The Trumpet Vine

Since all of my daily picture project photos were of the Bob Robinson sign, today you get one of the day's "other" photographs, taken in the yard with my Nikon 1. But you also get one of my longer stories, about last October 6th's 366 Snaps pic.

I'm reading on the porch when a lady comes round the spruce and says "Hi! Mr. Bennett?"

I say "No, Mr. Dinda. But close enough."

"I'm Amy Robinson and my husband, Bob, is running for county treasurer."

I tell her "Good" and establish that I actually know who Bob is. He'd run in the Democratic primary for state rep two years before and had caught my eye, though in the end I'd voted for Theresa Abed. We chatted for a bit and Amy went on her way.

When Joan got home from work that night I told her about Amy's visit.

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In the 1970s I ran voter contact campaigns for the Kalamazoo Democrats, so I recognized the encounter technique. The name thing is a mark of professionalism, despite the ID bobble, as it meant they'd purchased voter lists. Depending on where they got the list they may well have known that someone in this house votes Democratic and contributes money to campaigns.

Amy'd done well, from both her side and mine. I'd found a candidate I wanted to support. She'd found a supportive and knowledgable voter who recognized her candidate. Usually the non-hostile responses you get to campaigns for county office are more ambiguous.

I sought out Bob's campaign website and made a donation.

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A couple days later Amy was back. She found Joan working in the garden and asked if we'd be willing to let her put up a yard sign. Joan retrieved me from inside the house and we agreed to the advertisement.

Of such contacts are grass roots political campaigns built. Bob won.

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This photograph is a non-outtake from my 2012 photo-a-day project, 366 Snaps.

Number of project photos taken: 9
Title of "roll:" Bob Robinson
Other photos taken on 10/6/2012: I shot a couple dozen pix and stashed 'em in a folder called "Fall Color in the Yard."