As a little girl, I loved the night before Christmas almost more than Christmas Day. I would sneak out to the living room, curl up under the glow of the twinkling lights on our tree, inhale the piney scent and dream of what the next day would bring. On Christmas Eve, if felt as if all was right in the world, or was about to be.
Tonight feels like the best Christmas Eve I have experienced in my life. I have supported Barack Obama for more than a year now, and he has shared with me the privilege of being a part of his historic campaign for the Presidency. Because of Senator Obama, I saw the glint in the eye of a New Hampshire primary voter who loved talking with a Texan about the issues that matter to him. Because of Senator Obama, I experienced the satisfaction of recruiting more than a hundred precinct captains in Dallas, Texas--that (former) bastion of Republicanism. Because of Senator Obama, I have met some of the most talented and dedicated and passionate volunteers I have seen, or may ever see, in my lifetime.
Because of Senator Obama, I had tears in my eyes last summer while watching little African-American boys splash in a pool on a hot Virginia day. Why the tears? I was dreaming of the day soon to come when they will see a man in the White House who looks just like them, and know that they, too, could be there one day.
Our work is not yet finished. But please pause tonight to savor this. This work has been valuable. We are about to taste the fruits of it. But hasn't the journey been splendid as well?
To tomorrow . . . and hope . . . and change . . . and to us all.
And now, on November 4, 2008, here's to President-Elect Obama: nicely done, sir.
03 November 2008
Tonight.
Posted by Lisa at 11:56 PM
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6 comments:
It has, indeed, been a splended journey. My fingers are crossed, but it's looking good for Obama.
Wonderful blog. And I'm glad you were "feeling it" as early as last night. I couldn't breathe completely right until they called Ohio.
Lise, I still haven't wrapped my mind around it. Today when I was looking at all the pictures and joyous headlines from around the world - Europe, India, Africa - I felt something that I haven't felt in 8 years: the respect and admiration of other nations. I had forgotten what that felt like, but am so glad that it's back. And it's only the beginning! Oh, joy, indeed.
I also remember going to bed back on the eve of the first Tuesday in November, 2004 with Kerry and Bush neck-in-neck. I went to bed confident that I would wake up to a new administration - a new start, digging us out of the hole of fear, anger, and shady behavior. I woke up to a nightmare. I just knew the next four years weren't going to be much better; and that they very likely would get much worse.
What a difference in 2008!!
Thank you for your tireless work (and letting me spout off some of my joy in your comments section). Power to the peeps!!
I must add that Nessun Dorma just swelled to its climax here....a great touch! Love the added soundtrack. Nice bloggy feature!
Much love and respect.
YES! YES! YES!
It's Christmas morning!
I was so happy to come into work this morning to a round of celebratory hugs with all my co-workers - so, so good.
Cheers, Lisa!
Happy happy day! It's been 2 days now and I'm still grinning and I still tear up when I hear others talking about what this means to them.
Still buzzing here in LA. The buzz is tempered some by the idiocy of Prop 8, but Obama's press conference today was such a breath of fresh air - so, so nice to have a President who can form coherent sentences.
I overheard a conversation earlier today that really summed up how I feel about Obama:
"This is the first time in my life that I've had a leader that I want to follow."
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