Change and Hope

I can't wait to lay in bed and read up on what's just happened. I haven't begun processing yet - Obama was really just elected president. The surge of hope in San Francisco is palpable, and I'm sure many are feeling similar emotions around the world.

I was working at Kate O'Brien's last night, where a huge crowd packed the place to watch the live CNN feed. There were only three of us serving and cleaning up after about 200 people over 5 hours, so I didn't have too much time to process what was happening except for cheering along with the crowd when McCain gave his concession speech.

After quickly glancing across headlines, it seems that the media is full of promise and potential - the Democratic Party is mobilized and ready to work across all lines to make sweeping reforms designed to reinstitute America's prominence around the world.

Perhaps things did get close enough to the brink to allow people to wake up to the fact that we are all constantly vulnerable? Is it possible that Americans recognize the need to organize and come together to ensure that our quality of life is not compromised?

I hope so, although I don't really feel that enough has happened to awaken everyone to the true nature of the change that is needed. For now, it is enough that we have crossed a barrier of centuries of racism to elect the first (mostly) black president.

As my grandmother said, it is an amazing day to know that we're finally led by a rainbow.