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Blog Entry 13 of 17 Tarzana Housewife Trials and Triumphs

Life is a balancing act and full of discovery. This is my journey. Kids, work, husband, friends, relatives, school, the house, the dog, strangers, our community, the world, and, oh, yeah, me!

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Political futures

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Contributed by: Kathleen Melton on 1/21/2008

I received a phone call confirming my reservation for Sen. Hillary Clinton's Town Hall meeting at 2:15 p.m. in the Grand Salon at CSUN.

I explained to the young female voice on the other end that I was pulling my 11-year-old son out of school and wanted to make sure we got in. She told me that if I got there an hour early we'd be fine. We weren't. Pulling into the parking lot at 12:45, sipping on our drive-through drinks, we could see a line of people snaking down a very long path.

I hurriedly bought a parking pass, which probably put us at least another 20 people back as I was the only one bothering to do so, and hustled into the line. It was cold and the wind was biting. I questioned the people in line to make sure that we were indeed in the right place.

"How many people are in front of us?" Kendall asked. No one around us seemed to know. I stood in line and watched him as he walked and walked and walked, nearly out of sight to the front and back. At least 300 he guessed.

Disappointed, I decided to walk up as well, assuring those in line around me that if they saved our spots, I would try to get us all some information. The woman working the front of the line was not hopeful that we would get in, regardless of the fact I had made a reservation or been told that getting there by 1 p.m. was fine, regardless of the fact that I had pulled my son out of school.

Still, Kendall wanted to stay. We became friendly with or fellow line members. The two women in front of us worked at the university and were very lively and adamant Hillary supporters. The gentleman wearing an expensively cut business suit behind us was a supporter as well.

I am a registered Republican. Which doesn't mean much, really, because I am all about the conversation, the discussion. And now so is my kid. Who, by the way, was the only child there that we could see, in what grew to be a line of nearly 1,000 people.

Prior to signing up for this event, I had a group of women and their kids over to my house. As the kids ran around, we sat and discussed the candidates, the issues and what it all meant to us.

Surprisingly, everyone had differing opinions on what was actually going on. Some were better versed than others, some were just party loyalists, but all felt strongly regardless and the kids found this fascinating.

I relish the conversation. Talk to me. Tell me why I should think the way you think. Let's have a point, counterpoint repartee. It challenges the thought process and the reasoning behind it. And the discoveries - if only about the other person - fascinate me.

Unfortunately, I don't find many people who love it the way I do. But these discussions have changed minds, or at least were the impetus to get people to think about things differently.

Which is why when Sen. Hillary Clinton came to town to speak, I reserved seats for two. For my son, Kendall, and me. He is the future after all. And this election will influence his future. Which is why I want him to be a part of the discussion now.

He is in student government at his school because he likes to have an opinion and likes to talk with those people who have opinions too. He is also fiercely competitive. And unless you know what you are talking about, it is hard to compete in politics.

We did not get in to that Town Hall meeting. But I would like to take my kids to another one. And they would like to attend one. As would many other kids and parents I know.

So, Sens. Clinton, Obama, McCain; former Sen. Edwards; and Govs. Romney and Huckabee, I will continue to listen to you and have conversation about you and I'd be happy to host a small town meeting at my house if you'd come meet with those who have not made up their minds, who are still having the discussions, and whose children are an actual influence on the conversations we are having, and the votes we will be placing.

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Submitted By: Joshua Godinez

posted on 1/22/2008 @ 1:46:18 PM

Rated Blog Entry

Cool! Another person who likes to talk politics. I'm a Romney supporter although I have to admit my guy has a style obstacle he needs to get over. I just registered as a Republican last year after 20 years of being an independent. I hope you guys get into one of the political events. We should be seeing a lot of them after Florida votes.

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Kathleen Melton

Tarzana , CA

Kathleen Melton has posted 17 blog entries and 0 comments since joining on 8/31/2006. Kathleen Melton 's average blog rating is 4.95.

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