Dancing In The Streets

Last night there was literally dancing in the streets here in San Francisco.  I was over in Berkeley watching the coverage with a friend.  When it became clear that Obama was going to win, we got a few bottles of champagne together and walked over to the Obama campaign hub around the corner.  The scene there was, obviously, lively.  We passed around some champagne and watched McCain's gracious, and amazing concession speech (IMO if he had shown half that much character during the campaign it would have been a very different result).  Then we watched Obama's speech.  In between I had a conversation with an older black gentleman.  He has had a great many family members die while in military service.  During our talk he told me he felt proud to be an American for the first time, and that his kin were all facing upwards and smiling in their graves.  Then he thanked me for being part of this race, and for letting him be too.

Then the woman who had donated her building, time, and food to the effort over the past weeks, expressed her feelings.  She is a first generation Mexican-American.  She said this day meant that her children might finally be able to become the President some day too.

After the speeches I headed over the bridge back to home.  I met up with Daisy and we went around the corner to the local pub for a beer.  We were met with another ecstatic party scene.  As we got to the door, a group of people rushed into the intersection and started dancing and yelling and chanting and smiling.  More people came pouring in from all directions.  Eventually there were drums, fireworks, and the police blocked off the street from traffic and stood, watched, and let the party roll.

It was still going when I put my head to my pillow at 2am.

For me, the best part is that this morning the street was not trashed.  All the parked cars had not been vandalized.

People partied hard, and peacefully.

I don't know what this next four year term is going to produce, but I sure as hell love the way it's started!