Crunchy ‘Nanas

Yesterday was a hard day. Besides anxious anticipation and a cautious attitude because well, as recent history has taught us, you just never know until the results are tallied, it was hard in a way I didn’t anticipate. I realized pretty early on in the day that I wanted to be there. I wanted to be with people who were as excited and nervous as I was.  Up until yesterday, I’d never felt any sense of loss at casting an absentee ballot - as long as I can vote, I am happy. But, yesterday I was envious of those who had the opportunity to wait in line and physically be a part of something so great.

As the BBC election coverage continued on into the night, I toyed with the idea of staying up to see the results start to roll in, but then I decided it would be best just to go to bed, hope for sleep, and find out early this morning.  As I kissed Crunchy husband goodnight,  I said “just think this may be the last time we go to bed in the world as we know it”. At 4:15am when I turned on the TV to John McCain’s concession speech, I learned I was right.

Everybody likes a fresh start. It feels like this is the United States’ chance at one, or at least as close as it could ever have, all things considered. The slate’s not clean, it’s messy as all hell. The job ahead is tough, and I know not to expect big changes, and certainly not soon. That just how the US political system rolls. I know that. But, I am hopeful. As President-elect Barack Obama said last night:

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there…block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand…

…Out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can.

I am breathing and I am hoping. I believe.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, 5th November 2008 at  12:18 and is filed under Random foliage. You can follow responses to this entry using the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.