Forget the national news. The election returns for our small town came in this morning on Facebook (the paper won't have the official results until next week). There were 2 candidates for mayor, both friends. Three candidates for town council seats, all friends. Because we live just outside the town boundaries, I can't even vote.

Now we have winners and losers. This feels like grade school elections all over again. Don't get me wrong, things are at stake, especially as we are going to need these folks to approve some permits for our business, but they are all hard-working, well-intentioned people. I'm avoiding the post office today, where everyone meets when the mail comes in. No matter what, it's going to be awkward. I just did not expect to feel so emotionally involved when I moved to the sticks.