Morning after Election Day

I stayed up too late last night. I couldn’t help it. Today is our little guy's birthday, so I'll push through with as much energy as I can muster to keep it special. We watched as the election results around the country were coming in and felt something like hope for the first time in some years. That and ice cream cake will carry me through the day.

When our boy was born in 2019, we couldn't have possibly predicted the events that unfolded over the first seven years of his life: Covid lockdown, leukemia, a second trump presidency and all of the garbage that's come along with it, and now, a moment of renewed hope.

Each year that goes by, the more amazed I am with these boys. A common sentiment held by parents, to be sure. But as they grow and come into their own personalities, the more I like them, in addition to loving them. They're smart and sarcastic. They love hard and fight hard. They feel and think deeply, for 7 and 10 year olds. And god, I would do anything to secure a good future for them. It was for them that I felt so much sadness about the direction our country has been heading under this administration.

It’s wild that things had to get this bad, that hate had to be so out in the open, that it had to affect people’s money for change to occur. And that human rights and empathy for those who need the most help in this country couldn't be enough to motivate this electorate.

I think it’s hard to imagine how many people live in this country. We think we’re so interconnected, think we know a lot of people because of technology and social media, but to wrap our minds around how many people 343 million (343,000,000 - seeing all the zeros makes a difference) really is might be too daunting a task for most. 

This once-in-a-generation beat-down is definitive. Thank goodness. The relief coursing through my veins has replaced the cortisol that was racing through them all day. Maybe regular people will see representation again. Maybe our country won't roll over and cater to billionaires anymore. Please, let that be the case.

Watching James Talarico give his victory speech lifted my spirits. Things could be different. Indifference doesn't have to win the day. It can be ok again, accepted even, to care, to show we care without being called cringe. Cringe is stupid. Caring is awesome.

Because always, locally, we can do more. There are issues that affect only our own communities, there are people who need help right around us. Those are changes we can make right now, and we don’t have to wait two more years to vote for them. 

Last night was a good night. Things are moving in the right direction. But we can’t stop now. Now is a starting point.

So happy birthday, sweet boy. Your country has given you a glimmer of hope today.