Moving Forward with Hope

It’s hard to believe it’s been eight years since a recount in Florida sent George W. Bush to the White House and Al Gore on a path to greatness. I remember the disbelief and distrust when the election was finally called. Four years later, I remember being in a hotel room watching Kerry and Bush debate while on a business trip to Milwaukee. I was amazed how every lawn in the city seemed to have a campaign sign and how evenly split they were. I remember a sense of personal disbelief that Bush managed to get re-elected and a sense of resignation about what we were in for. Cynically, I felt that the country deserved whatever it got. So how amazing it was to watch the election results pour in last week, to hear that Pennsylvania had not fallen to the Republicans, that Ohio went blue and at the 11 PM witching hour (EST) to hear the stations were finally willing to call what the math was making obvious. Watching the images of the crowds cheering in Grant Park, Harlem, Times Square, and around the world was moving and testament that hope is back. This time around, as the mother of a 14 month old, I want the US to have a chance at what we deserve.

Yes we can. Yes we can.