182. It's been a momentous November.

Two days ago we chose a new president. Some believe that we have been choosing a new president for quite some time now. I was lucky enough to be a part of this election. I am now lucky enough to say that my first presidential election is the most historic election that has ever taken place in the United States of America. I am a proud person. Proud in numerous ways. I'm proud of myself for getting out there and voting. I'm proud of our country for coming together and realizing that a change is necessary. I'm proud of Obama. I do believe that he has his work cut out for him. I also believe that us as a country cannot sit back now that this election is over and watch Obama try and fix the mess that was created. We must continue to fight. We must continue to come together and work for a change. Obama says "yes WE can", not "yes I can". He's talking to you. Realize that. Sitting in front of the television watching Obama give his speech makes shivers run down my spine even now. The words that he said were not just for the people that voted for him. His words were for every single person...no matter who they were...no matter where they were. What we have to realize is that this is bigger than all of us. I was raised in a home where I truly was able to conceive and believe in the actual idea of an African American becoming president. I was raised to believe in working for the betterment of myself and others. Giving up is never an option. Not believing is never an option. This whole election truly opened my eyes and made me realize that in America, we really can do anything. Possibilities are endless as to what we can achieve if we are passionate about movement and progress. For the first time in a long time I have so much hope in America. There is light out there. Let's continue to make the movement. Be that change. Create that change.

On a different note, Prop 8 passed. I'd just like to point out that it passed by a very slim margin. I know that for many of you out there, it doesn't matter what margin it was passed by because it still means that equality has not shined and been raised up. The way I look at it is this. We as a state have passed gay marriage once before...we can do it again. Even better...we will do it again. Equality is a struggle. But equality is this struggle that has been ongoing since the dawn of days. I'm not making an excuse for it so please do not misinterpret what I'm trying to get across. Instead of focusing on the fact that it passed...focus on what we as a state did accomplish. Prop 8 passed by four points. Four points people. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that a year ago, Prop 8 would have passed by a much larger margin. I'm going to go out on a further limb and tell you that four years ago, it would have passed by an overwhelming margin. So look there...if you still have doubts about what our state has accomplished. We are moving in the right direction. Not everyone is going to agree. That's sort of the beauty of choice and voting and having a voice out there. This will make the struggle that much more powerful. Love is love folks. In the end no one can take that away from you. Just remember that. No one can take away your feelings, your passion, and your love. Those things are unexplainable. Those things are what make fighting for something you believe in worth it in the first place. Keep on keepin' on. The day will come.



Bottom line...all I know, is I want to live for a living. Waking up each morning believing in someone or something- now that is life. As I've gotten more accustomed to the lifestyle of enjoying what I have and what I do each and everyday, these past few mornings I've seen a new ray of sun that I thought was a little lost. I'm glad it's back...it's about time.






"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
-Barack Obama






















Grant Park. November 4, 2008.