From Sad To Happy

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This weekend has been filled with a bevy of interesting situations and emotions. On Friday I attended the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner the annual fundraiser of the South Carolina Democratic Party (SCDP). With this being a Presidential election year events like this one help rally support for the Democrats agenda. The guest speaker was Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. His message was encouraging and inspiring with a focus of being purposeful Democrats. We were all motivated to have a strong backbone and support our President against Republican rhetoric.

The primary event this weekend held by the SCDP is its state convention. I attended as a delegate to this convention. But the most exciting part was being listed on my congressional districts ballot for a National Delegate seat to the Democratic National Convention to be held in Charlotte, NC. I was not successful at earning a congressional district seat; however, I also filed to run for an At-Large seat. The At-Large election to fill the remainder of 12 seats (7 women & 5 men) was late in the day. Results of the election were included in The State newspaper (http://thestate.com) today. And among the 67 names listed was my own Joyce Rose-Harris.

This was not my first time running for a National Delegate seat, I also ran in 2008. I did fairly well but did not win a seat. This year I had optimistic hope due to previously making the female At-Large ballot down from 60 to 8 females. In addition I have worked over 5 years, May 2007 until now for Obama. I believe in the work that our President has done for the country. And even though Republicans do not want to acknowledge any of President Obama’s success, an economy that was tanked by the Bush Administration has actually begun to turn around. There has been job growth; there is hope for the young girls of this country with the signing of The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; the signing of Health Care Reform Act; and repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Finally most recently President Obama followed his liberal conscious and stated his affirmation of same sex marriage, a bold personal act of opinion.

So on this Mother’s Day as I reflect on the love poured into me by my late mother, I am not as sad as I thought I would be. I did shed tears in the early hours but my husband (his mother deceased since 1993) and I attended church. We heard a message about God’s love and then went to a tasty brunch. This weekend included political awareness and actIon as well as reflection of happy memories. It is always interesting how one event can reverse the emotions connected with a holiday. Now forever memories of Mother’s Day 2012 and SC Democratic Weekend 2012 will make me smile.

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