This was originally posted on my facebook page Wednesday 11/5/08 at 10:23pm.
Last night at 8:00 PM, I leaned against a brick column outside the Loyola University gym watching as Brian finished up his duties as Electoral Judge. I can’t say I was waiting patiently, as I was full of adrenalin eager to head to Grant Park for what I expected to be the most historic event of my lifetime.
Only 3 hours prior, I learned that I was a ticket holder to the Obama rally. When I opened the e-mail, I stared in disbelief at first thinking it was a cruel joke. I expected to read something like, “you still have a chance to win a backstage pass if you donate more money”. But it was real. I was having a bit of a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory moment…I had a golden ticket. I printed the ticket as fast I could, and stapled the two pages together to make sure nothing got lost. Then, I neatly folded the pages into my back pocket so I would do a stupid thing like forget it, but also worried in the back of my mind that it would fall out.
Back at Loyola, I motioned “1-0-2” with my hand as Brian glanced outside. I hoped he knew it meant how many electoral votes Obama had racked up so far. I was trying to stay updated using my phone, and briefly thought that I should have stayed at home longer than I did so I would know more. If I remember correctly they had just projected Pennsylvania and I knew it was an important state in the election. My fears of close states all going to McCain had subsided at that moment.
From the moment I got the rally ticket, I felt as if I were in a dream. Nothing seemed quite real to me. The train ride downtown was filling up with people all going to the same place – with or without their “golden” tickets. I was staring at the subway tunnel walls wondering what the night would bring as we seemed to creep along towards our stop. “Four more stops. Three more stops.” I remember thinking.
Finally, we’re out of the subway and walking as fast as we can to the entrance of Grant Park. The one advantage I would have had by staying at home longer would have been to realize that the line to get in was incredibly long. We had to walk a half a mile south to get to the end of the line. I could feel the excitement deflating as Brian mentioned that we may not even get to see anything if it takes this long to get in.
With spotty cell phone service we both used our phones to find out anything we could. Suddenly, crying cheering honking and excitement filled the streets. People started filling street corners and coming outside. It was over. But just to be sure, Brian called his mom who told him that the election indeed had just been called for Obama. We were roughly opposite the Hilton Chicago on Michigan around this time. And while I would have liked to see the official call for myself on TV, seeing the tears stroll down the faces behind us, the spontaneous hugging and cheering all around us was priceless.
At this point, the line was moving faster than ever before. A woman was running up and down the line proclaiming that McCain was conceding – to which Brian joked, “McCain is conceited?!”. We could hear McCain’s concession speech as we rushed inside to find an acceptable spot with the stage and Jumbo-tron in view. We settled behind a row of trees at the outskirts of the crowd.
I still don’t think I could believe it. We were there. We may not have had a great view, but we were there. Occasionally I jumped up and down unable to contain my excitement. People started climbing the trees around us just to have a view.
I had no idea how soon Obama was going to come out. There was an invocation, the national anthem, pledge of allegiance, a few songs and there he was – The Next President of the United States, Barack Obama! I was in awe as the Obama family took the stage and admired Obama’s young daughters and wondered what they must be thinking.
I turned my camera on video and started recording as Barack Obama began to speak. As always, his words moved me. I laughed when he promised his girls a puppy. I smiled when he spoke of the 106 year-old woman who had lived through so much history. He was accepting the Presidency with great eloquence, and we were there.
Shortly after his speech was over, we left Grant Park. There was no violence. There was no anger. It’s as if the entire city of Chicago had been lifted up and we witnessed the most elated group of people I have ever seen. High fives, cheering, and happiness. Happiness that was shared among strangers and friends. Will we see photos of two strangers kissing in the street? Will we see stories emerge about kindness and gratitude? What will be remembered about this historic night?
We walked south so we could get on the train before the crowd. We arrived home fairly late and starved since neither of us had dinner. Even the 24-hour Subway was closed. I knew I needed to sleep because I needed to work the next day. But I knew I could go to sleep , still living this dream and know that our country will be in good hands.
As I stare at my “golden” ticket from last night, I see that it is already tattered and torn from countless folding and unfolding – both from my own disbelief and from passing through security. I wonder if my ticket to history will survive over the years but know the memories will last forever.
Last night when the eyes of the world were on Chicago, we were there. When a historical barrier was broken and the glass ceiling was shattered, we were there. When Obama spoke of hope and promise, we were there.
We were there. And we will never forget.
