Growing up, there was a two-word phrase that instilled instant dread: picture day.

Dressing up, waiting in line, sitting on the stool, and listening to the photographer’s commands just wasn’t something that appealed to me. However, looking back on that “hassle” I went through from kindergarten though my senior year of high school doesn’t seem that bad anymore.

My mom did a nice job ordering and keeping our prints from all the individual picture days my siblings and I were photographed for throughout the years. When I go back and look at them now, I am grateful for her due diligence.

Don’t get me wrong, most of my portraits from K-12 are hideous. Whether it was me as a pudgy sixth grader or a long-haired junior in high school, I certainly didn’t give the photographer much to work with. But I can look past the lackluster exterior of the photo and indulge myself in the story behind it. What I mean by this is that each photo takes me back to the teacher, classroom, and state-of-mind I was in at the time. The feelings, smells, current events, and memories come back and that is pretty cool.

My school photo from seventh grade at Northwood Middle School in north Spokane.

Picture day is still relatively the same for Sloan and Beau as it was for me years ago. They still have to wait their turn, pose for the photo, and take direction from the photographer. I tell them the same thing about their school photos as I do about the pictures I take of them at holidays/special events: you will appreciate them one day.

Sloan’s official second grade photo.

The one thing different from 2024 photo day vs. 1994 photo day? The ordering process is easy! I just have to pay for the digital image.

Beau’s official Pre-K4 school photo.

To all the photographers who make a living taking individual photos at schools, thank you! You truly are capturing moments that will one day be cherished, even if the subjects don’t know it at the time. Don’t Blink.

Roller coaster. That’s the best way I can describe the 2024 Presidential Election.

I started following the race in earnest on June 27, 2024. On this particular evening, I sat down with my dad at my parents’ home and watched the Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump debate. It was my belief that prior to this encounter, the election was Biden’s to lose. But it was apparent from the beginning that something was off with the President that night. My dad and I swapped confused glances throughout the 90-minute back-and-forth. Trump might have a chance, I thought.

Then a couple weeks later, Trump was nearly killed on live television. From my standpoint as a human being, the incident rattled me. No matter what side of the aisle you sit on, it was tough not to admire the way Trump reacted and carried himself as the Secret Service agents brought him to his feet. A couple days later, the former President appeared in Milwaukee at the Republican National Convention. People tuned in and saw a man still committed to leading the country despite nearly losing his life. There was no doubt about it, Trump had seized momentum.

Several days later, Biden stepped down from his re-election bid. He endorsed Kamala Harris in his place and immediately the Democratic Party was injected with a major dose of energy. Seemingly overnight, the Vice President was now the front runner.

In August and September, the momentum seemed to be with Kamala Harris. She bested Trump in a debate and it looked like Harris would just have to run out the clock to become the 47th President.

But in October, the tide shifted. A masterful debate performance by J.D. Vance against Tim Walz and continued negative campaigning by Vice President Harris changed the scope of the race. Suddenly, Donald Trump seemed to ascend to the top of the polls. Could #45 also become #47?

Then it happened again. Toward the end of October and into the beginning of November, Kamala gained the upper hand. An ill-advised joke at a Trump rally and criticism from his ex-cabinet members closed whatever gap Trump maintained throughout most of October. On the eve of Election Day, Nate Silver proclaimed that more simulations favored Vice President Harris.

When polls started to close last Tuesday, exit polls pointed to an interesting result: most people claimed that the issue most important to them was democracy. This was interpreted as good news for Harris and most talking heads assumed it would be a long night for Trump.

But then the improbable happened. When votes came in, they leaned red. Well, no, they didn’t just lean red—they overwhelmingly shined Republican red. The understanding that it would probably take until the weekend to declare a President-elect turned out to be a farce. In a landslide, Donald Trump was projected as the 47th President of the United States on Election Night.

President-elect Trump won in a landslide, securing victory in all battleground states.

What happened?

Well, as a non-partisan blogger I don’t have anything passionate to write about one way or the other. But I think I can point out a few reasons for why we saw the result that we did.

– Once again, polls overwhelmingly underestimated the support of President-elect Trump. Despite promises from pollsters that 2024 polls accounted for errors of the past, that wasn’t the case.

– We were fed a narrative by the media that wasn’t true. It was proclaimed on most networks that Vice President Harris was running a campaign of joy and that Trump’s message of anger/concern wasn’t resonating.

– It was assumed that pop culture would catapult Harris to the presidency. She had Beyonce and Springsteen along with legions of young voters who would carry her to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

As political scientists breakdown what happened last week, the verdict seems to be this: Americans are more concerned about the economy and immigration than the platform that Harris championed. Also, people feel burned and slighted from the past four years and want change.

So where do we go from here? Well, we need to come together. President-elect Trump, Vice President-elect Vance, and their supporters need to be gracious in victory and help our country heal. President Biden and Vice President Harris have admirably stated that the people have spoken and they will honor their choice. The bickering and finger-pointing between Democrats about who to blame for the devastating defeat needs to cool down. We all need to be kind human beings and respect those who don’t agree with us.

Moving forward, I will reiterate what I have said all along. Let’s pray for the safety of our elected leaders—both current and future. God Bless America. Don’t Blink.

We have finally made it to Election Day. Since the beginning of October, many news organizations have described the past 30+ days leading up to today as a sprint to the finish. But dang, it has felt more like a never-ending marathon.

After what has seemed like an endless “Race For the White House,” the Presidential Election is finally here.

It seems well overdue that the Presidential Election—the actual voting at least—comes to a conclusion tonight. Even for an election news junkie like myself, the coverage and noise has all been a bit much. I can only imagine what it must feel like for someone living in a battleground state.

Even though many of us will breathe a sigh of relief that the campaigning and ads will cease after today, it won’t be a complete full stop. Because of how close this election is, it could be several days before a president-elect is declared. The ensuing process and uncertainty will bring with it even more anxiety.

Sloan about to put Sid’s ballot into the ballot drop box at the Spokane Valley Library.

There is also the possibility that a winner could emerge by the time we go to bed this evening. In that case, half the country will be happy while the other half might be tossing and turning.

What I am trying to say is that some of us should find a long-lost degree of comfort today. However, there is the real possibility that the marathon I referenced above will trudge on for a few more miles. If a winner is declared, many people on the wrong side of the victory might find it a very tough pill to swallow.

So as hard as it might be, let’s try to practice restraint, kindness, and gracefulness today and through the rest of the week. It Is best to keep in mind that many people are at wits’ end and our actions, social media posts, and interactions could push them even more over the edge.

Let’s continue to pray for the safety of both candidates, a peaceful day here in the USA, and general understanding/acceptance. No matter what happens, let’s be proud Americans. Don’t Blink.