There I sat in our front room, my feet propped up on the recliner to give some relief from the pain in my left knee. Through the ground-level window, I saw a pair of jeans and white sneakers come up our front walk, our Sunday paper dangling in front. Our doorbell rang. I ignored it.

In general, I dislike being disturbed at home. I am an introvert, and my home is my refuge from the world. Though I sometimes invite friends for a visit, I don’t appreciate the world’s unasked intrusion.

Yet it soon become clear the person on my doorstep was not going away, and Christian wasn’t home to cheerfully greet them and gregariously converse. I figured they had probably seen my feet through the low window on the approach to the house, just as I had seen theirs. So with a heavy sigh, I cast aside my book and limped to the door. The first thing I saw was the Obama sticker on the lady’s shirt, and immediately regretted opening the door.

I hate politics. I thank God I live in a country where I have freedom and the right to vote for my government. I gladly exercise that right. But I absolutely loathe politics. I dread election season, which seems to start earlier every time. The signs posted in neighbor yards and every few feet along the roads are an eyesore. Radio and TV commercials are ridiculously one-sided and slanted. They play on emotions rather than providing facts and trusting voters to make their own thoughtful decisions. Out of a sense of duty, I tried to watch one of the presidential debates, hoping at least the candidates themselves would treat voters with respect. I didn’t realize how it tormented me until Christian pointed out I was curled up in the fetal position on the couch next to him. At his urging, I ultimately left the room. I eschew political discussions with just about anyone other than my husband. Though we often disagree, we can at least talk to each other respectfully and share what we honestly think without having to worry about offending each other. But in recent months, the politicos have been out in full force, and I cannot even get away from them in my own home, it seems.

This is not the first time Obama minions have canvassed our neighborhood, and I actually feel harassed at this point. I managed to be polite to the canvasser. Not long after she left, I saw this comic strip in the Sunday paper, which pretty much sums up how I feel.