There was a moment today where I almost started crying with happiness. And even though it didn't happen, I'll never forget that feeling as long as I live.
I gotta confess that for the first time since arriving in New Zealand, I felt homesick. It felt horribly off and disorienting to not be in the thick of the election madness. I missed the camaraderie of others glued to the results, reflecting painfully on the last eight years and seeing change so tantalizingly close yet still shrouded in the ghost of uncertainty after going through 2004.
All day people came up to me mentioning the election in progress, noting in chipper Kiwi accents that it's "all so exciting" and "quite fun!" I could only offer a queasy smile, barely holding onto my nerves and refreshing CNN's Election Coverage every 15 minutes. (Honestly. I did nothing today at work. The boss understood.) Inevitably every three or four of those conversations brought my inner thoughts rushing to the surface and I'd overwhelm some poor co-worker just wanting to make small talk with all the neurosis of an anxious American bloated on months and months of election talk I felt bad watching them try to keep up. "Yes..Pennsylvania is a big win...So I ah should get going . Cheers"
Of course by late afternoon it was nothing but celebration. I made quite a few new friends today at work simply by drawing them into my cubicle Obama rally.
I'm so proud of America. It's an awkward and uncomfortable fit at the moment and I'm all too aware rough times are still ahead of us, but it's time to shake the dust off of the my patriotism and give it more significance than nostalgic memories of first seeing Indiana Jones as a child and watching Beerfest in college.
I still don't know how much time I"m going to be spending in the States in the future but goddamn does this feel nice.
Today was Guy Fawkes day and it fit perfectly into the mood.
New Zealand sends its love Obama, make us proud.
Fear the Big Boom Box!!!
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