"Do Something!"

Like many in the US, I am invested in, focused on, and sometimes fretful about the imminent presidential election. This blog, focused on hope and possibility, by that intention, reveals where my focus and values lie. I do not wish to have a president who has been described by a jury of his peers as a felon and adjudicated to be guilty of sexual assault. Admittedly, this does not exhaust the long list of concerns that shape my deep opposition to this candidate, but it does highlight “unfit for office”.

I believe Kamala Harris reflects values and commitments more congruent with my focus on hope and possibility. There is for me, in this election, the added attraction of electing the first woman president and finding our way to elect another president who is not “white”. My focus on this election led me to watch the Democratic National Convention with some curiosity.  Many moments were ones I genuinely enjoyed.  And some moved me.

Michelle Obama was for me the most compelling of the speakers, perhaps connecting with my world view and beliefs in a fairly seamless fashion.  And then she said “Do Something!”  This was said with some degree of passion, and repeated. I sat pondering how right she was; it was not enough to just know the issues, or vote.  This election is important, particularly for the status of women in the US.  My granddaughters currently have fewer rights than I had for much of my adult life.  Michelle was right: I needed to “Do Something!”

Having been involved in political campaigns in other periods of my adult life, I knew enough to have a mental checklist of options. It was now, however, to be assessed in the light of available possibilities for someone who is 81 years old. I had never conducted an appraisal of this nature, and it was both informative and somewhat amusing.

A sign in my front yard was not an option; I was no longer a home owner but lived on the 2nd floor of an apartment complex. I did consider trying to put a sign in front of the complex but could picture the action taken to interrupt my passion.  Attending rallies probably would not be an option since they would involve travel and as a person who already experienced Covid four times, group gatherings were not a good idea.  This, plus limits on walking, erased marches as a viable option.

Door-to-door seemed unrealistic; I considered my daily walk an achievement and that was without any stairs. Phone calls made me uncomfortable, probably because I had been the recipient of many that were unwelcome or not helpful to me. I pictured my efforts flashing “Scam Call” or someone’s phone screen or Apple Watch.  The Harris campaign did not have an office in my neighborhood, viewing California as far from a swing state, so office work was not an option.

I eventually landed on postcard writing and sending, which I had never done.  Weighing my limitations, it seemed viable, so I started to further research my options, which quickly overwhelmed me. It was difficult to determine what option had the best chance of a payoff. I also was unable to ascertain which were affiliated with organizations I could trust.

Because I had two friends who regularly wrote postcards for elections they cared about, and because I trusted their judgment, I contacted them for guidance. They send a link along with a dose of encouragement.  I hit the link and opened myself up to my new world of engagement: I was about to “Do Something!”

The link connected me to the website of the Center for Common Ground, a non-partisan women-led voting rights organization founded in 2018. They work in voter suppression states where more than 20% of voters are people of color: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. One of their initiatives is called “Reclaim Our Vote”, a grassroots campaign focused on increasing BIPOC voter turnout through postcarding, texting and phonebanking. I was clear: I was ready to “Do Something”! And so, I started the process of postcarding for “Reclaim Our Vote”.

The experience itself and the lessons gleaned were maybe even more powerful for me than the “Do Something” discovery I had made. I had planned on postcards that urged others to vote for Kamala Harris. Instead, I was going to send postcards to persons who lived where their vote was discouraged or opposed; I was going to be a “voice” of information and encouragement. Doing my research on “Reclaim Our Vote”, I discovered how many recipients of these postcards were persons who might not be reached any other way, and would receive helpful information that prepared them to exercise their right to vote.

To participate, I was directed where to buy the “Reclaim Our Vote” post cards, which are the only ones to be used, and where and how to buy postage stamps for the cards.  The site has easy links and processes. Each card has very specific information about voting for a specific community, so I was also directed about where I could purchase Avery brand labels so that I could print this information which I would then put on the card.  It was getting fairly complex! And very well organized, managed, and effective.

While the small label in the center of the card provided this unique information, the rest of the card was to be written by me with a script provided, encouraging voting and giving useful information about it, such as bringing friends and a photo ID. I signed it with my first name at the end, and included the fact that I was with “Reclaim Our Vote”.  I was encouraged to use various ink colors to make the postcard more attractive and interesting, and to add decoration if possible, which for me became my version of a flower…four of them.

I have finished 200 cards which I will mail after October 1, the designated time to mail my particular set of cards. I was able to select the group I wanted to write to, and opted for Texas since I have good friends there and have worked there in the past.  I also think I wanted to send my postcards to a state where the fate of women’s health is so deeply compromised right now. I did discover that 200 cards, with multiple colors of ink in the script and with my little flowers, with the stamps and the Avery label message, is, truth be told, quite time consuming. I was however actually able to watch myself “Do Something”!

As I observed myself go through this process and studied my responses, I became fascinated.  I liked that I was doing this “small thing” that could perhaps be the key to one more vote somewhere. I liked that I was actually engaged in a specific response to “voter suppression”, something I find deeply disturbing, even enraging sometimes. It was not going to solve voter suppression, but it had a lot more potential to be helpful than shrugging my shoulders or being upset. 

All the postcards I wrote were to women. I really liked that I was encouraging women to vote, and giving them some information that might be helpful to them. I liked that I had to purchase my own supplies because it left me feeling like I had a stake in the process. I liked working with a women-led organization addressing a problem with action rather than lament…it fit my bias of how women respond to challenges. And I liked that though fairly “young” as an organization, they had already collected some data about their positive impact, not only with postcards but also with phonebanking and texting.

Coming full circle about the call to “Do Something”, and my awareness that at 81 years of age my options had some boundaries, what hit me, as I worked on my cards, was how perfect this option was for a person such as myself, how many elderly men and women could be an invaluable resource for this initiative and others like it. “Reclaim Our Vote” not only works around national elections but also those unique to the states they have identified where they will focus or issues that are congruent with their goals.  I suddenly realized that this could be part of my life, part of what I do that I believe in and that I anticipate could make a difference for some people.  This option to “Do Something” is ongoing.

A nod first to Michelle Obama, who reminded me that everyone can and should “Do Something” if you believe in an issue and want to make a difference. A nod too to the two friends who sent me the perfect link for my search. I feel a deep gratitude to the women who created the Center for Common Ground and imagined “Reclaim Our Vote” and made it work so smoothly and efficiently. Having noted all the forces that were so helpful to me, I am left with this sense of wanting others who like me feel the boundaries of aging to imagine these kinds of service activities.  I like to imagine what would happen if 25 or 50 or 300 elderly persons decided that they too would participate in this initiative or ones like it.

We elders have special things to offer. We actually still think writing by hand is a worthwhile skill. While one must print the postcards this just means we have to dial back to our pre-cursive days to where it all started, and print. We also think getting something in the USPS mail is a valid way to communicate. We understand that hand-written communication can have real power and meaning and so we are willing to do it and try to do it well.

This last paragraph is included to note that while I had to go online to order my cards, stamps, and Avery labels, and needed a printer to print the labels, the lion’s share of my effort to “Do Something” did not require me to text, send emails, navigate numerous confounding websites, or in general demonstrate superior or even adequate “techie” skills. I was actually doing stuff our culture has quit doing because it has replaced it with alternatives, but I am actually quite good at doing this stuff that is disappearing.  As is obvious, the elderly are a perfect community to take up this burden and make a contribution!

I suddenly feel a need to include a disclaimer.  The tech demands on my “Do Something” journey were minimal, but I was able to screw up the printing of the labels in a variety of ways. I did finally get them done but I would not be willing to offer to do a tutorial on this task.  I include this confessional as a gesture of hopefulness. I like to think others who are elders, reading this blog posting, will start to imagine that they too would like to make a contribution and take action. Please do not be deterred! When some small tech demand derails you, hang in there. Remember: you do know how to print!

I just ordered 50 more cards!  “Do Something!”

“Our fate is in our hands. No more waiting for someone outside to save us. We’re going to save ourselves.”

-Andrea Miller-

Founder, Center for Common Ground

OWLcourage Community Members are invited to join in the discussion on this blog using

the button below.  Not a member?  Sign up by clicking on the button and following the sign-

up instructions.

Join the Conversation

If this blog post might be of value to someone you care about, share the link.