The Rebirth of Democracy

Report from Avenue C

I am up late working—it's actually 3 am here; the clock on this blog is all wonky—and the revelers have not quit, shouting "Obama!" into the night with drunken glee. I am happy. Tears rolled down my face when the announcement came. I kissed my daughter and told her the world was about to get better. Well, didn't it? It just did.

I wish King were alive to see this. I wish Obama's mother and grandma were alive. But you know, maybe one thing couldn't have happened without the passing of the other, sadly. All I know is, I'm never gonna forget this night, when Barack Obama became president, and the 21st century started with a funky-ass bang!, and everything seemed possible again, at least for a minute. Let's hold on to this.

When Obama won Iowa, I said, "Well congratulations, Mr. Obama. Would be cool to have someone cool in the White House again.

Now happily, I can say, "Congratulations, Mr. President-Elect. This is all very, very cool already."

And p.s., His acceptance speech was one of his best; and McCain was classy; and Katie Couric did the best job of the night, I thought (good for Katie); and, oh, it's just one of those nights that we all read about, and dream about, and now we lived it.