We took care of some unfinished business Monday, returning to the American Fork Library to vote early. Time was running out for us, since we are planning a trip to visit the grandkids -- and their parents -- and will be out of town on Nov. 4.

It took an hour and 45 minutes standing in a slow-moving line to get to the polls Monday afternoon, and it seemed a lot longer. It was not unlike waiting for a table at the new Olive Garden restaurant in American Fork, except you had to stand in line because no one was going to call your name.

The line snaked through the library's rotunda and it seemed as if -- after about 45 minutes -- you were only minutes away from the voting booths.

But that turned out to be a bit of smoke-and- mirror business. Just before reaching the table where voters presented their identification, the line took a turn to the left and the line detoured into another large meeting room -- and adding 45 more minutes to the wait.

Who knew voting could be such hard work?

Those voting early were from all walks of life -- old and young. There were even a few mothers with their young children, waiting all that time.

It's been like that throughout the early voting process. Each night as I drove by the library last week, the library parking lot was full, and the line was just as long.

I don't know if the lines will be this long on Tuesday, when the general election is held. There will certainly be more polling places, and more convenient hours -- from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. instead of just from 3 to 7 p.m. That may help.

But the fact that so many people were willing to spend two hours of their busy day to vote is an indicator that there is a lot of interest in this election. It's little wonder a record turnout is predicted.

Some voters were put off by the long line, but the vast majority came to participate in the process, and they weren't leaving until they had marked their ballots and received their "I Voted" stickers.

We may be experiencing some troubled times, but we haven't given up yet. It was good to see so many people determined to have a voice in their government.

...

By way of other unfinished business, we introduced our new electric automobile -- the one made by Fisher-Price -- to a passel of grandkids this weekend.

A few weeks ago we purchased the kid-sized replica of a Ford F-150, assembled it and charged up the battery for a night of Indiana Jones-style adventure.

Scott, the oldest grandson, drove the younger kids around the yard to a series of simple adventures. The ambiance was enhanced with some authentic jungle sounds and many candles lighting their way.

Then they all wanted to take the car for a spin. The most fun was watching 5-year-old Alyson go speeding down the sidewalk at 5 mph, her pigtails fluttering in the wind and 3-year-old Fiona at her side. You could hear the squeals of laughter all the way down the road.

Several of them were back on Sunday for a second spin, this time in daylight. When Scott was taking an extended ride, one of our neighbors, who had seen me building the car a week earlier, watched with some amusement, shaking his head.

His son, Ephraim, was riding his bike. Ephraim had also been there when I was putting the car together a few weeks earlier.

"I wrote about you in the newspaper," I told him.

"I know."

"You aren't mad at me?" I asked.

"It's OK. I have a copy of it in bedroom."

"That's the price of having me as a neighbor," I told him. My other neighbors have already learned that.

He was undeterred.

"Can I ride in the car now?" he asked.

I'd let him, but I just don't think he'd fit. He's a big kid and it's a tiny car. We'd have to pry him out with a crow bar.