Obama!

Nearly a week after Obama became the president-elect I finally have a few minutes to sit down and write about that amazing day. The weather was warm and sunny, quite unusual for Chicago in November. I got up in the morning, donned my Obama shirt from the rally in Iowa back in January, and headed out to vote with Eileen in tow. We arrived at my polling place at about 10:30 am, ready to wait in a very long line. Lucky for me though, I waked right in (after covering up my Obama colors), voted, and walked right out. My only complaint was that I did not get an “I voted” sticker. I was quite tempted to sello/scotchtape the “voting receipt” they did give me to my shirt. The rest of the day was busy and it was tough not to keep thinking about the election.
Evening finally came. After a bit of confusion over tickets, we all managed to get our “printable election night event ticket” and the SGM lab group headed down to Grant Park wearing much Obama gear, hopeful but nervous. When we arrived at the park we saw that it was an absolute mob scene. But the mob was spunky and friendly and excited and HOPEful. We made our way past a series of check points, at one of which they threatened to take away Marie’s cookies, and eventually found yourself in the field where Obama was to speak. We somehow did not manage to get into the inner-inner area, but we did have quite a good view of the huge screen and a bit of a view of the stage from our vantage point. And, most importantly, we were right in the middle of the incredible atmosphere.
After a few hours of standing (and getting some sore feet) and watching electoral vote “projections” roll in from CNN for various states, things were looking better and better, and the crowd was getting more and more excited. And then when the California polls closed we saw it, “CNN projects Obama win”. And we all went insane. Crying, hugging, kissing, clapping, screaming, praying, it was absolutely amazing. I shed more than a few tears myself. Strangely it felt a bit like being in New York on 9/11, with the emotions exactly reversed. A sharing something with everyone around you, and knowing just how everyone else feels. It’s hard to describe.
After the screaming and cheering died down a bit we watched McCain’s gracious concession speech, and began the wait to hear from the future 44th President of the United States of America. When Obama did come out and speak the crowd again went wild. His inspiring speech made me feel again what I first felt at that rally in Des Moines, that things in this country CAN get better. It may be cliché, but that doesn't make it any less true. After having spent my entire voting with Bush in office such optimism is remarkable and unfamiliar to me. I am proud of my country for the first time in my adult life.