yes, we did.

This day is electric.

Since 10 AM this morning I have scoured queens looking for a copy of the New York times. In my little hamlet of Briarwood, in between Forest Hills and Kew Gardens and Jamaica, there must be no less than 40 bodegas, gas stations and stationery stores. ALL of them had sold out of newspapers long before I got there. I ventured into the Hasidic area, hoping there was a lone copy hidden underneath the Jewish Daily (a real newspaper, thank you). There was not. I strolled down Union Turnpike to the Hispanic area and was met with giggles when I inquired if the Shell station had any copies hidden in the back. The attendant said "We were sold out hours ago." He then added: "It's an important day!" Yeah, I think I heard something about that.

I re-read some of my blogs from 4 years ago. The devastation I felt that day was palpable. I was sad for days. I felt like I had worked and worked and hadn't been heard.

But not today.

Today is electric. And as I walk through all of these different areas and different streets passing by people who look different from me I realized: things are going to be different. We are breaking away from our station as the world's police, a beacon of over-consumption and lack of culture and reminding everyone else: we are a great nation... dare I say the greatest. A place where the answer to any dream is "yes, you can!"

I was continually impressed and humbled by my friends who worked tirelessly campaigning and talking and fighting for this day. I was even more impressed that some of them could not even vote and yet dedicated their time and energy and were right next to me drying tears from their eyes when the winner was declared.

I do believe that one of the greatest moments of my life was when I looked up at the television screen and saw the projection of who would be our next President. I will treasure that for as long as I live.

Now, if only I could find a New York Times...