Take off every Sig!

My eyes followed the sun on it's western path to the horizon. I could hear the sand dripping through the hourglass. One-hundred and fifty signatures was my goal and time wrestled against me as I kicked the pavement door to door between A and B streets on 1st, 2nd, 3rd... to 7th avenue. The cold air licked my fingertips. FML.

"Why am I doing this?" I had to ask myself. Because I believe in it. Because I believe we can change the conversation. Because I believe we can start a movement.

As I explained to each resident that I was beckoning them to their door to sign my petition for a new political party to be on the ballot in Utah, the Justice Party, I was met with mixed review. Some people would hold up their hand to the glass, gesturing "No, get off my porch" and avoiding eye contact. Others greeted me with a sigh of relief and quickly signed before gathering everyone else in the house to do the same. My mental calculator tallied about 75% of people opening the door wanted to sign. So I pushed onward, up the steep hills and absurd front porch stairs of the neighborhood.

It was Sunday--I began at three in the afternoon. One-hundred and fifty signatures was my goal, the amount needed per day to safely be on the ballot. I had to hold my watch under the light now to read the time: 8:00pm. I had collected almost eighty signatures but I was losing dexterity in my hands and it was getting late to disturb people at home. Time for a new strategy.

I walked in the direction of my car parked at Caputo's, above which the campaign headquarters overlooks Pioneer park. Along the way I grabbed every stranger on the sidewalk, pleading for their help in my daunting quest for 150 signatures. When I walked by the Beerhive I couldn't resist the crowded tables. I ordered a Hefeweizen and began working the crowd--table after table signed. Yes! A gentlemen from North Carolina even paid for my beer. But I had talked to everyone in the establishment so it was time to move on. Where can I find people on a Sunday night?

I warmed my hands at the office and deposited my treasures--seven full sheets of signatures, before heading to Coffee Break. They always have a crowd. I went from table to table, my eyelids getting heavier. It was almost midnight when I filled my 10th sheet, 112 signatures. I guess this will have to do.

Other volunteers had collected about twenty signatures for the day. 130 signatures total. If we keep that pace we will squeak by the minimum requirement. If we get 150 a day or more we'll enough to spare to make sure we have enough legitimate, qualifying signatures.



The Justice Party WILL be on the ballot in Utah. You will have to kill me in my sleep to stop us. Join me and let's get some petitions done. Move sig! Move Sig!