Alive After Five

Every third thursdays from April to October, Roswell residents participate in an event called Alive After Five. The city literally comes to life after five o'clock with people on Canton Street on these days. They come and line down the whole street and promote and advertise their businesses. I was anticipating the day and excited to walk with Mayor Wood. He told me I could learn a lot about politicking.

It was still raining on the way to the law office that day and it was already 4 o'clock so i was beginning to doubt it was going to happen. When I got there my doubt had cleared away. I saw a band getting ready for the event and Mayor Wood was busy setting up the table. I helped him move the cage for the chickens.

We couldn't have been more luckier because the weather was clearing as it was nearing 5 o'clock. I began to see some people walking down the street. Volunteers showed up to help with the campaigning. Around 6 when the street was bustling with more people, Mayor Wood, and Lalit, and I started walking the street. The sun came out and the people filled both sides of the street everywhere. Mayor Wood was busy talking and interacting with them. Lalit handed out the stickers and the literature and I took pictures. Many noticed and recognized the mayor. Everybody seemed to like him and I told him I wasn't worried much of him winning the office again. But he told me I should never let my guards down because that's when things can go wrong. We walked all the way down to the end of the street and it took us almost two hours.

Anyhow by the time we all came back to the law office, it started pouring rain again. I was busy taking pictures this time, but I really got to see a lot. I've never seen so many people on one street in Georgia and half of them were wearing our stickers on their shirts. I got a glimpse of what politicking is about and also learned the importance of public appearance in a campaign. Although I was dead tired and soaking wet, I felt accomplished.