my first time really was amazing. the rush of emotions were more than I expected. I anticipated greatness, but nothing like this. my first time voting will really be an experience I'll always remember. :)
politics has never been my thing and in many ways is still foreign to me, but like many people in this election, OBAMA gave me a reason to educate myself. i've been amped about being a part of history and voting for my first time for the man that i knew would instill a faith in me that i have never felt in my government.
so- as a way to commemorate my 1st voting experience- i'll capture it in blog:
The day of the election I woke up eager and excited to vote. I was singing songs that I could add Barack's name to, my favorite being Michael Jackson's "Rock With You"- "I wanna Barack with youuuu, all night." You would have thought it was Christmas the way I was dancing around the house. (I'll always have the childish spirit)
But it wasn't all positive energy. There was a great mix of fear involved. I kept envisioning McCain and Palin winning and red, white, and blue balloons falling from the sky, while Palin waved and winked incessantly. These visions were all the more reason to vote and to make sure everyone else I knew did as well.
My mom and I went to our polling location and I was super giddy- absolutely ecstatic- a grin from ear to ear- still singing my songs. I went inside completely clueless. I signed my name and proceeded into my booth. (There was no line despite the fact that in other locations there were people waiting for up to 3 hours!)
And then I saw it. Finally, after all these months of following this election there he was. My man- Barack Obama. I clicked his name and this beautiful, glowing, bright green X appeared. I watched it for a while to make sure it didn't switch to McCain or disappear- but nope- it stayed. It was all that I needed to know I'd done my part to bring about change.
X really did lead to treasure. The treasure was never what I expected, but more than I could ever imagine- the promise of a brighter, limitless future.
What's your voter story?
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i was f-ing tired. i had to be on a bus by 9am, and at my place of work (correction: internship - after all, the beginning of the day still did officially belong to Bush, and lord knows, no ones getting paid but him) by 10am, and had heard nothing but endless predictions that the lines would be looooooong (see what i did there? i made the word longer by inserting extra o's. thats called irony.)
regardless, i was determined. i was NOT going to miss this opportunity. i even wrote my boss - ok, more like a literary advisor - the night before saying there's a chance i'd be late. so i woke up at 6, and felt the need to put makeup on??? um...what? oh right, i needed to look good for my man*. and then i walked, yes walked**, all the way to the polls...to pay homage to the Million Men who did it first (thats a historical reference). even my dad hadn't waited for his sleepy, slow-moving daughter. he ended up being 3 people ahead in line. wtf?
behind him, though, were two kids, clearly not of age to vote. they'd rocked their homemade Obama pins (which, as expected, they were asked to take off) and entered the curtained booth with their mother. all this made me very happy. 2 kids, maybe 10-years-old (caucasian, jewish...not that this matters, but i'm trying to paint a picture, people!) had woken up hours before their school day began, not to participate, but just to watch! the process of voting for their favorite candidate to become president. how lucky they are to actually see it come to fruition.
sidenote: can you imagine the faith these kids are gonna have for years to come?? they're going to forever feel that their involvement will mean something, and make a difference, and ultimately cause/create something grand. THAT is hope.
anyway, the very very short line moved quickly. i punched in, saw my green X, and smiled. not gonna lie...i didn't know many other names on the ballot, but i trust B.O. (wow, i just realized what terrible initials those are) and went straight Democrat all the way through.
while at that place of "work," i grew increasingly nervous and impatient. also, irritable (due to this other intern who hadn't voted yet because it was taking too long and he didn't wanna come in late. seriously??? youre not even getting paid for this, homeboy. get your ass back in line!)
and then at 11p.m., a mere 16 + 1/2hrs after my vote had been cast, it was announced. he'd won. and all i could do was, well, 1. cry, and 2. think "look what we did..." and i was overwhelmed by that feeling alone. not that he was black, but that we as a people had recognized the state we were in together, not as individuals, and together restless and unhappy and simultaneously! decided as a nation that it was time for change. and that we actually did something about, we didnt just sulk and complain that nothing has fallen into our laps or been handed to us on a silver platter, we weren't lazy and we took action and made a difference. and i believe november 4th was truly our victory...i think Barack's willing to share it with us, don't you?
*see: barack
**ok, ok, it was 4 houses away.
danielle cheesman
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