend a community coffee at Shattuck and to eat with the senior citizens at Erick. To make it to Shattuck by 8:00 A.M., he had to keep Army hours, which means he had to get up long before daylight and hit the road really early. But the journey was worth the effort. The people at Shattuck could not have been friendlier or more gracious. They move their coffee get-togethers from business to business, and that day they met at the local tire shop where the owners welcomed everyone with coffee and freshly baked coffee cake. Doug left with warm feeling for the people of Shattuck and a full stomach.
Leaving Shattuck, he raced back to Sayre and heard his morning docket; then it was off to Erick to visit and dine with the senior citizens. He was warmly welcomed, and one man even read Doug's bio to the crowd. The people were truly pleased that he stopped by. Nothing means more to a candidate than friendly smiles, kind words, and a genuine interest in what he has to say.
Another wise campaign decision we recently made was to attend the monthly potluck dinner at Cowden. We saw the announcment in The Cordell Beacon and wondered if we should go; after all, we had never even heard of Cowden. We got out our trusty Oklahoma atlas and checked to see if Cowden were truly in our district. Sure enough it is in southeastern Washita County. So we ran byKFC and headed for Cowden, atlas in hand. Cowden constists of an abandoned school building, a community center, a memorial, and several friendly people.
As soon as we walked in, we were taken over by country hospitality. The people all introduced themselves and made us feel at home. Doug was taken over by a group of men, and I was commandeered by a group of fun-loving ladies. As with other small rural communities we have visited, one of the most intriguing parts of the evening was learning about the history of the place. Cowden was once a thriving town with a vital school. The history of the town and school was revealed in pictures lining the walls. The pictures are truly a piece of Americana. One picture in particular caught our eye; it was a picture of Cowden Boy Scouts taken in in 1943. They are standing by a pile of scrap metal with a homemade sign that said, "Scrap the Japs!" I wish I had a copy of the picture to frame.
One of the things Cowden folks are most proud of is their memorial. It is a beautiful large granite monument with pictures of the town and school engraved in it. Surrounding the pictures are the names of all the people who made up the community. The families of all the dinner attendees were represented on the memorial.
We had a great time at Cowden and look forward to their next dinner because we would like to become regulars, even if we are not native to the community. The Cowden decision was a winner. Again we were reminded that Western Oklahoma has the best people in the country.
Speaking of decisions, remember that a judge makes important decisions every day that affect the lives of many people. A vote for Judge Haught is a vote for an experienced, wise decision maker.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Meeting and Greeting by Judy Haught
Elk City, Dill City, Weatherford, Clinton, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Strong City, and Berlin are just a few of the places we have been lately, meeting and greeting voters. While we have been keeping a grueling schedule, the load has been lightened considerably by the help of some very good friends and by the welcoming attitude of the voters in the 2nd Judicial District. Kindness and hospitality have greeted us at every turn.
We kicked off the campaign with an unbelievable reception at the home of Ron and Ginger Savage in Elk City. The Savages and a cadre of ladies from our church prepared an absolute feast of hors d'oeuvres and desserts; also, Ginger decorated her home in a red, white, and blue patriotic theme in honor of the occasion. After our friends and supporters had snacked and chatted, Judge Haught spoke to the crowd about his candidacy for District Judge. We were honored and humbled by the outpouring of support.
A week later, we took the show on the road to Dill City. Again our friends prepared food and decorated the Senior Citizen Center for the occasion. Although the crowd was smaller, we were still grateful for everyone's support. We met some wonderful people in Dill City and were impressed with their civic involvement. Making an effort to meet and talk with a candidate indicates that they will be informed voters.
In addition to receptions, we have been walking and talking. We dropped in on businesses in Weatherford and Clinton. We left campaign literature and chatted with numerous people, and again everyone we met was cordial and responsive.
At Arapaho, we knocked on doors, talked with folks, and left campaign cards. We were amazed at the gracious reception we received. The only problem was our timing; many people had left for Memorial Day weekend. However, all the dogs were home. You've heard the expression "everybody and his dog." Well, we encountered "everybody's dog," or at least we heard them. Yapping and barking accompanied every doorbell chime. To tell the truth, from the sound of some of the dogs, I was glad not to meet them face to face.
As usual, campaigning has involved more good food. We dined with senior citizens in Cheyenne. We enjoyed a great lunch and excellent conversation. We even found out that there was once a school in Roger Mills County named Rankin. One of the ladies at our table had some hilarious tales about her days as a student at Rankin. You can always count on senior citizens for good stories.
We attended community dinners at Berlin and Strong City where we feasted and fraternized with more Roger Mills County voters. Hamburgers, hotdogs, cobbler, and fellowship were on the menu at the Berlin Community Center on a beautiful Saturday night. Attendees ranged in age from four score to four days with everyone from great grandparents to a newborn baby enjoying the evening.
Strong City Day presented another opportunity for good company and fabulous food. The buffet table fairly sagged with a potluck banquet. Folks packed the dining room and spilled out onto the porch. We were entertained with stories of Strong City's colorful history, making us eager to learn more about the town and its long-time residents.
We have often heard it said that one of the best things about living in Western Oklahoma is the friendly people, and we are here to attest to that fact. This campaign has emphasized what we already knew; Western Oklahoma people are kind, courteous, and caring. Remember a vote for Judge Haught is a vote for a native of Western Oklahoma who embodies the best of Western Oklahoma values.
We kicked off the campaign with an unbelievable reception at the home of Ron and Ginger Savage in Elk City. The Savages and a cadre of ladies from our church prepared an absolute feast of hors d'oeuvres and desserts; also, Ginger decorated her home in a red, white, and blue patriotic theme in honor of the occasion. After our friends and supporters had snacked and chatted, Judge Haught spoke to the crowd about his candidacy for District Judge. We were honored and humbled by the outpouring of support.
A week later, we took the show on the road to Dill City. Again our friends prepared food and decorated the Senior Citizen Center for the occasion. Although the crowd was smaller, we were still grateful for everyone's support. We met some wonderful people in Dill City and were impressed with their civic involvement. Making an effort to meet and talk with a candidate indicates that they will be informed voters.
In addition to receptions, we have been walking and talking. We dropped in on businesses in Weatherford and Clinton. We left campaign literature and chatted with numerous people, and again everyone we met was cordial and responsive.
At Arapaho, we knocked on doors, talked with folks, and left campaign cards. We were amazed at the gracious reception we received. The only problem was our timing; many people had left for Memorial Day weekend. However, all the dogs were home. You've heard the expression "everybody and his dog." Well, we encountered "everybody's dog," or at least we heard them. Yapping and barking accompanied every doorbell chime. To tell the truth, from the sound of some of the dogs, I was glad not to meet them face to face.
As usual, campaigning has involved more good food. We dined with senior citizens in Cheyenne. We enjoyed a great lunch and excellent conversation. We even found out that there was once a school in Roger Mills County named Rankin. One of the ladies at our table had some hilarious tales about her days as a student at Rankin. You can always count on senior citizens for good stories.
We attended community dinners at Berlin and Strong City where we feasted and fraternized with more Roger Mills County voters. Hamburgers, hotdogs, cobbler, and fellowship were on the menu at the Berlin Community Center on a beautiful Saturday night. Attendees ranged in age from four score to four days with everyone from great grandparents to a newborn baby enjoying the evening.
Strong City Day presented another opportunity for good company and fabulous food. The buffet table fairly sagged with a potluck banquet. Folks packed the dining room and spilled out onto the porch. We were entertained with stories of Strong City's colorful history, making us eager to learn more about the town and its long-time residents.
We have often heard it said that one of the best things about living in Western Oklahoma is the friendly people, and we are here to attest to that fact. This campaign has emphasized what we already knew; Western Oklahoma people are kind, courteous, and caring. Remember a vote for Judge Haught is a vote for a native of Western Oklahoma who embodies the best of Western Oklahoma values.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)