Lorraine and I signed up to be polling inspectors during the elections on Nov. 5. It was a new experience for both of us. It proved to be an exhilarating and heartwarming day, while we did our civic duty.

The school to which we were assigned was somewhere in Plainview. (No names given to protect our anonymity.) Getting up at 4:30 a.m. to get there at 5:30 a.m. was the hardest part of the job. Driving to the school I remarked, "Not a car on the road. Why don't we always accomplish all our chores at this time of day? No lines and no crowded stores." As an answer to this ridiculous question, Lorraine just leered at me.

At each table there were two Republican poll-watchers and two Democrat poll-watchers. Each vote had to be countersigned by one from each party. The voting machines looked as if they were from a bygone era, but they worked perfectly. Fortunately at the end of the day (9 p.m. - some long day) everything tallied correctly. Lorraine and I worked at different tables. We were both impressed by the honesty and work ethic of our fellow poll-watchers.

I was also truly impressed by the voters. People arrived with two walking canes, some came in wheelchairs. The elderly were there to cast their ballots along with the youngsters who just recently acquired the right to vote. People with lenses like Coca Cola bottles voted with our help and the help of marital partners. Some infirm people needed assistance in pulling the bar across to close the voting booth.

Many parents with 7- or 8-year-old children took the youngsters into the booth with them to show them the process. I was sorry I hadn't thought of doing that when my kids were younger. It is a very powerful and meaningful "civics lesson."

Since school was open for one-half a day, many kindergarten teachers brought the children into the room to observe. The children were well-behaved and completely awed by the adults running around the khaki voting booth.

As 9 p.m. rolled around, we grew weary but we saved a burst of energy for the final tally. Over 40 percent of the eligible voters had cast their ballots. I thought that was wonderful but others didn't think so.

One incident on which I must comment. A gentleman with thick lenses was about to sign his name when a poll inspector said to his wife, "I'll help him!" The wife said strongly, "No, I'll help him!" She was performing her marital obligations and didn't want any outside help.

As we drove home, weary and bleary-eyed, we asked each other whether we would do it again.

We both said yes.