James McCoy asks U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders a question at the town hall on healthcare Saturday at the Dover Elks Lodge.

Welcome to Decoding the Vibe where I tell it like it really is as the first-in-the-nation primary parade of candidates comes to town. Join me behind the scenes where you might just find out what the candidate is really like.

DOVER – To properly Decode the Vibe of Bernie Sanders it seems only right to be succinct, clear and direct as that is the vibe of any Bernie Sanders’ event, any town hall, any debate stage, any interview.

So, here at my Decoding the Vibe desk, as there are six letters in “Bernie,” any question, statement or observation will be communicated in a tight package of six magic words.

On Saturday, December 28th, I attended Bernie’s Town Hall on Heathcare at the Dover Elks Lodge in Dover, New Hampshire.

Come along and Decode the Vibe. (Six)

Jennifer Magnuson, 73, of Durham had six words for Bernie:

Experienced. Clear. Forward Looking. Positive. Pro-Active.

Evelyn Hamilton, right, is pictured with her daughter, Marti Mulhern, at the rally for Bernie Sanders Saturday at the Dover Elks Lodge. Susan Dromey Heeter photo

Alan McDonald of Wells, Maine, responded:

Hopeful. Knowledgeable. Courageous. Against Emperor Trump.



Evelyn Hamilton, who will turn 87 next month, chose her six words:

Approachable. Informed. Has a World View.



Her daughter, Marti Mulhern, 57, remarked:

Passionate. Progressive, Decisive, Visionary, Oracle.



Mulhern’s son texted his six words to his mom’s phone:

Able to Beat Trump. Visionary. Forward-Thinking.



And in all of these moments, in all of these six words, the vibe of the crowd felt very much the same as the six words of those in attendance: Informed, Excited. Progressive. Worried. Hopeful. Approachable.



Liz Hunt, 58, of Berwick, found her words: Instilling Hope for a Better Future.

Liz Hunt of Berwick, Maine, talks with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders Saturday about healthcare at the Dover Elks Lodge. Susan Dromey Heeter photo



And she shared with Sen. Sanders her experience with the high cost of health care and how she has had to “pick and choose” prescriptions and health options while she has two children in college.

The six-word vibe of healthcare in the U.S.:

Don’t get sick. You are screwed.

The McCoy family from Sanford, Maine, includes James, Rhea, Jamie, 2, and Violette, 8. They came out to see U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders at the Dover Elks Lodge on Saturday. Susan Dromey Heeter photo

The McCoy family of Sanford, Maine – James, 43, Rhea, 42, Jamie, 2 and Violette, 8, shared their six words for Sanders:

Old. Insights Action. Makes You Feel.



The six words for Sarah Minella, 44, visiting from Nantucket, Mass?

I’m here to find out more.



Katherine Williamson, 34, of Rochester, provided her six words:

Medicare for All. Living Wage. Education



And Gina Randall, 35, also of Rochester:

Living Wage. My Mind is Blank.



And some of the more provocative six word statements from Sanders himself?

Expand Medicare Lower Eligibility to 55.

In first week: Medicare for All.

This is not a radical idea.

You are going to be covered.

Stop worrying about your rich friends.

Millions of people experiencing same pain.

We won NH by 20 points.|

We have won the intellectual debate.



Finally, the most compelling six words of the vibe of Bernie Sanders?

Standing ovation for girl with brain cancer.

Thank you for coming along to Decode the Vibe. What are your six words? Do share and read Decoding the Vibe at InDepthNH.org (six).

Alan McDonald of Wells, Maine, is pictured waiting for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders outside the Dover Elks Lodge on Saturday. Susan Dromey Heeter photo



Susan Dromey Heeter is a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards.

The opinions expressed are those of the writer. InDepthNH.org takes no position on politics, but welcomes diverse opinions. email nancywestnews@gmail.com