Last night, after dinner in the dining room, our family did something we almost never do. In fact, it’s so rare, I can’t think back to the last time it happened.
We sat down as a family to watch live television. It won’t take a psychic to figure out what we were watching. It was the same thing on every single channel. We were watching the map of the United States of America change colors from grey and black to blue and red. We were watching the results of the 2008 election.
Not turning on the TV until almost 8:45 Chicago time meant that we had missed the slow part of the evening and enjoyed a peaceful quiet family night. We tuned in just as things got pretty exciting. I had my laptop humming along next to me, keeping track of incoming data and twitter while the family flipped channels on the tube. I would report to them and they would report to me. We would see how close mainstream TV and and the web were keeping up with each other. ( not too bad last night, I think.) It was fun.
Then, California and the west coast closed their polling places and everything hit the fan at once and Obama was immediately declared the winner before anyone could turn the lights out in the polling locations.
California, with Zero percent of the vote in had declared him the winner! IN AN INSTANT!
What an amazing world….
How fun was that! ?!?!
We let the kids stay up late, way past their bedtimes as we were all glued to the TV watching our political process in action. My youngest ones at home are 11 and 14. We all sat huddled together with the two dogs as John McCain came out and gave a very gracious and generous speech congratulating Senator, now President Elect Obama, on his victory. I felt proud of him once again, proud of his service, proud of him as an American and grateful for the olive branch that he extended across party lines to begin the process of uniting this country for the huge tasks ahead.
Then, Obama, President-elect Obama, entering the stage with Michelle, his two beautiful girls, (who my daughter referred to as the future “angels of the white house” ,) and the crowd of supporters, spanning out as far out into the distance as the cameras could reach.
It felt like we were witnessing a miracle. And as we listened, and as he spoke, weaving his words with the magic of hope, promise and vision, I saw in my children’s eyes a look that I remember from my own childhood so very long ago.
A recognition, that no matter what you you thought or believed hours ago, if you were a part of last night, you witnessed a life-shifting moment in our culture that changes everything. There was a ripple that began to spread and grow until it became a wave and then a tsunami and eventually was felt as a tremor the entire world over last night. You could feel it in the air, you could see it on the faces of those watching, in the posture of those listening, in the hearts of those believing.
A new day dawned this morning. A new day, with a new type of faith. People woke up feeling like they belong. Like they have a voice, like they matter. Like there is a banner shining brightly that says YES YOU CAN to their hopes, dreams, ambitions and needs that will not put them down, trample them to the ground or tell them no you can’t, you have no hope.
Was it always there? Probably yes. It just took a man with the belief in himself to show us the way.
My children will never forget last night. Neither will I. Before they went to bed, we talked about how some moments in history are just so special that they stay with you forever.
They asked me what the closest thing to this was for me in my childhood.
My answer was instant.
I watched Neil Armstrong walk on the Moon.
I was nine years old. I sat huddled in front of an old snowy black and white TV screen with my entire family and several of our neighbors, all pressed close together to hear the garbled, scratchy sound. I remember the tight constricted feeling in my chest as he hovered over the spacecraft steps, the burning in my lungs as I finally gasped when he took that first step and I realized I had been holding my breath…maybe unknowingly terrified as a child that there WOULD be Martians or that he would spontaneously combust on impact with the ground. Then he took another step and touched ground and we witnessed that floaty anti-gravity walk that has become so famous now but that when seeing it for the very first time was nothing short of miraculous.
Then the words…ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN, ONE GIANT STEP FOR MANKIND…
I remember that moment, feeling as if I could burst from the pride of being an American. Burst from the exhilaration of the MIRACLE that was occurring before my very eyes. To think that …A KABILLION miles a way..a man was STEPPING and TALKING on the moon and it was coming to us LIVE on a snowy black and white TV in our living room was BEYOND any comprehension my nine year old brain could fathom.
Frankly, my almost fifty year old brain still struggles with it as well. But…we as a world are a little more jaded with our miracles these days…
Last night…was one of those moments again. One of those nights that in the somewhere distant future you will say…”I remember exactly where I was and exactly how I felt and…it was amazing.”
I could almost hear Neil Armstrong whispering in the background.
Reading this gave me goosebumps! Just the way you described everything about the speeches and keeping up to date. The feelings and memories that were happening it just reached out to me and I felt like I was there with you and feeling what you felt.
Jenny’s last blog post..Please Remember Me
Wendi, this is an absolutely fantastic article. Congratulations!
The closest thing to that which came in my childhood was 9/11. Not positive like walking on the moon or Obama’s victory speech, but it was a day that has rested for me and will continue to rest with me all my life. I remember where I was and who told me. (I was walking home from school when a friend ran out of his house and shouted “America is under attack!”).
Going back to last night. I didn’t watch it live (I’m in the UK, so it was 12am before even the first results came in), but I did watch the full victory speech today. I have to say, whoever wrote that speech deserves their weight in gold. It was the best speech I’ve ever heard, and Obama presented it in his usual, perfect, manner.
Excellent post, Wendi!
Jamie
Wendi,
I loved this post. Momentous, miraculaous, inspirational… you hit it all. I had early work today so I didn’t get to stay up last night. When I woke up, I pulled up CNN.com and I saw it… I surprised myself by crying. I didn’t think we, as a country, could do it. Get past race to look for leadership. I was so proud when I saw that over 64% of us got out and made our voices heard, and even more proud to see that we could write the first sentence in a new chapter in our history.
He wasn’t my original choice, so I didn’t think I’d be so emotional, but jeez I’ve choked up several times today. The levels of engagement were thrilling, no matter who you voted for, and the lesson to our children… all of you can be anything you want to be… hooray!
One small thought:
“Was it always there? Probably yes.” I’d tweak your next sentence:
It just took a man with the belief in *us* to show us the way.
Regards,
Kelly
P.S. Man on the moon—the moment I’ll never live down. My mother loves to tell how she propped me up in front of the t.v. and I dared not to think it was even vaguely interesting.
I was six months old. 🙂
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: S’Wonderful…
Jenny,
Thanks, so where were you last night when you heard the news? What will your memories be?
Jamie,
Thanks, I appreciate your comment, Yes, 9/11 is another one of those days with the exact opposite feeling to it, though in the days that followed I DO remember having some moments of watching how we all banded together and helped each other out and put aside our differences in stories and situations and thought, when pushed into action we Americans can be pretty darn amazing.
Kelly,
I’m sorry you missed it live, But I know that even re-watching some computer blurbs today have brought fresh tears. It’s pretty overwhelming. And point taken. But I think it’s both then. Faith in himself and in us. He was just unwavering all the way there in his vision and steely determination. That took a certian gumption, grit and determination from where he started. THAT takes self-faith. OR Faith in something MUCH higher.
I wasn’t born yet when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. The biggest national event in my lifetime, until last night, was 9/11. I watched in amazement as people on television all across the world celebrated and danced in the streets. Has that ever happened after a U.S. election? This is such an exciting time to be alive, such a proud moment in American history, the triumph of hope over fear. I feel honored to have been a part of it. Wow. Just wow.
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..The Biggest Writing Exercise in the World
Melissa,
although it was on the other side of the fence, there was almost similiar feeling of jubilee in the streets when Ronald Reagan became president for the first time. I was 20 and it was my first presidental election that I was able to vote in, I remember feeling very patriotic and that big change was sweeping across the nation then too.
But this…This eclipses everthing. Largest voter turn-out since-I think they said 1908 or something like that? Crazy….
Last night was the first night in twenty-five months, that I missed having a television. Thanks for documenting the event, Wendi. By the way, I don’t remember answering you earlier about this, but Jiminy Cricket you look fantastic. How could you possibly have that many children with that many years? Inspiring.
Writer Dad’s last blog post..Conversation That Pays Dividends
Sean,
Clearly, the Wendi-bird lives in Neverland. It’s the only explanation. 🙂
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: S’Wonderful…
@Wendi
Last night, when I watched Obama’s acceptance speech, I sensed this wasn’t just another talking-head politician blabbing in front ot the TV.
No, I suddenly realized this was something different. Something special and unique. A turning point. History was unfolding.
It’s not too often we witness events like this. We’ll be telling our great-grandkids about this one.
Friar’s last blog post..Mooning Around with Perfesser Friar
@Writer Dad
Oh, GEE WHIZ! Get a TV!!! 😀
Friar’s last blog post..Mooning Around with Perfesser Friar
What strikes me the most reading posts like yours about Obama’s success is what an incredible man he must be to evoke such emotion. And what an impact live radio and TV have on our emotions as well during such momentous occasions as declarations of war, presidential elections, voyages in space, walls falling, towers crumbling, natural disasters, and global triumphs.
It makes me wonder how much more fulfilling our lives would be if we relegated this kind of emotion and passion to all occasions in our small lives.
@Steph
Yes…Obama evokes emotion. That’s part of his charmisma.
So he’s good at getting people to listen to him and follow him. That’s an admirable trait.
But how GOOD he is at actually filling the office of the president remains to be seen. That’s a whole other set of skills.
It’s like hiring the perfect job candidate….You can’t really tell how well anyone will do their job, until they actually sit down at their desk.
I’m on a wait-and-see basis: For the record, I think he probably WILL do a great job. But I’m keeping an open mind.
Friar’s last blog post..Mooning Around with Perfesser Friar
Sean,
Thanks! You know, that picture was taken in San Diago, in the sun on vacation. Would you feel better if I sent you a picture after a stressful day with all the kids and grandkids? LOL, Believe me, there’s a difference.
And About the TV, they are good for movies and such and the special days like Moon walking and history making.
Kelly,
I should send you some of my Fat pictures before weight watchers. THAT would make you happy 🙂
Steph,
I don’t know if I WANT to be on that emotional of a ride every day! But…I do like living a life filled with emotional gratitude, so maybe that is kind of the same thing that you are trying to say. Far better than depression.
Friar, I have my finger’s crossed too. But let’s just say that I’m hopefully optimistic.
Dear Wendi-bird,
I have no doubt you were a gorgeous heavy person too. You’d be lovely at any weight, (and I am not the type of person who’d be happy if you weren’t, though I know there are folks like that).
On how he’ll do: I think self-fulfilling prophecies are all around us these days. Hate W., hate the state of affairs, pull money back, create panic-stricken recession. Believe in flag-waving again, believe there’s a guy there who’s gonna take us to new places, believe prosperity will return… I wouldn’t be surprised at all.
GroupThink is very powerful. Not taking anything away from what I believe will be his wonderful accomplishments, but it’s almost a shoo-in if enough of us think it is. This is a great moment (in part because we all think it’s a great moment!).
Until later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: S’Wonderful…
Like Jenny, I have goosebumps too, after reading this. Election day in America was an historic one this year, and very much a moment we will remember. It really does feel like a dawning of all that is possible, of how far we have come as a country. It is now in Obama’s hands to use this new position as an opportunity to continue what was started this week. These are exciting times to be alive…
Lance’s last blog post..Fear: Does It Hold You Back?