President Barack Obama
I can't believe it. I mean I can believe it, but all of yesterday as I sat on the floor of the Obama field office leaving messages for people I never let myself get too excited. Maybe it comes from being a Saints fan for so long, but anyone who is knows it ain't over till it's over (usually ending with the Saints impossibly blowing a big and important win). Now this was more important than a Saints game obviously, but I couldn't help but think that America might fumble the ball on the 5 yard line. And that would have been devastating. I tried to think about what I would do if I woke up and Sarah Palin was my Vice President, and I honestly couldn't imagine it....just shuddered and kept calling. After getting my free Ben and Jerry's I went home for a while to watch some of the returns. Normal results- McCain got OK, Obama got MA, stuff to be expected. As the results from NC slowly crawled in (and continued to do so until this morning!), and I decided to go to the Young Democrats "party" at the bar/restaurant Top of the HIll. I didn't actually find any of my friends until about 10 minutes before the big announcement, so I ended up spending the night talking to strangers, all of us findng a common purpose...groaning when McCain won a state, cheering when a state turned blue. I kept wanting to leave for the comfort of my couch and friends in the house (we have a nice liberal base in Pi Phi) but I wanted to be there when they announced the North Carolina results so I stayed. The YD directors took shots at the news over Ohio, Florida was looking good. The holigram completely freaked us out, then a few minutes later...Obama won Virginia. Then I got a text from Braden saying Fox had predicted the win, and stared to get really excited. Then...breaking news...Obama has won!!!!! What? No way! Oh my God! No way! Oh my god! Hahahahahahahahaha YES! Obama! Obama! Obama! The entire restaurants was screaming, hugging, jumping up and down. We actually rushed Franklin St! Well, we were on the sidewalks, then a drunk Raven (one of the YD directors) ran into the street and everyone else soon followed. USA! Yes We Can! Obama! More hugs. I left after the second police car came but apparently it got even crazier.
Everyone in the TV room laughed when I burst into the house jumping up and down, but laughing with me (like I said, solid liberal base). We watched McCain's speech and it was probably his best of the campaign. We looked up cute pictures of Barack and Michelle. We watched Obama's inspirational speech...I was close to crying at a few points. As everyone trickled out I was left in front of the tv. There was a big party going on which probably would have been fun, but I was at a this weird place where I was emotionally exhausted and wiped but too excited to go to sleep. I tried, but I didn't sleep last night. How could I? We had actually done it! I didn't fear waking up this morning...I couldn't wait! I've spent the day looking at people's facebook statuses...good and bad. Just to soak it all in. I only called one (very) conservative friend but that was in revenge for math class sophomore year in 04 and the "W 04" he wrote on my sweet sixteen poster...we have a special relationship to say the least. He said awful things about bananas, but I just laughed. I talked to my parents and they were as bewildered as I was.
I didn't dedicate my life to this campaign like some people I know, but I definitely had a part of it. I knocked on some doors, I made some calls, I registered some voters. I contributed what I could, and I'm so happy I did. I did it. He did it. We did it. I look at the celebrations around the world and can't help but be so proud of my country. We've come a loooong way. We have a lot to go. At least I won't cringe every time I hear the President speak. I can't wait to listen to 4 Obama State of the Union addresses.
YES. WE. CAN.
11/4/08
Everyone in the TV room laughed when I burst into the house jumping up and down, but laughing with me (like I said, solid liberal base). We watched McCain's speech and it was probably his best of the campaign. We looked up cute pictures of Barack and Michelle. We watched Obama's inspirational speech...I was close to crying at a few points. As everyone trickled out I was left in front of the tv. There was a big party going on which probably would have been fun, but I was at a this weird place where I was emotionally exhausted and wiped but too excited to go to sleep. I tried, but I didn't sleep last night. How could I? We had actually done it! I didn't fear waking up this morning...I couldn't wait! I've spent the day looking at people's facebook statuses...good and bad. Just to soak it all in. I only called one (very) conservative friend but that was in revenge for math class sophomore year in 04 and the "W 04" he wrote on my sweet sixteen poster...we have a special relationship to say the least. He said awful things about bananas, but I just laughed. I talked to my parents and they were as bewildered as I was.
I didn't dedicate my life to this campaign like some people I know, but I definitely had a part of it. I knocked on some doors, I made some calls, I registered some voters. I contributed what I could, and I'm so happy I did. I did it. He did it. We did it. I look at the celebrations around the world and can't help but be so proud of my country. We've come a loooong way. We have a lot to go. At least I won't cringe every time I hear the President speak. I can't wait to listen to 4 Obama State of the Union addresses.
YES. WE. CAN.
11/4/08