Hadley, Nancy and Susie
June 8, 201o
Today is election day and its not OK that Susie is not here. Susie Roff is to life what Cal Ripken Jr. is to baseball. She shows up. Period. If Susie Roff is absent on election day, I can say with certainty that something has gone terribly wrong.
When I step outside of the garage beneath the Roff residence at precisely 7:00 AM to announce that “the polls are now open”, I try to pretend that everything is business as usual at Precinct 3218. Composure is a trait to cultivate for days like today. Election day, for a poll-inspector such as myself, is a long day on public display. There are dozens of critical tasks with narrow, non-negotiable terms for insuring the integrity of our democratic process. With errors and emotions impermissible, a typically low voter turnout cast the hours as long and morose as the afternoon shadows on this first Tuesday in June. I could take a cue from the voters and simply go through the motions, which is as normal as a normal job requires. Susie always sees through any airs of normalcy. Susie would snap “Drop the act!” – or some equally terse emphatic – and then proceed to put you at perfect ease with her wide warm smile and easy banter. Being any way other than yourself is an option ONLY when Susie is not present. In her absence, simply breathing feels awkward.
As polling commences, Precinct 3218 plays host to a dual procession of voters and ghost. This attendant stream is a steady reminder of the vacancy Susie Roff leaves behind. It is also a reminder that these are all cameo appearances. No one is here that long.
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media DIScontent 
The polls are now closed… In Memoriam. Susie Roff
Hadley, Nancy and Susie
June 8, 201o
Today is election day and its not OK that Susie is not here. Susie Roff is to life what Cal Ripken Jr. is to baseball. She shows up. Period. If Susie Roff is absent on election day, I can say with certainty that something has gone terribly wrong.
When I step outside of the garage beneath the Roff residence at precisely 7:00 AM to announce that “the polls are now open”, I try to pretend that everything is business as usual at Precinct 3218. Composure is a trait to cultivate for days like today. Election day, for a poll-inspector such as myself, is a long day on public display. There are dozens of critical tasks with narrow, non-negotiable terms for insuring the integrity of our democratic process. With errors and emotions impermissible, a typically low voter turnout cast the hours as long and morose as the afternoon shadows on this first Tuesday in June. I could take a cue from the voters and simply go through the motions, which is as normal as a normal job requires. Susie always sees through any airs of normalcy. Susie would snap “Drop the act!” – or some equally terse emphatic – and then proceed to put you at perfect ease with her wide warm smile and easy banter. Being any way other than yourself is an option ONLY when Susie is not present. In her absence, simply breathing feels awkward.
As polling commences, Precinct 3218 plays host to a dual procession of voters and ghost. This attendant stream is a steady reminder of the vacancy Susie Roff leaves behind. It is also a reminder that these are all cameo appearances. No one is here that long.
Continue reading →
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Inspiration
Politics
U.S. Government
Election
Hadley Roff
In Memoriam
Inspiration
Mentor
Obituary
Rex Taylor Smith
Susie Roff
Writing