Election Night Reflections

Yes we did!  Good work, America!

 

Whew.  Man do I feel like I have a huge hangover today...it could have been the many bubbly baracktails, but I think its the fact that the sheer weight of the campaign is over and over in a good way. Well, the emotions aren't over...they are alive and well, manifesting themselves in happiness, hope, joy, jubilation...you get the picture.

 

I started watching the returns at home and was so antsy I could hardly stand it!  I picked up Joy and we headed downtown to the official Colorado Dems watch party at a hotel ballroom.  There is something about watching results from a hotel ballroom that just makes you feel legit.  The news by the time we arrived (7:30pm or so) was already looking good, and after about a 20 minute stint in line at the ATM with other folks who didn't plan ahead for the cash bar, we headed into the main event.  At one point I thought I lost my beloved precinct captain pin that made me "legit" on caucus night and I literally almost cried...better get that thing into safe keeping.  The other highlight?  Anderson Cooper interviewing Will.i.am via hologram...cool, but not especially necessary!  Yes we can!

 

We kept ourselves occupied and it seemed like all of a sudden...bam...there it was on the big screen.  Barack Obama won Colorado.  Barack Obama had been elected the President of the United States.  The room went nuts.  I went nuts.  I'm recovering from a bit of a poisonous bug I received while in Vegas for work last week, so my happy screams sounded really nuts!  Then the music started...Signed, sealed, delivered, i'm yours! and everyone started dancing around.

 

The acceptance speech brought out raw emotions in everyone.  It was a powerful few moments where I wished I would have figured out a way to attend Obamapalooza with Oprah in Chicago.  Then, the dancing started again...this time, involving an Obama Conga line and even some line dancing...I think I even "reeled in" a grandfatherly Obama supporter!  By the time we hit the streets, people were literally dancing in the streets!  I'd definitely never seen this type of behavior outside of a big Longhorn football game...everyone was honking horns and hugging strangers.  This little pocket of Denver was happy!

 

I think my biggest hope for today is that everyone who did not vote for Obama (including the numerous members of my family who don't reside in Minnesota) will allow themselves to move forward with open minds and allow Obama to earn their support and trust.  If given the opportunity, he will.  I'm sure of it.

 

I spent most of today on orbitz.com trying to figure out a way to get to DC in January for the inauguration, perhaps via a stopover in NYC.

 

[Pics and some pretty funny camera videos forthcoming...I left my camera cord at the Venetian Las Vegas, so whatever housekeeper or guest in suite 10-629 stole it, thanks so much.]

 

Some fun texts from the night:

"Hey we got new mexico.  All because of me."  Clare

"America f*ck yeah!" Jess

"I can stay in america another 4 years!  Hope!"  Jolea

"Ohio!"  Laurie