A Change is On Its Way
Over the years, presidential elections have been exciting. It’s always been a pretty easy decision of who I was going to vote for. Up until Al Gore ran for president, I had always voted Republican. I’m from the south so basically, I was “raised” Republican. When I voted for Al Gore, I felt like a rebel. I wasn’t in the least bit conflicted. However, this last election I will admit that I had no idea which way to vote, right up until I was standing at the polls. The “good southern daughter” in me was being pulled towards McCain but in my heart, I felt it should be Obama. I, like millions of others, felt that our country desperately needed a change. When I stepped up to place my vote, I felt dizzy, excited, nauseous… I felt like I might pass out. I took a deep breath and pressed my vote for Barack Obama; hoping that my mother would not ask “so you DID vote for McCain, right?”
Later that evening, my husband, who works in Chicago, was walking to the train station and he called me. He said that he was passing by Millennium Park where Obama was to make his victory speech later that night. There were street vendors selling Barack Obama t-shirts and various other souvenirs. He said that people were pouring into Grant Park in droves. Even though I was on the phone, I could feel the excitement. We both agreed that it would be pretty cool to be able to be there. History was made that night and, I’m happy to say, “A change is on its way”.