Lurker for 7 years until now. Great-grandma, daughter of a Marine, mother of a former Navy man, conservative Republican all my life. Soon to do volunteer work for a Republican candidate (I hope) after a lapse of 44 years. (Update April 08: Nope, not gonna do it now; I specified a Republican candidate. Sorry, John.) Worked all year in 64 for Goldwater, from the day of his announcement (only 10 months before the election, by the way) through the wake on election night. I never give up. I shook the hands of Goldwater and Bush Sr. at airports in Texas, and heard the great Ronald Reagan make “The Speech” as an alternate delegate to the state convention. It was an exciting year; I’d like another one like it before I go - with a better result.

Oh, and I love kitties. More than people as a rule.