Wednesday 5 November 2008

My election moments


In Greece

The top three remember-forever election moments from Barack Obama 2008:

1. Historic both politically and personally - I stayed glued to my laptop all night, drinking 'American Cola' (seriously - when you're too broke to drink Coke, just how broke are you exactly!? - still, it was good stuff) and writing my first lecture, toggling between .pdfs and the huffington post, NY times, the independent, Barackobama.com, the guardian.... Around four, we were both done. And I settled down to listen to his acceptance speech and burst into tears.

2. Running between my 'office' and the Man's room every time a state turned Obama, and saying, 'PENN!!!!' and 'NEW YORK!!!!!' and...'OHIO!!!' Sitting on the Man's lap and watching the electoral vote cross.... 200.... 230.... 270... 300.... and onwards and upwards.

3. Standing, dazed and happy at the bus top this morning, freezing cold, and seeing one of my old professors - a self-confessed and extremely proud socialist - running (he is past retirement age) with a big smile on his face, towards the bus. We smiled and both immediately knew: 'You didn't get any sleep, did you!!'
Him: 'It was astounding, wasn't it?' (Oh yes, dude, it was)
Him: 'It's a changed world'.
It may not be, it may just be the buzzzzzzzzzz speaking. But it certainly felt like it in that moment. And what was especially touching: He said it so enthusiastically, with so little caution or restraint. If I had said it that way, people would probably give me the old 'Awww, so naive, so young. Stupid, they're all the same' speech. I'm so glad we were miles away from any such people on that bus ride. The pair of us giggled and gossiped about each YouTube clip we'd seen through the night, all the way from Debenhams to campus. When someone older acts as if the world is young again, it's so... touching. And inspiring. If he can spot it too, perhaps I am not entirely alone in being mindlessly and needlessly happy?

(Please, Gods of Hindsight treat with kindness).

Ladies and Gentlemen: Barack Obama is in the White House.





Martin Luther King Jr.'s sister celebrates Obama

Both images from The Huffington Post.

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Ten second later edit: OMG the moon is (almost) exactly half dark, half light tonight? Synchronity, how I love thee.

pps - I think I am now all wired out. In precisely two minutes, I shall fall asleep in my bowl of soup. 'Night.

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