Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Longest Day

You know, I've been up since 2 a.m. I was so danged excited over the prospect of a new president that I could hardly sleep. I finally got up at 5:45 and was at my polling place when it opened at 7. And I was probably 200th to show up! Elderly election judges had us snaking in lines all over the Crown of Life Church social hall.

Remember the old days of levered voting booths? Coocooned by this neat little curtain, we clackety-clacked our selections and voila! When we opened the curtain, our votes were magically counted, and the ballot was cleared for the next voter. I missed those today, especially because I was seated at a table to while my fellow voters in line stood looking over my shoulder. I might as well have turned around in my chair, held up my ballot and asked, "Say, neighbor, whaddya think? Will my vote for Obama push him over the top?"

Now, we wait. This isn't like playing a bar video game and having a running total of the score. We have to wait for the polls to close. By the time we have a winner, I might be awake for 24 hours, or the suspense might kill me. I know I'm wearing my lefty heart on my sleeve, but I hope the result is worth waiting for, and I remember this election for the rest of my life.

2 comments:

Nicole said...

WOO-HOO, OBAMA!!

Anonymous said...

I've never even met you, but I share your political fervor. I've never felt so proud to be an American.

--Meg's mom