The election season got me thinking.
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Gordon Lightfoot: "It's there you will find all the love I couldn't give. It's there you will stay, for as long as you may live."
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A few months ago my wife, Connie, came up with an idea.
"Sonny, some of the ladies in our political support group think we should become volunteers for Senator Stickler's re-election campaign."
"We who?"
"You and I."
"Oh Really! What's involved? Is anyone else signing up for this?"
"I don't think anybody else is all that interested. From what I understand, up until the election, it would be as much time as we are willing to donate. We'd be traveling around the state helping with fundraising events. I'd imagine we'd be doing whatever was needed at the time."
"What about my job?"
"You have what, twenty some weeks of vacation you haven't used. Take a few months off. I think this would be a blast."
I had to hand it to her. This was totally out of character for us. We'd been married for twenty two years and both kids were now in college. Having an empty nest was very different. Nothing we had ever done was this spontaneous. It did have a certain appeal about it.
"Get some more detailed information. If we're on the road, who pays for what, things like that. Do we feed ourselves? Are we required to wear uniforms? Find out what you can."
The information we received wasn't a show stopper. It was a little more out of pocket than I'd hoped, but we could afford it. Senator Stickler's name had been tossed around as a possible presidential contender in eight or twelve years. Who knows, maybe we'd get the chance to work on a presidential campaign too.
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I started my job two years before Connie and I were married. One of the other hires, who started the same day, was Vanessa Bromley. She wasn't Bromley at the time. That's her married name. She's been divorced for about ten years now. We were equals along the way until she took maternity leave. After that, I seemed to get the promotions and spotlight jobs. She's been reporting to me for four years now. You could not ask for a more dedicated employee.
Although nothing inappropriate as ever taken place, when we are alone Vanessa refers to me as her next ex. She's made it very clear that I would have no choice in the matter if I ever came back on the market. Our employer does not have a non-fraternization policy. They don't want any legal exposure on something they really can't control. That's not to say that some haven't been sent packing after letting their personal relationships cloud their loyalty to the company.
Connie doesn't fully trust Vanessa. What's that old saying? 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.' That's Connie. We've had Vanessa over for many of our block parties. I think Connie is just gauging whether Vanessa and I act strangely. Since nothing had ever occurred, it's easy to act naturally.
There's no travel in my job. Connie worked as a temp until she became pregnant. Ever since she's been a stay at home mom. When the kids were in school, she volunteered at the school. Only recently did she try the temp job thing again, but she's woefully unqualified for today's workplace. So now she and her posse volunteer for whatever needs saving.
Not once have I ever suspected Connie of a physical or an emotional affair.
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We filled out the necessary paperwork and passed the background checks. He was not thrilled, but my boss agreed I could take the time off. Vanessa was named my temporary replacement.
"Hey next ex. I get to be you for ten weeks!"
"Try not to fire my best employees."
"I've got a little more backbone than that last guy. You probably won't fit in when you get back."
"Listen to you. If you end up overwhelmed, just call. It's ok if I'm the only one that sees you crying."
"Ha! Ha! Ha! I may call you, you know, if things get weird. I expect some of the guys to test my resolve. They are treading on thin ice if they do."
"I'm here for you Vanessa. Gotta go. Talk with you soon."
"Thanks next ex. Later."
With little fanfare, Connie and I spent our first day as campaign volunteers. We were one of three older couples amongst a slew of college aged men and women. On Wednesday, before that night's fundraising event, we were introduced to the Senator. I'd seen him on television for the last twelve or so years so meeting him in person didn't do much for me. Connie, however, was acting like a teeny-bopper at a boy band concert.
Henrick Stickler was full of himself. I suspect he fancied himself a ladies man. The way he treated the male volunteers was quite dismissive. The ladies were kissed on the forehead, hugged, and touched on the arms, back, neck, and cheeks. He was somewhat shorter than most at maybe five eight and easily above two hundred pounds. He was not physically fit and was easily winded.
"Connie, watch yourself around Henrick. I don't like how he's all touchy feely with the women."
"Geezers Sonny, he's simply a very outgoing person. Get a grip."
We filled our days making phone calls, posters, copies, coffee, and being go-fers. You certainly don't need to be in the upper ninety percent of the graduating class to do this stuff. We used all sorts of adhesives making these displays. When we had a trophy or other heavy item to secure to the poster board, we'd use super glue. You have to be extra careful with that stuff as you can easily glue your fingers together. I did it once and it took three days before I could pry them apart. Even using the internet solutions, to loosen the grip of the glue, I still lost several layers of skin when I finally got them separated. Those two fingers are still trying to heal and can be quite painful at times. Apparently the glue prevents the skin from breathing and you lose several layers of skin.
Every few days I was back at the office supplies store for another case of super glue, duct tape, paper glue, poster boards, and staples. Between the different types of glue, and all of the other crap, the campaign was spending thousands. When you considered the life span of some of these things, which was a couple of hours during the fundraising dinners, the waste was staggering.
Connie seems to be addicted to these smoothie drinks, so I head out two or three times a day to get her fix. What sounded like a fun way to spend a few months was turning into a mindless waste of time. I'm no more inclined to vote for Stickler than his opponent.
Henrick was making the same speech every chance he got.
'I've got a plan. I'm going to stick to it and I'm going to stick it to Washington.'
Trouble is he's been there for two terms and all he's done is pad his pockets. I doubt he's ever introduced a meaningful piece of legislation. Voting along party lines is all he ever does. If his opponent didn't appear to be just as sleazy, I'd quit this experiment.
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Our home life was taking a beating. The long hours, and time spent driving, meant sex was happening, well, not at all. Connie kept updating her Facebook page with pictures from each fundraising event.
Again and again 'Here I am with Senator Stickler.'
Every picture showed his hands somewhere on her. At a minimum, she was star stuck.
Several attempts at breaking my celibate streak were shot down when I complained about Connie's behavior around Henrick.
"Connie, what's gotten into you? You hang on every word Henrick speaks and are like a puppy dog following him around. Do I have to worry about the two of you?"
"I can't believe you. What? Are you jealous of a successful man? Is that it? I like him. He's got money, power, and prestige. He's also got a wife."
And then she stomped away and slammed the bedroom door.
I'd quit this campaign if Connie did too. That suggestion resulted in another shouting match. This election can't come soon enough. Stickler was leading in the polls, but not by more than the sampling margin of error, so it was still in doubt. With two weeks to go it was all hands on deck.
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We were three hours from home and getting ready for tonight's fund raising dinner. Henrick had just entered the ballroom and was busy schmoozing. My hands were full of brochures to be handed out this evening. I had just returned from picking them up and had not seen Connie yet.
"You're Sonny Tenaces, right?"
I turned to find a man with a manila folder "That I am. How can I help you?"
"My name is unimportant, call me James. I'm an investigator for some people who have an interest in seeing Senator Stickler lose the election. I have some things to show you that might convince you to join our cause."
I glanced around not sure what to make of this guy. It didn't look like anyone was watching us.
James continued "Walk with me."