A.O. (After Obama)

I'm still numb. I live in Chicago ,where I have seen Barack Obama many times before he started his presidential election campaign. I took my 12-year-old daughter and canvassed for him in Gary, Indiana, knocking on doors and venturing into trailer parks. By the end of October, I knew that he would win, if not just because people are suffering in this country in ways that they never have before. I walked into my polling area and was greeted with two different methods of voting--paper or electronic. I didn't take this lightly. I know of many places where the privilege of voting is not guaranteed and there are no such choices. But I hesitated. Which would be the most fool-proof? Which ballot would be guaranteed as counted? I did not take this lightly either. A poll watcher saw my hesitation and explained that both methods were backed up with an electronic disc. I chose electronic because I figured my photos would come out better.

I took a photo of my voting card.

I took a photo of the historic ballot.


After I cast my ballot and attached my "I voted" sticker, I drifted out of the polling place, dazed. A woman stopped to ask how long the lines were. She had voted early and waited for 3 hours. We talked for an hour about history, injustice and how change would have to come, one way or another. I feel the change already. People are smiling and giddy everywhere. I have received calls and congratulations from all over the world. It's like we all participated in a global push for change and it worked. It's here. It's just going to take a while for me to absorb it.