By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER, Joyful Musings

If you’ve not seen political signs along the side of the roads, chances are, you’ve  been stuck inside.  And, while I’ve been nursing a cold for the past week and not nearly out and about as often as I’d like, I am still inundated with political advertisements, pictures, slogans, blue, red, white signs.

 Today I muse joyfully on those signs, that thick material, the possibilities of uses for when they disappear, when votes are counted, when oaths are taken, when democracy moves forward, when signs are taken down.

First, I’ll use the material to create placemats for Thanksgiving. They’ll all be different, I’ll use a box cutter to create different patterns: a turkey, a pilgrim, a pumpkin, the Mayflower.  My guests will be stunned by my creativity, they will be amazed at the placemats, basking in not only their uniqueness but the usefulness when the gravy spills over, when a kernel of corn escapes the plate. Thanksgiving dinner will be forever changed.

And then, those signs will be used for Christmas dècor: I’ll make ornaments, transforming that hard cardboard into wreaths, Santas, bells, angels, Christmas trees.  Perhaps I’ll sell them at Craft Fairs. People will be clamoring, begging for their recycled treasures.  They will post their ornaments on Facebook, tweet about them, create Tic Toks celebrating their original treasures.  Political signage creations will go viral.  

Finally, after the holidays, I will focus on jewelry.  The multitude of signs will allow everyone, everyone, to sport necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings – all from that signage.  Again, crowds will flock, will be wearing these creations to weddings, Valentine’s Day dinners, graduations.  Tiffany’s will go out of business and Jared’s? Oh, such a thing of the past.

I know who I’m voting for, Joyful Musers, and that is recycling of all signs and putting these midterms to some really good, tangible use. Just wait and see. Vote for me, vote for creativity, vote for new placemats, ornaments and jewelry.  

And, in all seriousness, just vote.  Please.  Your life and the livelihood of those signs depend on it. 

Susan Dromey Heeter is a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards.