A new evening in America

I was driving back from the auto parts store tonight: I had to buy a small engine spark plug for our generator in case the electricity goes out again, as it has four times since July.

NPR, by way of KSKA 91.1, called the election for Barack Obama.

There was a deep yellow, three quarter moon in the southern sky above the Turnagain Arm (a.k.a., the Cook Inlet, a.k.a., the Pacific Ocean. Yes, I'm actually justa little bit closer to being able to see Russia from my doorstep.)

I've made snide, or cynical, or sad jokes for years after elections, riffing off of that scummy rotten bastard president's Morning in America theme. I thought, and hope, that this is a new kind of night, and can be a new kind of day in America.

I'm watching our next president walk out on the stage in Grant Park to give an acceptance speech. I listened a half hour ago to McCain give a mostly gracious speech conceding the election. I listened to his supporters in attendance in Phoenix booing Barack Obama's name.

In 1992, I danced and cheered and celebrated after knocking on doors, walking streets, standing on corners, and making calls for Bill Clinton. I stood in a ballroom celebrating Clinton/Gore 92 California's victory. The time that came after wasn't different: NAFTA, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Welfare to Work, Defense of Marriage Act, and so on, and so on.

Barack Obama just said in his speech "this time must be different." I agree wholeheartedly.

I have hope. I really do. I know that a better world is possible.

Now let's see Barack Obama make a better world. I look forward to it.