Welcome back!

I’m in my living room watching a crowd of tens of thousands of faces in Grant Park, laughing, cheering, crying and rejoicing. I sit here on my couch, bawling. I can’t help it. I’ve always dreamed of living in a country where skin color didn’t dictate one’s choices in life, where equality was more than just a word but a reality. I knew, instinctively, that as a nation we had improved but not perfected race relations. And I wanted more.

I wondered at times these past months, if we had the courage to move past race and vote on issues. I wondered if people would fall for the idiotic emails about terrorists, Muslims and bogus citizenship claims.

It might sound odd, a white woman, saying how important and meaningful it is to see an African American elected as president. I have three boys, of European descent. It means more to me than I can say to be able to point to our president, to show my children his face on the television, and know that for them, a man of color leading and representing our nation is normal. They will grow up thinking it is absolutely normal and natural that America embraces all her children and not just a select race or religion.  Perhaps someday, the color of one’s skin is as inconsequential as hair color and we would no more discuss the African American candidate vs. the White candidate than we would the blonde candidate vs. the redhead or the black haired candidate.

We have many other battles to face. The fight against prejudice and racism is not over but the path to healing and recovery lies before us, plain, visible to the eyes. We have other issues, the ability to accept other people’s religious choices, sexual orientation. Those are battles still to be fought.

But tonight – tonight I can rejoice with my fellow Americans. And know that a new day has dawned. One full of hope and possibilities.

I did it. I piled my three boys into the car and voted. It was an extreme relief to be able to have my say in this election. I voted for and against several things but all from the same motivation.

I voted for peace, hope, change, kindness to animals, protection of our environment, equal rights for all, a stronger economy, healthcare for the entire country, education for my children – and yours, to end the war in Iraq and to bring our brave soldiers home to their families.

I voted for myself and my children and my husband and my friends and my mother and grandmother and my dad. I voted because it is my duty, my right and my privledge. I voted because women fought hard for the right for me to do so and I don’t want to let them down. I voted because I love my country and I want to see her succeed. I voted because I love people and I want to know that tomorrow will have a chance to be better than today.

Did you vote?

The last few days I’ve awoken to a fresh, crisp scent in the air. When I step outside, it is so strong I can almost feeling it grasping me in an embrace. It is the scent of change. Yes, obvious I know. With only 3 days to go until Election Day, it doesn’t take a psychic to tell you something is about to change. But I can’t help but hope that this precipice we face takes us beyond bombs and war and failing economies into an era of diplomacy, peace and prosperity. In other words, I’m hoping for a change we can believe in and my thought is Barack Obama is the change we need.

In this spirit, I want to share a video and a blog promoting this spirit of change in two uniquely different ways. (more…)

Just read this viral email. Pretty good read, actually.

“I Didn’t Vote For Obama” by Kentucky Scott
Monday, October 20, 2008
(more…)

So, it appears another revelation was made about Palin’s expenditures to look like Joe Six Pack while campaigning. Her stylist, Amy Strozzi from “So You Think You Can Dance”, earned $22,800 for the first 2 weeks of October. John McCain’s policy advisor, Randy Scheunemann? $12,500 for the same time period.

Ok, so it has nothing to do with issues (of which I am a big proponent for studying) but it is great fodder for showing the HUGELY, distinct difference between the GOP and us normal, six packs.