The Ben Bus was gassed up, a call for volunteers went out, and we took our place in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. The only things we were missing were the distribution of brochures and the constant repetition of our once hallowed chant, "Vote For Ben!, Vote For Ben!, Vote for Ben!"
Well, it appears most folks did exactly that.
What else has changed? Ben and Julie's children are noticeably older. Kate is now more a girl, less a child, and significantly more lovely. Isaac arrived without a stroller, and the baby we knew last Spring has disappeared.
The population of McAdamsville has evolved. During last year's campaign we were partly staff and mostly volunteers. Now my colleagues in county government comprise the largest faction of our population.
And The Ben Bus finally came into its own. The great orange rectangle of hope which, last year, quickly became synonymous with "The Perfect Campaign," is, ironically, the greatest single proof that our campaign was, in fact, not perfect.
If you put out a casting call for the ultimate attention getter in any parade, that call would be exquisitely answered by our large flamboyantly colored bus. Yet in last year's campaign, how many, of the scores of parades we entered, featured the Ben Bus?
Not one!
We acquired this fabulous symbol of lighthearted inclusiveness at the very end of the parade season. So today was its first chance to fulfill the role for which it was destined. And I'm proud to report that our bus acquitted itself with warmth and charm.
Orange you proud?
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