What will you tell your grandchildren? Part II

I'll tell my grandchildren where I was, what I felt, and how far we've come.

Back in May I wrote a note touching on the primaries, at that time I was uncertain who I was voting for, and damn near embarrassed to say that there was a possibility I was going to voting for Clinton. I was brought up on the idea of a private ballot and I pretty much stuck to my guns on this election. Afterwards I talk about who I voted for and why, but I think it was obvious who I was voting for. The election came to a close around 10, if my memory serves me right, that's when I let it all hang out. I was at work in the convenience store, 1540, in Spring Garden Apartments. It had to be the slowest night I've ever had in the store and I had tuned into ABC radio when I clocked in. As I rang up my fellow students I gave updates to the electoral college votes. I shouted when Kay Hagan won and couldn't wait to get back to my room to see who won comissioner of insurance and court judges. When I heard Obama won, it was quiet and I was alone in the store. I couldn't believe it and I almost didn't know how to feel. After what seemed like a full minute of shock I jumped on the chair with my makeshift noise maker, a stapler, and screamed. Even though I'm only 22, I just had a pessimest outlook on America and thought there wouldn't be a black president in my life time. I was dead wrong. I think it says a lot about this country, that when there is a time of extreme crisis that we can work together.

Now don't get it twisted 'cause for a while I didn't think we could do it, nevertheless, I was going to do my civic duty and vote. I voted in the last election and I was really discouraged, even considered not voting in this election. It wasn't possible for me to avoid voting in this election. Over the summer I worked as a server (waitress) and I didn't make a lot of money, the blame was the economy. No one had extra money to spend on eating out, or tipping for that matter. What made it worse was that I needed the money, this wasn't a job for Lauren to buy new Aldos. There were moments where I cried because I felt that it wasn't going to get any better. My situation hasn't always been the best, but this time was really different, it was out of my control. The economy isn't going to skyrocket overnight, but I feel reassured that things are going to get better even though I always tell myself that.

Obama winning contributes to my hope, as I said before (read part I) God gives me hope. This time around I see there is hope in people and it makes me smile. I hope that Obama will do more than address the issues that I think are important, keeping in mind that it will take everyone to do their part (stay informed). I remember my mom telling me I could be anything I wanted to be. When I was 8 I wanted to be a scientist and the thought of being president never crossed my mind. I remember being that age when I saw the past presidents none of them looked like me with that in my brain being president wasn't in the books. I didn't believe I could be anything. Now, I can look at my little cousins and know they can "be judged on the content of their character and not the color of their skin." What's great about Obama is that he represents the fact that every American black experience is different, even though we all (I'd like to think so) have an understanding of what it is to be black in America.

Obama won, I'm still broke and about to graduate without a job (I didn't expect anything different) but I must say I feel a little bit taller these days.