September 1997
Last writer’s meeting I wrote about my husband agreeing to campaign for the position in the Optimist club of Governor-elect (1998-99). [ed: I could not locate this writing]
Now it was the weekend for the Convention to begin in Santa Maria at the restored Santa Maria Inn. Mike said, “Elaine, the guys are planning to golf at 10 a.m. at Black Lake Golf Course in Nipomo not too far from Arroyo Grande or Santa Maria. Mike was driving with golf bags and golfers. I could drive up with them and make the registrations. Thanks. The golfers planned to leave at 5:30 a.m. I looked at Mike with the eyes of a startled deer. 5:30 a.m? No, thank you. A friend asked if I’d like to ride with her and her husband at 10:00 a.m. YES! YES! YES! They like to drive through Santa Barbara and pick up the San Marcos Pass, past Lake Cachuma in the Santa Inez Valley. Her husband claimed it saved at least 40 minutes driving time. Not this time. Road construction ahead! About twenty cars bumper to bumper waited at certain points of construction. There was a priest in the car to our right. He knew my son Fr. Dick. This young priest was on his way to perform a wedding in Santa Inez. I think that wedding was going to be very late! We finally got past the construction and arrived at the Santa Maria Inn.
I checked in for our room and the Hospitality Suite. After club members started arriving we busied ourselves decorating the Hospitality Rooms. We also spent time in the Lobby passing out campaign buttons. Friday night was to be a Mexican theme. Mike and I had gone down to Olvera St. in L.A. to buy our Mexican theme outfits. He got a sombrero and a poncho. I found a black, nicely embroidered blouse which I wore with a black dancing skirt.
The day of the vote for the election arrived. Mike was finding out how much energy this job entailed and began to hope he would not win this election. I will not keep you in suspense. We were both very happy with the outcome of the election. Out of 200 votes Mike had lost by six votes. No, he did not demand a recount. He just smiled.
Elaine's Memoirs 