The Season of Change

It was a monumental experience Tuesday night, walking up to the voting booth with my nearly 2 year old daughter in my arms and my 5 year old son's hand in mine as I punched the ballot helping elect Senator Barrack Obama to be our 44th President of the United States of America. And oh yes, so he happens to be black. I guess in all of my naive mindset, I just forgot about that part. I was voting for him (and Senator Joe Biden, to become the V.P.) because of his message...Change. I agreed with many items he'd discussed on the road to the White House, and thought, like many other registered voters, that I could be a part of his momentum...this CHANGE. In a nut shell, hope was abound. This presidental election was different for me than any other before, not only because I'm a mother of two with increased responsibilities, but also because I was charged with Obama's words and message. His feelings made me feel that I could make this world a better place for my children and my family. I felt this electricity in the air, even as the red curtain closed and I pressed the box with Obama's name, all in the hopes that later that evening he would be blessed with the responsiblity of becoming my next President. All Kenzie could say was "Donkey," as she glanced at the icon next to his name.
Aidan told knock knock jokes to the poll people seated at the long table in the high school gymnasium, all while his father signed his name on the list where his name was represented. Aidan sighed and advised the "poll ladies" that he was not yet 18 years of age; however, he'd voted in his elementary school's presidental election, and had cast his vote for Senator Barrack Obama. When they asked him why, he advised that he was impressed by some things he'd done in his youth. I swear that kid makes me smile.
As Kenzie pulled the red curtain back from the voting booth, exposing my almost "CAST VOTE" choices (all while giggling like a crazy person), I could hear my son saying,"...Mom, Daddy voted for NADER!" Ha ha ha. My little spy. We walked outside, one happy politically charged family, proud to have cast our votes for the people we felt best symbolized our ideals. I swung Aidan upside down as James cast Kenzie into the car, unhappy to have lost her temporary freedom in the parking lot.
We went home to watch the mass media outlets put forth their best guess on who would be the winner of the presidential race. Later than evening, the season of change was abound...Obamaland. There were tears on every channel, church people singing, Oprah, Jesse Jackson crying up a storm, and loads of hopeful faces in Grant Park up in Chicago. I really am happy he's our President-Elect. His load will be heavy, but just like becoming a parent, the good and bad stresses will propel him to make America all that it should be.