Knocking on our neighbors doors is a fascinating, educational and sometimes heartbreaking experience.

The other day I met a woman who has had 30 brain surgeries over the course of 6 years whose life is consumed with pain and worry. I have met an author (who wishes to remain anonymous) who was just finishing his 6^th book when I knocked on his door. I have met educators who have trembled with frustration over the injustices they see in the education system and I’ve sat with a mother while she cried over the prospect of her son going to Iraq the following week and maybe never returning to see the unborn baby his fiancée carries.

Daily I am fascinated by the incredible amount of talent behind our neighbors doors; Decades of experience in every trade there is; nuclear engineers and renewable energy pioneers; Authors, artists and loggers with new ideas for how to do things; proud mothers of daughters and sons who have made the most of the decades of savings that were spent to send them to college.

And then there is the frustration. People frustrated by the lack of common sense exhibited by their leaders; Frustration with rules, regulations and laws that contradict each other and common sense. I meet people who have been inspired to vote for the first time ever, or in years, and I’ve met those who have given up in exasperation vowing never to vote again.

The most memorable and personally inspiring new voters were a twenty-something couple in Gold Beach who asked if I would help them register. When I came back the next day with registration cards (I had given out all I had) they had invited friends over to talk with me about politics, registering and voting. Their engagement, hope and trust were humbling. Experiences like those strengthen my resolve to do whatever I can to make things better in our community for them and all of us.