I don't care what they want to call us. This morning at 6:03am EST, I was a real American. I can tell you what full blown patriotism feels like. It's watching the parking lot of your polling place fill up just before 6:00am, when there are usually just one or 2 cars there at this pre-dawn hour on election day. It's feeling your heart swell with pride in your country as you watch your fellow citizens line up to do the most patriotic duty an average citizen can perform - aside from signing up to serve in the armed forces.
It's relief at finding that you're still listed in the voter registration book. And it's feeling your hand shake as you sign your name. And it's feeling your heart swell even more as you press that button next to Barack Obama's name (and hope that your vote gets counted). And it's fighting back tears at the sight of more people streaming through that door as you leave. I have never in my long life felt more excited to vote - more proud to say I VOTED!
And I am not even an African American - just an OWW4O*. I can not imagine what they must be feeling as they perform this simple task.
Here in New Jersey, we do not have early voting. It all must get done today. Judging by what I have seen, the lines will be long. STFIL people - trust me you will be glad you did. Do it for Barack. Do it for Toot! Do it for yourself. Do it for your country. But do it.
The people I saw this morning were very exuberant and shouting good morning to one another - not something strangers do, as a rule here in north Jersey. People were even courteous as they jockeyed for parking spots and waited in the line of cars to get into the small lot. The times, indeed, are a changin'
I have a few things to do here at home, then I'm off to my local Obama office to do whatever they need me to do. Somehow, I have the feeling that I'm going to be fighting back tears on more than one occasion today.
Vote, vote, then volunteer. We can't stop until the polls close! Vote, then volunteer!
*Old white woman for Obama!