BY LYNN HANRAHAN
Los Alamos
If men had babies our local maternity department would not be on the chopping block. When I read this a few days ago my first thought was just have the babies at home. My daughters were born over on Walnut Canyon in the living room. Then I remembered had it not been for the services available at LAMC’s delivery room my oldest and I might never had made it that far. We’re heading up to Durango this weekend for a bike race. It’s our first mother/son adventure in years. I am glad we are alive to enjoy it.
It is Primary season. Showing up matters. Who we vote for matters. All the kids have visited recently. Sitting in traffic on the way home from the Sante Fe Farmers’ Market my youngest’s boyfriend spoke of how he couldn’t wait to vote in the California Primary. He just got his American citizenship this year. This brought me to tears. I felt ashamed of all the times I blew off a Primary. I finally found my mother’s old VOTE ring from the Vietnam era in an old jewelry box in the garage to send to him. She was a presiding judge in an Ohio precinct for decades. She would be so proud.
I am planning to vote tomorrow. Being more or less satisfied with the County’s governance lately I plan to vote for the incumbents when possible, Ms. Cull and Ms. Hand. If there is a third choice I will vote for Mr. Hampton as well because I admire his efforts on behalf of the local Cooperative Market. Our Co-Op is hurting. It needs us. I cannot imagine ever having survived the kids’ teenage years without it’s patio. When all else had failed driving out for lunch there made everything a little better. I love our Co-Op.
I plan to vote for Mr. Maggiore for Sheriff because I believe we need a Sheriff. When he wins I think we should maybe buy him a pony, a cowboy hat, and a real nice star-shaped badge. His opponent’s time on Council was a dark time of local unrest — remember the NOVs — notices of violation. This period in our history left scars in my neighborhood.
Anyway Los Alamos please go vote. It matters.