"Congresswoman! Congresswoman!"

Several local reporters shout at us as we arrive at the school. But Donna just smiles brightly at them and waves, not pausing as she strides towards the door. After three terms in the house, Donna's a pro at the election day drill.

Vote first, then come back out to shake hands with constituents and chat up the reporters. Sure, we want some sound bites, but the entrance makes great B roll footage. It will get played locally several times today. And our family is picture perfect.

Lulu bounces along next to me. Even all these years later, I know the thought of seeing herself on the news fuels her energy. I'm glad she can join us in person this year. Since Donna wasn't on the ballot both kids just voted absentee last year. It wasn't the fanfare I would have liked for Jonah's first time, but it suited him just fine.

Jonah isn't as enthusiastic as his sister about politics, but he's smiling broadly. A couple girls he used to go to high school with wave at him, and he waves back as we bypass the line. With his athletic build and Donna's smile, some day he's going to have a fan club of his own. And from the girls' giggling, it may have already started.

He gives me a little smirk and shrugs, as if he knows what I'm thinking. Sometimes I swear the kids get that from their mother. And I know he won't tell me if he's got groupies at college.

But Lulu will.

I didn't anticipate that both kids would end up at Yale at the same time. Either of them could have gone anywhere. But Jonah is so much like his mother. He couldn't see any reason to go anywhere else when he could go to Yale for free and stay at home. Of course he did draw the line at taking any of my classes. Even though I've been voted favorite professor multiple times!

And I couldn't be prouder of Lulu, following in my footsteps for both undergrad and law school. But I think it'll be Donna's path she takes after this. And she won't need to be talked into being the guy, instead of the guy the guy counts on.

Yeah, it sure has been nice having them both at home again. Especially since between DC and the campaigns, Donna and I have been spending more time away. I know they are old enough to be on their own, but I just feel better having them together under my roof.

Once we're inside, Donna and Lulu head into the two available voting booths, leaving Jonah and I to wait.

"You good? You know how you're voting?" I ask him, mostly out of reflex.

"I don't know. I watched your TEAMS slideshow, but I'm still debating." He responds under his breath, a perfect replica of Donna's sarcasm.

"Very funny." I quip back, even as I glance around to make sure no one overheard him.

But I know he knows how important this is to our family. Not just because we are about to put his Mom in the Senate and his Uncle Sam in the White House. But because Democracy is on the line. The Republican Party has been taken over by some real lunatics. If we don't stop them, they'll turn our country into a dystopian nightmare.

Lulu flits out of her booth and smiles at Jonah. "Your turn little brother!" She chirps. "And don't forget …"

Jonah grins back at her as he heads toward the booth and finishes the sentence they've been hearing their whole lives–

"Decisions are made by those who show up."