Last modified: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:18 AM EDT GOUVEIA: What one candidate was thinking If you have never had the opportunity/pleasure/torturous experience of running for public office, you have no idea what you are missing. But there is running for office, and then there is running a write-in campaign for office. This is akin to deciding to run the Boston Marathon, then deciding to run it on one leg. It's not easy. For reasons understood only by myself and a highly qualified team of psychiatric experts, I decided weeks ago to run as a write-in candidate for moderator in my hometown of Norton. This is the fourth decade in which I have been a candidate in a Norton election, but the first time as a write-in. My strategy involved having stickers for the voters to place on the ballot. There was just one problem - the stickers were very small, requiring they get to the voters immediately before they cast their votes. That meant handing them out at the polls on Election Day. So as myself and several amazingly wonderful volunteers took to the polling places last Tuesday morning, I decided to begin keeping a mental diary, a log of sorts, to track the thought process a write-in candidate goes through the day of an election. It goes something like this: 7:01 a.m. - It's raining, but I'm standing here as part of the democratic process. What a great system. I'm going to win. This is going to be a great day! 7:11 a.m. - It's pouring, it's cold, and no one is waving or stopping for stickers. This stinks. I'm not even going to get five votes. 7:12 a.m. - Gave out my first sticker! I think I'm ahead. So far, so good. 8:45 a.m. - Rain is really heavy. Next group of voters may show up in an Ark. Are these stickers waterproof? 9:32 a.m. - Still doing lots of waving. Most are waving back, and some have used all their fingers. After today, I may never wave again. 10:57 a.m. - Turnout is incredibly low. Is it me? Is it the weather? Is there something going on somewhere else I don't know about? Should I have worn boots instead of these sneakers? 12:15 p.m. - Arguing with myself over whether Grady Little should have lifted Pedro before he faced Matsui in the 2003 playoffs. Be nice if an actual voter came through and distracted me. 12:50 p.m. - Watching my exuberant supporters hand stickers to cars as they drive past. Praying no one runs one of them over. Or me, for that matter. 2:29 p.m. - Slowest part of the day. Back hurts. Feet hurt. Tired of smiling. Wind is blowing my sign into the puddle. Whose idea was this anyway? 2:40 p.m. - Couple stops to get stickers, say they came out just to vote for me. Back pain lets up. Feet feel better. Smiling is easier. Maybe I wasn't crazy to do this after all. 4:50 p.m. - Encouraged by reaction of folks so far. But what if they are lying to me? It's a conspiracy, I tell you - they are all out to get me. Or maybe I've just been standing in this cold rain a little too long. 6:00 p.m. - Wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandson show up to lend support. Grandson has sign on his stroller saying "Vote for my Grandpa!" I suddenly realize that no matter what happens today, I've already won. Make mental note to keep son in the will. 7:49 p.m. - Polls close in 11 minutes. Haven't seen a voter in 10 minutes. Heading inside to wait for results. Warm in there. Dry in there. Feet feel like stones. 8:27 p.m. - First results posted on wall. I think I won a precinct. Looks like I won a second one too. Feet feeling better. Stomach still rolling like a boat on a stormy sea. 8:59 p.m. - Final results announced. I won by more than 200 votes. Waiting for someone to jump out and shout "Just kidding!" No one does. 9:05 p.m. - Hugs for supporters, kisses for dedicated wife, two supportive sons and daughter-in-law, and big kiss for grandson Will. What a great day. 9:06 p.m. - Note to self: Don't ever do this again. BILL GOUVEIA is a local columnist, proud grandfather, and the new Norton town moderator. You can reach him at aninsidelook@aol.com - but please don't wave.