Landslide Victory by, how much did you say?

40 votes. Excuse me?

Forty votes. Are you kidding me?

When I finally closed my eyes last night at a quarter past 11 o’clock, my favorite candidate Francie Kleckley was behind by 16 votes in what was a nailbiter in her primary election returns. I can add it was the same 16 votes all the news outlets had been reporting for the past couple of hours. Good grief, Pretty said to me, what can be so hard about tallying votes in those remaining four precincts?

More importantly, I answered, which four precincts are still outstanding?

(I have cleaned up this exchange for “family” readers.)

Five hours later I awoke for my nightly bathroom call and retrieved my cell phone to see this update from local CBS television news WLTX-19 online. I was so groggy at 3 a.m. I thought Francie had lost by 40 votes. After rubbing sleep from my eyes to look again, I realized she’d WON!

I got so excited I whispered to Pretty she won, she won! Pretty slept on even when I raised my voice and repeated the good news. Pretty can sleep through tropical storms, dogs barking, small earthquake tremors. It’s a special gift.

When Pretty was unresponsive, I texted Francie at 3:09 to congratulate her. Thankfully, she was also unresponsive.

This morning’s results from the State newspaper online also offered insights into the Republican incumbent Billy Garrett’s primary.

Watch out, Buffalo Billy – there’s a newcomer coming after you in November.

Still think your voice doesn’t matter? Think again. Vote.

Onward.