Dawn Is Me

It’s a high-flying flag. Think I’ll wave it.

*wave, wave*

There, that’s done.

I would probably be accused of being unpatriotic by a lot of people. That’s because I don’t drape myself, my web sites and my belongings in the American flag at every opportunity.

I’m not the type to wear patriotic undies, mostly because I just feel there’s something innately disrespectful about using the flag to cover your booty.

I express my patriotism in other ways.

Like not trying to weasel out of jury duty. Like participating in my community’s politics. Like being an active member of a political party. Like working to get candidates elected. Like running for office.

Hell, like voting.

The fact that I don’t have a Dodge Ram with an American flag and eagle painted into the rear window of the cab doesn’t mean a whole lot, on balance.

In other news …

I’m terribly depressed. Not clinically depressed … at least, I don’t think so. It occurs to me that I’m probably not in the best spot to make that diagnosis or lack thereof. I’m not lolling around in bed, unable to drag myself up, not getting anything done, etc., etc.

On the contrary, I’m spinning like a frickin’ top. If anything, maybe depressed isn’t the word for it. Maybe I’m just overwhelmed.

So, I bet you’re wondering what’s on Dawn’s docket?

Well, I’ve volunteered to be a major staffer on one local campaign and a county coordinator for a particular state-wide campaign. I shut down my newsletter for awhile but I’ve launched a weekly Blog Talk Radio show on top of my weekly podcast. I’ve taken on content supplier duties with two more outfits, in addition to the writing I do for Small Business Trends. I have accepted an extension of my service on the executive advisory board of a certain national organization for women business owners. I am planning another research project, the proposal for which I intend to submit at the end of this month. I’m also preparing to go back to school — Hartwick College, to be precise — in September.

I feel like I must be forgetting something in there.

On top of which is the usual dealing with the kids and feeding them and other stuff that falls under the general category of Being Mom.

Yeah.

Overwhelmed is probably a good way to describe it.

You know … now I think about it, I could do with my own Declaration of Independence.

It’s Independence Day!

Are you eating BBQ or watching the movie or baking a cake and singing “Happy Birthday, Dear USA … ” ?

I’m not doing any of those things. My own personal nod to the day is to tell you something.

You may remember not too long ago I mentioned that I am in the process of transitioning into something or other. I am changing direction in several different ways.

One of those ways is that I am running for public office.

Yes, that’s right. After years and years of making fun of politicians, I have decided to become one of them.

Well, let me take that back. I don’t really think there is anything I can do to myself short of a lobotomy to turn myself into a Politician. I’ll just say, once again, that I am running for public office.

For the record, I am a Democrat.

The office I’m running for is pretty local: Town Supervisor of the town in live in here in upstate NY. If I win, I get to chair the Town Board. I also get to represent my town on the County Board of Supervisors.

I doubt anybody will be reading about my exploits in the NY Times but, if elected, I hope to be able to do some good things for this community and I’m excited about the prospect.

I am less excited about the actual campaigning part but, who knows? It may be that, when forced to do it, I’ll find that I like it.

Also for the record, I have no intention of shutting down my business or selling it or anything like that in order to pursue this career tangent. And, at the moment, we’re not talking about living the life of a public servant for more than eight years, max. That’s two terms. After that, I’d want to step down to do other stuff.

So, right now I’m collecting signatures on petitions and preparing to file them around mid-month. The local Republicans may or may not be preparing for a primary (I kind of can’t tell; they seem to be in some disarray). Either way, I expect to begin actively campaigning in September, after the primaries.

Between filing (when I “officially” become a candidate) and active campaigning in the fall, I expect to be doing some low key public appearances, pressing the flesh, talking to people and letting them get to know me.

Introvert and all that I am, I expect I’ll enjoy it — as long as I build time into my schedule to rest from all those encounters with people. o_O

I am also in the process of creating Dawn, the Political Candidate. (Some assembly required. Batteries not included)

In my imagination, she is a mature, lovely, brilliant woman with a warm smile, a firm handclasp and an infectious laugh. Setting aside partisan politics for the moment, people tend to like her. That is likely to get her at least some of the George W. Bush “Candidate I’d Most Like To Sit Down And Have A Beer With” vote.

At least in theory.

This is something completely different for me. I haven’t done anything close to this since I ran for student body president in the 9th grade. I didn’t win but I did get enough support to land myself a spot on the student council executive committee.

I expect I’ll share a few tales from the trail with you over the next few months. Wish me luck.