Virginians Love the O!

We went bar-hopping. It reminded me of college when our team won the National Championship. That may be a lame comparison, but there were many similarities.

The first bar we stopped at was jam-packed full and we couldn't even make it to the bar to get a drink. The crowd was shouting "Obama! Obama!" even though it was quite early in the evening and very few results were in.

As we walked down the street to the second bar, we passed restaurant after empty restaurant. The only places with patrons were those places that had TVs. A small Thai restaurant with a group huddled around a small tv. A French Bistro with a full bar, spectators staring at the screen.

Our second stop was a sports bar. It was interesting to have election results blasting from more than a dozen TVs and full stereo. Groups and parties of people couldn't keep their eyes off the screen.

As we were walking to the third bar, we heard loud cheering from the street. We could hear the crowds from various bars and restaurants clapping and cheering as if someone had just made a touchdown. When we stepped inside the bar, we saw it: Virginia chooses Obama. Blue for the first time in 44 years.

I got chills. I was so happy, so proud. My state.

Then, it happened. The winner was named. We did it. Yes we did. The crowd cheered "Yes we can, Yes we can..." which morphed into "Yes we did, Yes we did!"

Hugs, kisses, tears, cheers. The sound was welcome and deafening.

I felt a wave of euphoria building inside me. Tears welling up in my eyes. There was a small seed of "Could it be? Could it really be?" in my head. I was slowly wrapping my brain around the reality.

I went home to listen to Obama's acceptance speech. I wanted to really hear what he had to say.

"We are and always will be the United States of America."

I was surprised to find out how much I cared. How much I dared to (and yet was afraid to) hope.

I have longed for an inspiring leader.

I have yearned for this country to come together.

I have hoped for greatness for this country.

As I listened to Obama speak and watched the faces in the crowd, I was in awe. Look at the emotion he inspires! My god- how badly we have needed that!

Loudly sobbing as I sat and listened and watched, I fully realized how much I love this country.

And what can I say about this new generation? I am soooo overjoyed that the young voters pulled through. They stepped up. This really feels like a powerful shift. A shift in who we are. How we see ourselves. How we operate in the world.

The pride. The love. The hope.

Over the last twelve hours I have been exhaling a long, relieved breath.