lxforever

“You come at the king, you best not miss.”

—Omar, The Wire (Thanks Jeff)

“Happiness hit her like a train on a track / coming towards her stuck still no turning back … / the dog days are over / the dog days are done / the horses are coming / so you better run”

—Florence + The Machine

Wow.

Sometimes I still can’t believe we have a nonwhite man named Barack Obama as our president. And now we have him again.

Amazing.

This election was near-perfect. Just as with the London Olympics. The only things missing (Bachmann losing, marriage equality passing in Washington / Olys: event finals medals, men’s gold) were things I’d be getting too greedy for, after all of the fantastic things that did turn out: The President! MARRIAGE AMENDMENT FAILING!!! Voter ID not being passed!! Women women winning EVERYWHERE (even in ND – thanks Andrea) everywhere everywhere! Rape apologists losing losing losing, as they should. Elizabeth Warren! Tammy Baldwin! Marriage equality in Maine and Maryland! It really felt like a tide started turning, and I am so hopeful for that.

(You can’t get greedy after you get your hoped-for president/amendment outcomes and team gold/AA gold for Gabs. I mean, really.)

The only thing now that strikes me is that now, I have nothing to work for for Obama. I mean – don’t get me wrong – I want to see great, great things come of this second term, and I think they just might; and I’m (almost always) happy to support him; but now, what’s left? After becoming the first nonwhite president and making it two terms? (Just like with Gabby – so happy she won, but a little bit sad, because this truly is the pinnacle, and she’s so young yet. Alas.)

Ehhhh that’s fine. I’ll take it! I can’t imagine a better Oly/Election year in my lifetime, though, so I will soak this up while I can. (Crazy to think this may have been the pinnacle in that way, too.)

I woke up in the middle of the night to eat (yes…I know) and couldn’t resist checking the amendment races. When we’d gone to bed (um…after I passed out on the couch…classy), the marriage amendment in particular was neck and neck, and it was too scary to keep watching. The first thing I saw was Sara’s tweet at me saying my costume must have had something to do with it…and I got so hopeful and so excited. And then, there it was. We didn’t vote against equality after all; Minnesota was the first state not to vote such an amendment in once it was on the ballot. And I started crying right there in the kitchen, in the dark. So happy.

Also, Nate Silver/538 is a rock star. Just sayin’.

I’m also hopeful that this will bring the Repubs back to reality. Stop legislating morality, pushing your church on everyone, and trying to remain a rich-white-men-only club, and things might just work out for them. I’d be happy to see it, honestly. Hell, maybe they’ll become fiscal conservatives again, too. I can get behind that. But maybe that’s asking too much. It would be wonderful to see, though, some lessons learned from this, somehow. Let the Teaparty have their religion-crazed folks and get back to the basics, Rs. Hmmmm.

Maybe too hopeful.

Maybe Chris Christie can be it? (Or not. Hmmm.)

But whatever, today is a day to celebrate. Here’s to equality for all!!! HOORAY!!!!!!!!!

Happy birthday tomorrow to Andrea and Amy, Friday to Waning Moon, and Saturday to Katy and Tiffany!!