Some years ago while chatting with my father he happens to say that it was "hand shaking season again."
Naturally I was at a loss to know what he was referring to and so asked him to explain what he meant.
"Well son it's just about election time and every politician running for office will be out shaking hands with people. In many cases it will be folks they see almost every day but, in a lot of cases, never even speak to let alone shake hands with. It's just a way of soliciting votes and many times it works."
He went on to explain how these people promise you the moon for your vote but the day following the election they can never recall making any promises to the electorate.
I was telling my late father-in-law, the late Bill Lindop, about the chat Dad and I had.
"I'll tell you about a situation I ran into many years ago," he said.
"Bill Coneybeare, a Minden native, was soliciting votes on the town's main drag when the two of us happened to meet. Sure enough his hand shot out, inquired as to how I was feeling, and then reminded me that he was running for a seat on the local council."
"I am hoping that I can count on your vote Mr. Lindop" he said.
"No, Bill, you can't count on my vote at all," was my reply.
"Oh," said a surprised Coneybeare, "I thought perhaps since you have known me all my life, and we've been good friends, that I could count on your support."
"That's just the point, we have been good friends for many years and I feel like it would be improper for me to vote for a friend who, if elected, will be getting hell from everyone whether you deserve it or not."
"Gee Bill," he replied, "I never thought of that."
"You didn't support him then?" I queried.
"Oh sure I did. You could never find a more honest and decent many than Bill" he replied.
