I've been blogging a little more frequently (Congressional Candidates Wife) about my husband
Barry Welsh, Indiana's 6th Congressional candidate.
I admit, I've been getting a lot of enjoyment about putting my thoughts down in word format, I've been writing books lately rather than diaries so here's a short one.
Did I mention that I am going to need a mental health day, the day after the election? I'm so excited that it scares me, I feel like my heart will just motor up and jump out of my chest and win a race. You know that feeling when your mind gets so busy that it keeps you up at night? Well I'm going to take one day and actually get the recommended 8 hours of restful adult sleep. I am sustained by sheer willpower now and any minute your gonna hear that I am actively contemplating staying awake the whole 5 days and clean house or spring clean early just `cause I know as soon as I go to bed, I'll be too anxious and going over everything in my head and wanting to know the answer to a question or some such thing and pretty soon I realize I've just spent 5 hours doing nothing and couldn't sleep anyway. So my plan is to try to stay awake until midnight Nov. 7th and wait until after the election to sleep and experience that 8 hours of sleep I'm looking forward to. I kinda feel like I did right before giving birth to my children, I was so excited to see my little one, I was so curious to know if the baby was a boy or a girl and putting so much thought into the names and really obsessing about being a new mother and looking forward to the bundle of joy being born. This anticipation and this anxiousness and excitement and wonder and a lot of other words & phrases come to mind but it's all coming together, all at once and it's like the warm and refreshing breeze but coming at you at 100 miles an hour. It takes the breath away.We are tired and we are laughing and we are excited and happy that we are running a PHENOMINAL grass roots/net roots campaign in the middle of one of the reddest states in America. Ready or not, here we come!!!! We may not have a lot of money, but we have so much more valuable than donations of money
(don't get me wrong we are still accepting donations gratefully and appreciatively), but we have this independent wave that's been a ripple 18 months ago when Barry gave his first speech and how for the first time in our marriage I saw what everyone else saw. From that first event when we both just automatically started at each end of the room and would introduce ourselves to everyone in that room individually, shake hands and talk about anything that person wanted to talk about. We went to every JJ in all 19 counties, we went to every fundraiser, every chicken dinner, every pork chop dinner, every house party, every breakfast event, every Rooster Booster Club night, every Candidate forum, every event that we could possibly make and I will add that it was Barry all the time and me some of the time (as much as I could and go to work too). Then we started the parade circuit (which was a lot of fun!) we rigged the pickup with Barry's blue banners and his big RED W that has "Vote Welsh for Congress" in white, we set up a continuous loop of music that played War, or 16 Tons and other music (we have a wide and varied palette when it comes to music) and every 3rd track we had burned a copy of Barry's radio ad that told people who Barry was (born in Rush county, went to college at Ball State, is a Pastor of the Laurel United Methodist church and the rest of the spot would tell where Barry stood on the issues - 60 second spot) we had it down to a system. I'd back up traffic to give Barry time to zig zag from side to side of the street to shake hands, with a captive audience that listened to the commercial long before Barry got to them to shake hands. We were able to get the truck parade ready in 5 minutes.
We've been able to put together a lean, mean political machine for $50,000 for the continuous duration of a Congressional race. We've been credible, respected and supported by people, time donated by people, services donated by people, people giving $1 dollar or a note with a check for $25 or a letter with a money order. People have given what they could; no one could be more honored than for someone to give of what they have. A lot of hope and faith comes with those hard-earned donations. A lot of hugs and pats on the backs and "Run Barry Run" or "Go Barry Go" mantras shouted out. It's a very serious responsibility to shoulder the hope and support of a large army of people. The direction of all we do is for the responsibility bestowed on us by our people of the 6th District and it's a greater responsibility that not just the district, but the State and County hold hope and support for us. Every decision Barry makes is, does and will be about others that will hold him to account for their rights and freedoms as an American, that bestow trust that Barry will be honest, fair, acting in only the best interests for the people at the pleasure of the people for the people. Patriot is Barry and it's in the homegrown, "born with it" kind of patriotism. He was taught to honor and respect the rights, freedoms and privileges of being an American and what it cost both personally and as a Nation when freedom was fought for, not to be abuse, dishonored nor neglected in ANY way. Barry's parents served in the military, his brother-in-law was a marine and his other brother-in-law was a Commander with the Navy.
The events we've gone to, the parades and fundraisers and the meet & greets were all part in parcel of politics but from the ground here in the district, it means a lot more. It was amazing how some people put so much energy and effort into helping Barry get his message out or his name out there. Everyone from Mr. Pence himself has realized that Barry is not a straw in the wind, meandering wherever the wind blows. Barry has been solid and unbreakable like a rock, even keeled - it's amazing as I look at him quietly going over his to-do list or relaxing and watching a game on TV how calm he is. Me on the other hand am freaking out at least 2x an hour and I've slept a total of 6 hours in the last 3 days. I've been trying to make sure that I think of everything that needs to be done and how I can arrange my time and be productive and invoke superhuman multi-tasking skills in order to help Barry's campaign. It's a wonder lately; Barry and his campaign staff just look at me every time they feel they are getting too excited and seem to calm right down. It's like I'm the poster girl for over-excitement or high-strung woman. I fully admit, I am losing it but like I said to Barry earlier "I want to lose it with dignity" while he laughed himself silly at my declaration.
We have all the radio spots in place and they are running till Election Day. We have also, some print ads to reach the other areas where the radio spots may be weaker. We are canvassing daily now and the phone banking is being done. One of the advisors said (albeit in a very non-derogatory or sexist way) that maybe I should just "sit this one out until the big day, huh?" I had to laugh at the look of very genuine concern he had for me as he said it and I couldn't be mad at such good intentions. I know we are doing all that we can, we've got a print ad ready to go to print on selected days and in strategic papers and we will have the whole district covered. We could still use your support; we still need the donations to finish paying for the rest of the print ads. We've calculated that we need to raise $1,000 and we will have the print ads completely paid for. I ask that if you can donate, please do - every dollar counts right now.
We've done pretty good and I'm proud to say I have my moments of lucidity and I smile and relax for 5 minutes until I think of something else that may have been overlooked.
This is my view of a Congressional race from the inside out and a personal close up perspective of being part of such a campaign. This is my diary and is not vetted thru the campaign.
Thank you to all for your generosity of time to read this diary and especially I appreciate your comments.
Love,
Sherri Welsh
Congressional Candidates Wife