And like everyone else, I would periodically check the news on my phone to see who was winning. Annoyingly, every time I checked, the reports would give vague, non-committal stories like 'Obama and Romney split Florida' or that it was too close to call. Finally, around 10:30 pm, my girlfriend sent me a series of text messages declaring that Obama had won.
Now obviously I felt the need to write something about momentous event, but I really wasn't sure what. Especially since I knew everyone and their mother was going to be blogging about it. I've already read 15 different blogs and they all did something about the different speeches or how their friends feel or how their dog reacted to the announcement that Obama won. Pretty much everything has been done.
So instead, I'll just share a few things I observed through out the day. Maybe some else thought of or had questions about these things, but I'm probably the only one crazy enough to write about them.
During the past few months, only like three people asked who I was going to vote for and why. Yesterday, before I even made it to lunch, I had 8 people corner me and ask me who I was voting for. When I told them who some were happy and others not so much, but afterwards I found myself watching/studying how other people reacted when asked who they voted for. The responses they gave and the way they said it, made me realize that voting is like a one night stand.
Most people are proud, very vocal and even brag about who they voted for. Kind of like your buddy telling the story about the woman he met at the bar last night. Other people like to keep who they voted for to themselves. Kind of like that kindergarten teacher who met your obnoxious friend at the bar last night. And finally there are a few people who after voting feel guilty and wish they had voted for some else. Kind of how every woman who goes home with your friend feels.
Signs. I noticed a huge increase in 'Vote for' signs. Sometimes I found myself driving down streets where the road was just lined with these signs. When I see all these signs I start to feel a little sad, because now that all the elections have come to an end, what is there left for the sign makers to do. Sure, they will do a few Garage Sale signs here and there or perhaps a Happy Birthday banner, but that's about it. I hope they find something to keep them busy for the next four years.
Maybe Obama could help them find something, because he took longer than Maria Carey to walk on stage. I'm not sure if he was busy talking to Romney or sorting through the M&M bowl in the Green Room to make sure there were no red ones. Or maybe Obama wanted to play this time around a little cooler. The first time he won, it took him less than a minute to hit the stage and give his speech. This time, I kind of picture him sitting in the Green Room in a big leather chair eating his M&Ms (no red ones, of course) watching the crowd waving their flag and thinking, "That's right people. This country is mine."
I also noticed that after about five minutes of nonstop flag waving and smiling and singing, people stopped rocking side to side and just stood there with their flag leaning to the side and a blank look on their face like, "What the hell man."
All and all it was a pretty interesting day. And the best part of all is that for the next three years I don't have to see one politically oriented commercial. There were a lot.
