Proud

Win or lose on November 4th, I'm proud to be an American. We can agree to disagree. We vote and abide peacefully, if somewhat vociferously, with the outcome. We are not perfect, but we are creating "a more perfect union" each and every time we exercise our privilege in the voting booth.

CNN said that Nevada was the easiest state in which to vote. Thank heavens we are first in something, finally!

Early voting was quick and easy. Unless you left it until the last day and then the lines were forty-five minutes long--as my son found out. He's undecided. Not about which candidate to vote for, but whether to get up at the crack of dawn to stand in line and vote or else drag himself home from work and stand in line with all the other workers.

This is the first time I've gone to hear a candidate speak. It was worth getting up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning. It was worth standing in Peccole Field for three and a half hours to hear him. Our feet were pretty cold but our spirits were warm. Pledging allegiance to a gigantic American flag and listening to a sweet version of our national anthem were inspiring. All around me I heard people say things that I've been thinking for years. Some comments were about what was wrong with our country. But more were about the possibilities that we have begun to sense.

Like many other Boomers, I've been burnt by politicians and the government too many times to count during my voting years. I wasn't prepared to believe that a politician could be idealistic, could be believed, could be trusted. Much to my astonishment, I've been won over. The more I learn, the more I know he's the right man at the right time. He's not perfect, but he's thoughtful, intelligent and calm. More, he strikes a chord that resonates with a positive influence that I can only liken to John Kennedy. He not only makes me believe in him, he makes me believe in our government and in my ability to help change things for the better.

If I'm crying on Wednesday, it won't be because I sat on my rear.

(I just deleted a very long paragraph that began to ooze negativity.)

I've been inspired to campaign, to donate, to help get out the vote. I'm not the only one. Bless everyone who has made phone calls, stood in the cold, walked door to door, manned the early voting locations for long hours, and worked towards a successful outcome. I feel like I'm part of something special.

Win or lose, I cherish this moment when my idealism has resurfaced and my pride in America has never been stronger. As he said at the end of his speech, "God bless the United States of America!"

p.s. Don't believe the derogatory ads about Sen. Harry Reid--he's really a low-key, down-to-earth gentleman from a very small town in southern Nevada and he doesn't deserve to be slandered just because he's a Democrat.