I'm Taking Credit

Senator Gallego changed the message on his answering machine.  I am choosing to believe that I had a lot to do with that.

His old message irritated me every time I called his offices; the message was on both machines.  I'd ask about a bill or express my displeasure with his actions (fundraising with Mark Andreesen?) or compliment a stance he took, but I'd always end with change the damn message.

Two weeks ago, a human being answered the phone in D.C.  I was thrilled; she was nonplussed.  She listened to my comment but had no response when I asked if she had ever listened to the office's forward facing (what does that mean, anyway, and where did it come from?) message.  

Silence..... then I'll be certain to relay your thoughts to the Congressman.  Sigh.

Last week, once again, a human answered Sen. Gallego's phone in D.C.  She laughed at my surprise, said she was glad to talk to me, too, and asked how she could help?  I said my piece, then asked her about the message. 

Her Why do you ask? led to my repeating, once again, how embarrassing it was that the man admits that after all these months he still can't hire people yet he was making monumental decisions about the future of my country.  I told her people were laughing about it at Hands Off! and No Kings!  I told her Tim Stellar was writing about it, and that people in Tucson know who Tim Stellar is.   

She thanked me for my comment and said she'd be sure to pass my suggestion along. I didn't sigh; I believed her.  Then I called Sen. Kelly's office and another human being answered the phone.  I was on a roll.

She, too, was glad to listen to my concerns.  Then things got a bit more personal.

Concerned Constituent: You know the people who work in Sen. Gallego's office, right?

Wary Staffer: Sure... some... most of them. Why do you ask?

It went quickly after that.  No, she'd never heard the message.  Yes, she'd mention to the people she knows in Sen. Gallego' office that the woman who's been leaving messages on their machines about it for months has now taken to mentioning it to her.  I thanked her profusely, for her very existence on the planet, and hung up feeling heard, twice in one day.

This morning, I started my daily calls with Senator Gallego.  

In English, without hesitation, my junior Senator introduced himself, thanked me for my call, directed me to press 1 for a comment, 2 for help, 3 por Espanol, and thanked me again.  I waited for the beep, said no to war, and complimented him on the new message.  

I hung up feeling quite smug.