Last night on November 4th we all partook in the most historical election that our country has ever witnessed. With the world’s eyes on our country’s hopes, we proved our victory in promise with change and reconstruction towards the things that have bruised our reputation and slaughtered our integrity to the entire planet.  And now with our recent election that has been viewed at like an anxious cat awaiting to pounce on the mouse when he exits his cavern, we have the good word and we move forward with much excitement and pride. We can possibly even be accounted for having some ethics and compassion too.

My first thought on all this was for the world. We had so much riding on all of this and we needed to show who we really are, and to be heard through all of the violence and silence to show that our nation is filled with so much greatness beyond how we were previously portrayed as a whole. I remember walking down the street in Ireland this past March and OB and I were approached by two 80 year old Irish chaps who felt compelled to question what we thought about our American politics and they were angered with the residual effect that the United States has on the world. It was to my assurance that many of us felt the same with them and that what we sought was change too. Though feeling as though you are culprit just by being an American, we could only wish that any change for the good would come in a manner more rapid than we could forsee, but it was a equation that we had to construct in a time will tell sort of fashion. The really cool thing though is that by the gathering of so many opinions, frustrations and ideas, it generated the energy of everyone and gave hope to the greater good which filled the entire nation with purpose.

My second thought was selfish. I understand that fingers were being pointed all around us as residents of the US, but there are so many of us and a lot of us that travel and share with the world and others our views and how much we were against the current administration and that we really are a nation of more good people than bad. Well, to me, as a solo traveller, a blond hair, blue eyed, clearly american solo traveler, this means a lot to me personally because it reinstates my safety and my associations. I always have had to be on gaurd of myself when putting myself in unknown countries and situations but I would never, never, never, ever let that interfere with my profound sense of freedom while traveling. However, there was always a stance I had to take and of course still will have to take and that is awareness of others judgments. But I feel that this may have lessened the strain on particular opinions of US citizens and that to me is an awesome feat to be recognized.

Not only is this such a historical accomplishment to turn the tables on what we have done but it is so much an act of excitement to show where we are going and it really rounds the course as to what America stands for and was built upon. To watch both canidates speaches last night was very powerful. The nation divided as it would appear by the close numbers and it was like a cowboy and indians movie. As we watched on both CNN and Democracy Now, with my two compadres Brian and Chris, we noted the intensity and directness of both sides, though only one side we thouroughly resonated with. Watching Obama speak in every instance is like watching an art gallery curator tend to a work of fine art. …..

-

I didn’t get to make it up to CA and Joe’s election party due to still recovering from the weekend of running amuck through the rain and ingesting my bodyweight in cocktails, however, it was a radical thing to open my front door and be able to hear the sound of champagne bottles pop off up and down the streets to miles away and cars honking and people celebrating in every direction. Even as I drove to work today, everyone was smiling. I also enjoyed watching the footage from Times Square to Kenya and experiancing what an impact this all is on the entire world. Wow, what an awesome time to live in for sure. It really pulls us all together and sends a lot of positivity out in to the world at a time that needs it the most. Makes me wish I could always be with the ones that I love to share in times like this. Let’s rock it onward bound!

-B