We believe in Barack Obama....
So, uh.... this little thing happened tonight.
America elected Barack Obama.
I was at Grant Park. I can't explain to anyone not here what Chicago was like tonight. On the train ride down, everyone was wearing their college gear, and their were 18-year-olds with their faces painted like it was a sporting event. Everyone was happy and talking to each other. I met Chex at Congress and Michigan and we found ourselves a spot on the lawn by one of the Jumbotrons- we didn't have tickets for the main area. We made friends with people and watched cnn and texted for news. We sat watching the lake and the skyline and Chicagoans and we ate deep dish pizza. The weather was perfect- 60 degrees, a bit chilly but I was fine with my jacket. Magical.
We cheered when each state was announced for Obama and we booed when it was announced for McCain and there were *so many people*, and when they called it it was INSANE. So early! Right at 10! I hugged some strangers and a new friend whose name I didn't get gave me a sip of his SoCo from his hip flask (haha I probably have herpes now) and everyone was smiling and laughing and screaming and crying and Oh My God, It Happened. Any this is going to sound ridiculous but just after they announced, when I finished screaming and jumping I looked in front of me and this woman was wearing a LLAMA-SHIRT. How does that even happen?
McCain spoke and the people around me were very respectful- a bit less so of Sarah Palin. :-D His speech was gracious. And then right after Obama's motorcade came rushing by- I saw my first ever Presidential Motorcade, hopefully the first of many going through Chicago!!!- and they played some songs and then he spoke and people were silent except for occasional chants and cheers, and we could hear him speaking behind us and him speaking on the Jumbotron in front of us slightly delayed and so we were surrounded by a relay of his voice and it was *magical* and *beautiful* and *perfect*. Also, they're getting a puppy!
And then we left and walked through the city and there were maybe a million people downtown but everyone was just jubilant, and even the police were having fun. And we walked in the middle of streets that weren't closed off and the cars were just stalled their laying on the horns in solidarity with the screams and hi-fiving people as they walked by.
And then I said bye to Chex and hopped on a bus and was home in 20 minutes. For once the CTA did something right. :-D The organization of this thing was *incredible*. Chicago, I am so proud of you right now.
I can't wrap my mind around the fact that this is true. I can't believe that this has happened, but it has, and I know Obama can't and won't fix everything- but he'll *try*, and isn't that the best thing you've ever heard?
I don't want to go to bed until I know about Proposition 8 though. And how many more senate seats we'll get- I'm hearing we might end up with 57 or 58!
America elected Barack Obama.
I was at Grant Park. I can't explain to anyone not here what Chicago was like tonight. On the train ride down, everyone was wearing their college gear, and their were 18-year-olds with their faces painted like it was a sporting event. Everyone was happy and talking to each other. I met Chex at Congress and Michigan and we found ourselves a spot on the lawn by one of the Jumbotrons- we didn't have tickets for the main area. We made friends with people and watched cnn and texted for news. We sat watching the lake and the skyline and Chicagoans and we ate deep dish pizza. The weather was perfect- 60 degrees, a bit chilly but I was fine with my jacket. Magical.
We cheered when each state was announced for Obama and we booed when it was announced for McCain and there were *so many people*, and when they called it it was INSANE. So early! Right at 10! I hugged some strangers and a new friend whose name I didn't get gave me a sip of his SoCo from his hip flask (haha I probably have herpes now) and everyone was smiling and laughing and screaming and crying and Oh My God, It Happened. Any this is going to sound ridiculous but just after they announced, when I finished screaming and jumping I looked in front of me and this woman was wearing a LLAMA-SHIRT. How does that even happen?
McCain spoke and the people around me were very respectful- a bit less so of Sarah Palin. :-D His speech was gracious. And then right after Obama's motorcade came rushing by- I saw my first ever Presidential Motorcade, hopefully the first of many going through Chicago!!!- and they played some songs and then he spoke and people were silent except for occasional chants and cheers, and we could hear him speaking behind us and him speaking on the Jumbotron in front of us slightly delayed and so we were surrounded by a relay of his voice and it was *magical* and *beautiful* and *perfect*. Also, they're getting a puppy!
And then we left and walked through the city and there were maybe a million people downtown but everyone was just jubilant, and even the police were having fun. And we walked in the middle of streets that weren't closed off and the cars were just stalled their laying on the horns in solidarity with the screams and hi-fiving people as they walked by.
And then I said bye to Chex and hopped on a bus and was home in 20 minutes. For once the CTA did something right. :-D The organization of this thing was *incredible*. Chicago, I am so proud of you right now.
I can't wrap my mind around the fact that this is true. I can't believe that this has happened, but it has, and I know Obama can't and won't fix everything- but he'll *try*, and isn't that the best thing you've ever heard?
I don't want to go to bed until I know about Proposition 8 though. And how many more senate seats we'll get- I'm hearing we might end up with 57 or 58!