Yesterday, on an unseasonably warm and sunny November day, there was a certain fervor in the the city of Chicago. Never before had I seen people so excited for an election before. All day, everyone's Facebook statuses spoke of election orientated stuff. Facebook even kept a counter of how many members voted. Never before had an election been as important as the one yesterday. I don't consider myself a political person at all--in fact, I hate talking about politics--but I got kinda interested in the circus over the past couple of days. Usually when people elect a president, it's between the lesser of two evils. But this year, I felt we finally had an adequate candidate in Obama. People are excited about him. People are comparing him to Reagan and FDR and JFK. People really wanted him in office. As a friend said, if we couldn't elect a democrat this time around, then there was no hope.
The best part about election day was the free stuff. If you presented your voter receipt to Starbucks, you got a free coffee. A lot of bars in town were offering free beers and shots upon presenting the receipt as well. It's an incentive to vote, I suppose. I went to my polling place (the same place I went four years ago in my first Chicago election) and tried to vote. It seems they didn't have my correct address and it took like 15 minutes to fill out new paperwork. The voter attendant then subtly insulted my poor penmanship. Whatever. I voted and immediately went to Starbucks and got my coffee. I hurried home and spent the rest of the day busily working on the newsletter (which I realize is a pain in the ass to do when you have other things to get done). My friend (who I should mention is from Montreal and isn't even an American citizen) kept coercing me to go to Grant Park for the Obama rally last night. I really wanted to go, but I didn't have a ticket and I didn't know if there would be riots or just crazy happy people. The boyfriend, a friend and I first stopped at a bar where we got a free beer with our receipt. We watched the election unfold on CNN. Chicagoans were so ardent about the election, especially since everyone was anticipating our hometown boy would soon be elected president of the free world. We anxiously watched and hoped for the best but prepared for the worse. When O-bombs took Pennsylvania and Ohio, I knew we were in a good place (yay OH for finally voting Democrat!). So we finished our beers and the boyfriend begrudgingly came with me to Grant Park.
Getting to the park was less of a hassle than I thought it would be. We didn't have to wait for a train and were able to get to the destination fast. There were hordes of people. There were vendors selling Obama t-shirts. It was like NYE in Times Square or an even bigger Lolla concert. I think the warm weather really brought people out. There was magic in the air. Chicago was so fucking alive. Grant Park is an historic site. 40 yrs ago is when the Democratic convention there went awry. This summer I finally saw Radiohead there. And now I was witnessing history. Since we didn't have tixs, we weren't allowed on the field, but there were enough other places in the park to stand. Monitors were placed all over the park so everyone could keep abreast of the results. About 20 minutes into our adventure, CNN announced Obama was the new president. People were cheering and dancing and so damn happy. There was such a melting pot of people in the park: blacks, people who didn't speak English, young people. You name it. It was like for one night all of us were connected. Even Oprah was there. It took Obama forever to come out and speak. I half-expected Kanye to burst out onstage and start rapping. When Obama finally spoke, I could hear his voice echoing from far, far away. Suddenly, everything felt right about the world. We did it. We made this happen. It can only get better from here.
After he spoke, we made our way out of the park. Streets were flooded with crowds and cops looking on. The train ride home was packed, but at least we didn't have to wait long for a train. The entire day was effortlessly, really. I never had to wait in a line or really for anything. I'm really glad I went to the park last night. It was such a historic event and spectacle--something I'll never forget. I can now say "I was there." There is an evil part of me that wondered what it would've been like if he'd lost. I bet the city would've burned down. I kinda would've liked to have seen the carnage. I guess we'll never know. I'm so proud to be living in Chicago at a time like this. Last night, Obama made us all proud not only to be Americans but to be Chicagoans. Today, everyone's Facebook statuses ring of happiness and hungoverness. Everyone is so giddy and rightly so. I just hope nothing bad happens to our new Prez. If history is any indication, bad things always seem to happen to the "great ones." But for now, we can bask in the glow that things are going to different. Better. It all gives me hope for the future ahead.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
I Was There
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4 comments:
I noticed I didn't read a single thing about the election on your blog up until election night where you were able to brag that "you were there". would have been nice if you'd been there helping to get him elected by working hard for it all along this last year like a lot of us. some of us were never hoping to see the rage and sadness that would have came if he had lost like it seems you were.
the free stuff was not the best thing about nov 4th. not by a long shot. i would hope a writer would know that but i guess writing about beer and relationships isn't really what I think of when I think of great writers anyway.
Hmm.."I guess writing about beer and relationships isn't really what I think of when I think of great writers anyway?" Ever hear of Bukowski, Fante, Richard Yates? They were all great writers and wrote about beer and relationships. And no, I'm not a political person, but I was inspired by the events that transpired over the past couple of days. And I voted for him. I did my part. And I was only half-serious about the free stuff.
I am sorry about that sentence. You're totally right about beer and relationships. I would never intentionally insult those topics. After all, what writing isn't about relationships? When I said "writing about beer and relationships" I should have just written "your blog" because that's what I really meant and I was only referring to relationships and beer in the context of your blog.
I was just venting in disgust over your typical freebie beer shoutout and hoping for carnage post because I worked hard to help Obama get elected and still wish I could have done more. I also understand that it is the right of everyone in america to not be political and so my shock at a writer who doesn't find themselves political is my problem and not yours. It's cool if you want others to go out and work for you so you have the freedom to continue writing whatever you want. You have that right. I would think people trying to whittle away at the right to freedom of the press, especially over the past 8 years, would kind of make you a little political as a writer but that is wrong of me to assume. Richard Yates is one of my favorite authors but I would never compare his writing to your blog. To his credit that idea would never ever have entered my mind as there was actual depth to his writings. What has come to my mind before is kinda Candace Bushnell wannabe style, but again, that's me being a jerk and I honestly don't want to be one. I've actually been ashamed that I even read your blog but I found it because I once had to check out your writing credentials for something and it became the car crash I slowed down to stare at.
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