Making History

Last night we headed out to the Virginia Beach Convention Center to go to the Barak Obama rally. It's the largest space in the area, capable of holding 10,000 people. Doors were supposed to open at 5:30, and the rally was to start at 7:30. When we got arrived at 6:30 there were thousands and thousands of people waiting in line. The lines wrapped around the building in two places, around the parking lot at least 4 times and made their way all the way over to the hotel next door. I heard on the news today that the first person in line had been waiting since 9AM that morning! We were so far back in line we were sure we weren't going to make it in. I wrapped Jules up in the new Inka and he quickly went to sleep despite the fierce wind whipping around and the cool temperature outside. With his head tucked inside his cozy nest he was warm and snug.

Suddenly a little after 7:30, everyone started breaking out of their lines and making a mad dash run for the front doors. The energy was high and intense, so many people wanted to see him speak. Once we were inside everyone crowded up as close as they could get to the stage, and when he spoke everyone had to stand on tippy toes to see his face. It was an awesome experience, and I am so glad we were able to go, and even more happy to bring Jules and begin his (albeit early) education and exposure to political participation. I don't want him to grow up being apathetic like so many young people today, I want him to get involved and vote, and take part in the discussion. He slept peacefully through the whole rally, just shifting around when people were cheering loudly, and woke as we were walking out to peer out at all the people and noise and light.

So tomorrow Jules and I will head out to our neighborhood polling place, and I will get to cast my vote in this very tight running Democratic race. And for the first time, I feel like my vote might actually count.