Taking Part In History
We voted as a family early Tuesday morning. Even though we got to our polling location before the building opened, there were 20 or so people already ahead of us in line. I was going to go by myself while Ted and Cadence slept, but Cadence happened to wake up at 5am so we went together. I'm glad we did. I wanted her to be there with me. It took us an hour to get through the line, which is probably the longest I've ever waited to vote. I count ourselves lucky, though, as I've heard of folks waiting for hours and hours.
And here's further evidence I voted. A free tall coffee from Starbucks! Missed out on the free Ben & Jerry's and Krispy Kreme though. Not that I need any of those things.
Of course, the highlight of the night was being in Grant Park with thousands of other people, including my dear friend Amy, as Barack Obama gave his victory speech to all the supporters who had been rooting for him, here in Chicago as well as around the world.
As I pondered the significance of the first African-American President, and as I listened to Obama tell the story of 106-year old Alice Nixon Cooper and all the injustices and hardships and changes she'd seen in her lifetime, I couldn't help smiling at the little African-American boy who was being held in his mother's arms directly in front of us. He's only two years old and probably doesn't understand all that was going on. Someday, though, I know his parents will tell him about how he was there in Grant Park when we as a country made history by electing Barack Obama as our president. It made me wish Cadence had been with me, too.
As Amy and I walked west on Congress amongts the throngs as we made our way to the Blue Line, the crowd's mood was definitely jubilant. An impromptu dance party erupted in the middle of Congress just east of the elevated tracks when a young man pounded out ecstatic rhythms on his djembe as people around him danced, jumped, shouted, laughed and quite possibly cried. I think all these reponses were quite appropriate given the circumstances.
I'm so glad Amy convinced me to go. She was the perfect companion to experience this bit of history with. I know we share the same hopes and dreams for change for our children's future and for this planet and for humanity.
P.S. I think one of the most touching moments for me was seeing the Rev. Jesse Jackson up on the big screen with tears running down his face. I cannot even begin to imagine what last night means for him and so many others who have run the race for Civil Rights with courage and dignity.
6 Comments
Reader Comments (6)
How exciting it must have been to be in Grant Park last night! It was moving and exciting to watch from home, but I can only imagine what it was like to be there!
I so wanted to be there...
Wow, I really wanted to be there, I'm glad you got to go. Robby is only two, but I feel so lucky for him that he'll spend the first (EIGHT I HOPE) years of his life with President Obama, I think the ways in which this momentous occasion will change perceptions and ideas in our children will be so awesome...
it was a beautiful beautiful night... and i'm so glad to have been alive to witness it...
i'm glad you were able to be at grant park and share with all of us your experience and photos :)
That must've been great to be there. I'm going to try to go to the inauguration though DC is going to be a mess that day
I must say...being in Chicago on that historic night must have felt amazing.