Somewhere in the course of coming over here to try to help make the world a better place, yadda, yadda, I missed history being made yesterday and everything leading up towards it. So, my friends, I'd love to hear any of your stories, especially from Election Day and the celebrations that followed.
Thanks much. Home soon.
7 comments:
I am so sorry you had to miss it. It was *incredible* -- I voted in Virginia, and about 30 seconds before polls closed on the west coast, they called VA for Obama. I had a friend who was campaigning all day in PA and was driving back. She'd asked me to call her with updates, so I called when VA went blue. The moment I got the "beep" on her voicemail, the polls closed on the west coast and that CNN Projection music played...and the first thing on her voicemail was "CNN Projects that Barack Obama has won the election" followed by the screaming of 20 crazed Virginians who fought long and hard for this victory. Half the room was crying, and everyone was hugging.
Before the polls closed, I worked for the Dems at three different polls in my county. Our congressional race is right now within 150 votes. If we win, it would be a major upset and a HUGE victory.
Come back soon, safe and sound, and we'll celebrate all over again.
Alex, Saw your note on Facebook. I just wrote this to my family:
Last night I sat in the living room with my friends and watched as John McCain made, in my opinion, the most poignant and powerful speech he's made this entire campaign. Then I cried as the man who will be our president stepped up to the podium and told us that he's going to be honest with us, that he's going to listen to us, and that all of us together will have to work hard for change. I have never been so inspired to love the people around me, even those I don't know.
My friends and I then took to the streets of Brooklyn--streets that are filled with people of different races, ages, creeds and financial situations--and screamed at the top of our lungs. People were banging pans out their windows, cheering, hugging. It was electric, watching people loving each other. (It actually quite reminded me of the utopia that is Burning Man.) As we walked up to DeKalb Avenue, a horde of people were gathered along the street--a car open blasting music, strangers dancing with joy with one another. Cars could barely make it through the road, there were so many people on it--but they didn't care. They honked their horns, put their hands out the window; cab drivers smiled and laughed and cheered. I have never seen such a joyous scene in New York.
At one point, I was so overcome I felt like I wanted to hug this entire crowd. I extended my arms to one man as I ran past him. He did the same. As we released from the hug, smiled at each other, a look of recognition came upon his face. "Wait! I know you!" he said. I recognized him immediately, but couldn't place him. After a moment, we realized we used to work together, a few years ago, and now live near each other. As I took a deep breath and walked on, I smiled; Our world really is small.
We hugged again, said "Happy Election!" and I was on my way, to dance and sing and celebrate with New Yorkers. Never have I felt so connected to them all as I did last night.
Today the honking horns continue, as do the random cheers of excitement. I know there is hard work ahead of us. I know that Barack Obama can not single-handedly change the world. I know the's not a super hero. I know eventually we'll go back to reality, but I honestly do have hope, that with this man as our president, we will do so with a reverence for the people around us, and maybe all of the strangers we hug will be our friends.
Happy Election, my family! I hope you're all as wonderfully envigorated as I am today.
Alex, the scene in Times Square was like a far less cheesy New Years [Rockin'] Eve. People were honking horns, hugging strangers, batting balloons around, and forgetting about things like hangovers and jobs for a few hours. I high fived a number of people hanging cars speeding down Broadway; I'm not sure how fast some of them were going, but when I woke up today my shoulder really hurt. Totally worth it.
Stay safe, and hope to see you this December.
Watched the returns in a giant theater in midtown. There were cheers and hugs when Virginia went blue, as we knew it was all but done. Then there was a countdown to the west coast closing, and then all hell (and cell phone usage) went loose. Went for a walk through midtown before stopping at another bar to watch Obama's acceptance speech. As I mentioned to you, Alex, your name was toasted when he talked about our troops overseas. When he was done speaking there were quite a few of our friends in tears (no, I won't tell you who). It was pretty great. Don't worry, you'll be back for history in January.
Mariah. It was totally Mariah.
My story is a little more ho-hum. I had two assignments due the next day, so I only heard the shouts and honking outside when the news came in. That didn't stop me from getting excited about the overwhelming historical implications of this moment. Obama is the first Columbia grad to go the White House. I wonder if he has any Columbia Marching Band connections...
Miss you and love yoU!
My dearest Munoz,
I watched the results come in on five wall screens in Geraldo's Cafe at school with about 500 law students. As it got to be 11pm, they did a countdown, like New Years. 5...4...3...2...1 and then the screen showed that Obama was president and people went nuts. We took to the streets of Brooklyn Heights. People were shooting off fireworks from the Promenade. Everyone at midnight as I walked home was grinning.
Now, at the table on Joralemon on the walk to school where a man for months has been selling Obama buttons, his table is swarmed each day.
Also, did you see that NM went blue.
I'm so happy to have you home soon.
Love,
your shley
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