it's time

I haven't written here in 10 months, but I'm so ecstatic today, so proud to be American. I never thought I'd write or say those words. Watching the returns last night with my parents, watching all the faces in the crowds in Chicago, Atlanta, New York... I commented on how it was the first time I felt like I saw people on TV and LOVED them, felt connected with them in the anticipation and hope, and then the incredible joy and, heck, incredulity. We did it! My father spent many days this month canvassing in Pennsylvania, so when it went Obama he felt a direct sense of pride. When Obama referenced Lincoln so beautifully in his speech, talking about the original ideals of the *Republican* party, my father broke down. It was so beautiful to share the moment with him, and with my mom. It's always been something of a personal legend, how my dad worked in Wisconsin and Iowa for Gene Mccarthy in 1968, but in my own lifetime I hadn't seen him so fired up about politics. This July 4, I had a great conversation with my friend Sol's father Richard. We talked about the HBO John Adams movie, which we'd both recently seen. I said that what struck me about it was how back then, politics were the science of things that so directly affected people's lives. I felt like it wasn't so true now. Richard vehemently disagreed, and proved me wrong with so many examples. Maybe it's irrational, but it really feels like things could get better for each of us personally. Maybe we'll have to pay more taxes, and dramatic improvements won't happen overnight right now. But this feeling like our president is going to ask us to help each other, and make sacrifices to make our country better, it makes me feel like we're all so much more connected than we were even a day ago. I took a run this morning with Lupe, and everyone I saw, I felt like, we're in this together. Of course, it's Jersey City. I'm sure, like, 110% of us around here voted for Obama. Whatever. We did it.
The best text-message I got last night was from my friend Katya: Yes we did.