An Unexpected Encounter: Experiences on the Campaign Trail by Cathy Battista

I love meeting new people; I think everyone has a story to tell. We
should all listen sometimes.--Kim Smith.

I wish I could take credit for saying that quote because it’s how I feel. I will be sharing stories about my door knocking experiences throughout this campaign. It has been quite an education and I absolutely love it. I prepared myself for city council issues and planned on talking about those issues with the people I meet. But I never expected the following conversation.

I walked up the crooked brick walk to a small, house. The man greeted me with a smile and waved his hand urging me forward.  I introduced myself and told him that I was running for City Council. He nodded and thanked me for coming.

He said he was hoping someone would come. 

I asked him if he had any questions or concerns. He said: “I served in Viet Nam and when I came home I wondered what happened here while I was away. What did happen? Why are things so hard? Why do people still fight? Didn’t I fight hard enough? Didn’t I lose enough of my friends so that we can live in peace? What happened?”  I had no answer for him and stared at him as if hypnotized by his voice. I wanted to answer him. I wanted to say: it’s because sometimes people don’t care, it’s because we forget that we’re all in this together, it’s because we’re all too busy….

But there is no answer. 

I finally said, “I don’t think I can answer that question.” 

He said, “Maybe it won’t happen in my lifetime. But, please, look into my eyes”. I looked into his tired, sad eyes as a tear slipped down his cheek and he said:  “Imagine. Imagine all the people living life in peace. Imagine all the people sharing all the world. ”Suddenly, I realized that those words were from John Lennon’s song, Imagine. There was an urgency to his voice and then, a tear slipped down my cheek.  If I could make any promises, I wish I could promise him I could help everyone live life in peace.  But, I know I can’t. I know I may be able to help some people live their lives in peace: maybe my family, my friends. And maybe, just maybe I can bring a measure of peace somehow, someway to the people I’ve been meeting going door to door. 

Imagine.