When I found out former Governor Kirk Fordice had leukemia, I wrote him a note. It said something to the tune of, “As a fellow cancer survivor, I hope you kick this in the butt. I’m thinking and praying for you. My grandmother had a similar type of leukemia and I know you have a tough fight ahead of you.” I was surprised to find a very kind and thoughtful note in my mailbox a few days later. Governor Fordice died a couple weeks later.
I still have that note and cherish it.
That simple, handwritten note is a reminder to me. When I draw a cartoon, it’s not personal. I don’t hate anyone I draw — well, there are a couple of folks, but I digress. Still, I tend to view politics like the sheepdog and coyote. I believe in getting in the arena and fighting it out. But at the end of the day, you clock out, dust yourself off and come back the next day to fight like hell. It’s old-fashioned but how I roll.
I didn’t agree with Governor Fordice much. And I know he didn’t agree with or particularly like my cartoons. But at the end of the day, there was something bigger at play. And I have come to respect that.