In Carolina campaigning for Obama

"It's just the idea...." Sitting in his old Accord, the young man with the beautiful face and bright tattoos incised up and down his large-muscled arms, paused to gather his thoughts and emotions. His voice choking, he tried again: "It's just the idea that makes you feel...." He stopped again and looked helplessly at Erika and me. "You know what I'm sayin," he said. We nodded our heads, and looked up and down the street of homes with neatly mowed lawns and old screen doors and broken doorbells. It was late lunch time and residents were coming home from work to eat or to wait for their grandchildren, whom they cared for after school. We were two middle-aged white Jewish women, but we did understand. We did and it was good. The beautiful tattooed man gave us a weak smile. " Thanks for helping he said."

"Thank you for helping," we said.