The weight of the world

Wish I'd taken the camera along yesterday when I went up to the county auditor's office to vote --- not to immortalize the staff (although they're certainly photogenic), but to take a picture of the mighty pillar that is the only visible means of support on first-floor level of the courthouse for the considerable weight of the clock tower looming overhead.

Looking at the courthouse from the outside, you'd kind of expect its tower to have four walls extending all the way down to the old building's footings. But that's not the case. I wonder how often the auditor's staff thinks of all that weight above their heads, resting on the shoulders of that big pillar. Take a look next time you're in the courthouse.

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I got in the habit of voting early during years when Tuesdays involved being on the road with no certainty of reaching that school gymnasium in northwest Mason City that was my precinct's polling place. I still like to vote early. Later on at the office the alternate Frank, a traditionalist when it comes Election Day, made the case for the first Tuesday in November --- and it's a good one. But I expect to keep voting early.

The audtor's office was busy Friday --- new voters registering, others adjusting their registrations and still more just voting. I'd imagine the staff ends the days this time of year fairly worn down.

Voted the usual straight (Democrat) ticket on one side, then turned the ballot over and spent some time filling in little circles on the back --- a time-consuming but important process. I wonder how many Lucas Countyans actually will cast votes for hospital trustee --- or even know what a hospital trustee is. Same goes for the other categories of county candidates there.

Voted "yes" to retain all the judges, including Iowa Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins --- the principal target of Christian soldiers in Iowa this year because of his part in the unanimous 2009 Iowa Supreme Court decision that cleared the way for same-sex marriage.

It's not clear what the outcome of the retention vote will be, but it wouldn't be a surprise if Wiggins were ousted, too, in part because of indifference (it takes time to work the back of the ballot). Hopefully, not; but hate is a strong motivator and without it, the evangelical wing of the protestant church, not to mention the Roman Catholic hierarchy, has so little left.

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I'm looking forward to the Lucas County Arts Council's annual fall arts fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Freight House. The Sisters Craft Show will be held in conjunction --- from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Carpenters Hall. There's always lots of stuff to look at, so it should be an interesting day.