Yes We Can!

What a day and night. When I went to pick up my son in daycare they were calling out the electoral score. After dinner my husband said "Barack's won it," but it still wasn't clear, even though we knew California's electoral votes would put him over the top. But when McCain made his concession and Barack made his acceptance, there it was. A fact. President-elect.

The speech was wonderful. I have been scouting about for a transcript but I can't find one yet. There were several memorable lines, one of them being about how this is not change yet, but a chance to make change. What got the tears going was when he began to address the world, saying that those in parliaments and palaces, those huddled around radios in every corner of the planet, would know a new America not by her arms but by her democratic promise, her liberty, her ideals and ideas. I have never heard a presidential speech like that. Kennedy was before my time.

I was misty, but still in control. Then he finished the speech and the families came out. Now I started to cry in earnest. What a release. My son tried to be helpful: "Stop crying, Mommy. Just imagine that John McCain has won." "No, no -- I am enjoying the moment," I said. "This is a historical moment you got to see. I am crying because it is so powerful."

The most wrenching part for me came as the families retreated and he lingered alone on stage, humbly, almost in a resigned fashion, waving and acknowledging the crowd. Michelle Obama stood back at the curtain. Her body language was clear, to me. It was protective and adoring. Here stood this man, her husband, addressing millions -- billions -- of people. The camera came from high behind and above her, showing the distance between the two of them, he out on the stage, she waiting to leave it. Finally, he turned and walked back to her, almost gratefully she held him, and they disappeared behind the curtain. That just made me sob.

I didn't start out this election season expecting anything like this to come to fruition. Obama wasn't even my candidate. But as he said, his campaign was perhaps the best this country has ever seen. Nothing is ever perfect or static, but for a moment we can all enjoy knowing that our work has paid off, that the people have spoken, that democracy is meaningful. Now let's all get some sleep and dream of peace.