WELL, the interminable campaign has finally come to an end. The mud-slinging, distortion of the truth (really out-and -out lying), the sordid polities involved in elections - they are over! Finally!
I won't have to go into my bedroom and close the door so I don't hear that Palin woman. Her pronouncements made my blood boil, hers strident voice was like fingernails on a blackboard to me, and I got so sick of Joe, the Plumber, I thought I would scream - or throw up!
This afternoon I had to go into Brevard to see the doctor, Apparently I am not in critical condition! Then,I stopped by the Democratic Headquarters where I got a very warm welcome. In fact, they have a big picture of me hanging on the wall - it pays to be a medium sized fish in a very tiny pond. Marshall McCallie is the county chairman for the Democratic party. He is a very impressive figure of a man, very capable - in fact, he has been ambassadors to African countries in the past. AND handsome, too - albeit he is one year younger than my son. But, I' not blind yet - and loved getting the big bear hug I got!
There was great excitement at the headquarters, as they prepared food for the crowd that would be gathering in the evening to watch the results of the election. McCallie agreed with me that it would be too hard on me to stay at their party and then drive up the mountain late at night.
So, I came home, fixed dinner for Russell and me, and settled down to watch CNN television for the evening. It started out rather slow-like; but the analysts were pretty confident of a Democratic Obama win. I watched the Whole thing!
When they announced that Obama was the choice for president, I felt vindicated for all the time and phone calls and emails I have sent out on Obama's behalf. McCain gave a very gracious speech accepting the defeat. It was the first time I have been proud of him. Palin didn't open her mouth, thank the good LORD.
What a crowd they had at Grant Park in Chicago on Lake Michigan. All the people were checked out, before they were let in. I heard that there were 150,000 people there. I believe it, I could see an enormous crowd of people. And American flags all over the place. There were young and old, black and white and yellow and red people, old ones and young ones, men andwomen. They were all happy and excited, but there was no problem behavior there that I could see.
Obama gave a great speech. Very inspiring. It was not: "I< ME< AND MINE. It was about YOU - US the citizens of this country. I felt so proud watching the whole thing. It showed how our people can come together and forget their differences. The faces of those in the crowd were priceless - happy,jubilant, and excited; and, most of all, proud.
Obama's wife, Michele and his two girls came on stage -as did Biden and his wife, then his family and his 90 year old mother. I know how she felt, in April I will be at that age, too.
I felt like I was a witness to one of the great moment's in the history of this nation; and I felt privileged to be able to watch it. I think we have turned the corner and hope that by working together we can dig ourselves out of this hole that the Bush administration has put us into.
As I watched, my thoughts turned to all my good friends who have cheered the cause along the way. I had a lot of supporters, I was not fighting alone.
My grandson, Gregory, called me from Maryland to express his joy; and I was so happy that he thought of his grandma at this particular moment.
It is now after 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, and this old lady had better get to bed. I'm all revved up - but happy, happy, happy. YES, WE CAN!
