election day

 

for me, the moments are few: the space shuttle challenger disaster; the death of john f. kennedy junior; the terrorist attacks of 09.11.01. to this point in my life, these are the newsworthy events, so powerful, i will always remember precisely where i was, and what i was doing the moment i learned of or witnessed them. in so many ways, on so many levels, this election has been, for me, like no other in my lifetime. i am neither a democrat nor am i a republican. i am simply an american voting my heart and my mind and my conscience, and i have voted for both parties in my lifetime. yet, never before in my life have i wept tears of joy and hope, and belief in remarkable goodness and change while filling out my election ballot; nor witnessed tears in the eyes of so many others around me, as we all cast our votes for the candidate of our choice at the polls on this historic election day. always i feel incredibly thankful for my freedom, grateful for this amazing nation i was born and raised in, and respectful gratitude for my right and privilege to vote; yet, never have i felt more profoundly aware of the magnitude of the importance and significance held in my vote. and today, i add one more event to that list of rare and powerful moments in my lifetime; this time, a proud and joyous one: for as long as i live, i will always remember where i was and what i was doing, on november 4, 2008 the extraordinary moment in time when barack obama became our 44th president of these great united states of america.

~ janean christine mariani