Catch me, heal me, lift me back onto the sun

[exsequar]

So I could talk about how Prof Moss gave me an A and preciously glowing comments on my Cinema paper ("extremely insightful" and "a pleasure to read", as well as telling me he actually learned something from it! Precious <3), or how I have another massive biochem lab report due tomorrow and the clock is ticking, or how I'm just perpetually tired, or about PANIC IN FIVE DAYS!!, or BECCA IN FIVE DAYS!!!, or the freezing, shitty weather we're having, or any number of things.

But instead? MOAR POLITICS! \o/

Today was a wonderfully Obama-ish day! In the college center, there was an Obama table with info and volunteer sheets and posters, so I took an absolutely gorgeous poster and signed up to volunteer on Saturday and Election Day. YAY OBAMA! Then I went to the mail room and my Obama t-shirt had finally arrived, YAY AGAIN! I'll be all ready to gear up for volunteering! Then I went to my job at the library, and the book I had requested, Barack Obama's memoir (because our library's copy had been missing for two months, boo), had arrived, so I abused my position as cataloging room worker and processed and checked out the book for myself :D Then I went to the bookstore and picked out a present for my friend Fei's birthday, a book called Obamanomics, because she's an economics major and an Obama lover! :)

Reading Sean Quinn's "On the Road" series over at FiveThirtyEight.com has really been a major source of fuel for my optimism and passion. He's written so eloquently (accompanied by gorgeous photos by Brett Marty) about volunteer efforts across the whole country, about thriving Obama "Campaign for Change" offices scattered everywhere, more often than not paired with practically (or literally) dead Republican offices. It's uplifting and illustrates in a very real way the sea change that is happening in this country right now. Quite often he makes me cry, and this week was no different. Here is his most personal anecdote yet. It makes me want to give him a big old hug. His MOM left a comment on the blog saying how proud she was of him! Say it with me: awwwwwwww. So anyway, yes, here, have some of Sean Quinn's beautiful words:

"Now I have a confession. Even Brett doesn't know this. I hope it doesn't lessen the professional work we're trying to accomplish in chronicling this historic election on the ground, but if it does, I'll live with it. There is something stirring in America.

Back at the rally, after the march had left MLK Gardens, I'd gone back for the car while Brett took photos, and I spotted a very old black man in a sharp Sunday suit walking slowly at the very back of the huge march. He hadn't yet arrived at the voting center, and I decided to find him when I got back.

I wanted to go talk to him, to ask him what this moment meant to him. He was a guy who you take one glance at, and know, that guy's seen it all. I wanted a quote. I had my journalist hat on. I thought, this will be great.

So when I got back to the voting location with the car, I went to find him in the line. Eventually I spotted him, and was ready to walk up the few feet between us and introduce myself when I stopped in my tracks.

A young black boy, no more than eight years old, walked up to this man, who was at least eighty. The boy offered the man a sticker, probably an "I Voted" sticker, but I couldn't see. The man took the sticker and paused. Silently, he looked down at the boy, who was looking back up at the man. The man put his hand gently on the boy's head, and I saw his eyes glisten.

I didn't ask the man for a quote. I didn't need to. I walked over by myself, behind the community center, and I sat down on a bench next to the track, and wept." ~ Sean Quinn (Raleigh, North Carolina. 10/28)

One more week...

Comments

[redbrickrose.livejournal.com]

One more week.

Ive never had hope like this.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Fiiiive daaaaays! *jitters*

[pretentiousboys.livejournal.com]

this is going to happen. it has to happen. think about election night. i'm going to scream my head off. ... and then maybe cry for a while. i've never wanted something bigger than myself, not like this. :')

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

I am going to sob and laugh and scream and flail and get REALLYDRUNK. *beams*

And yes, that's exactly this. I've been so wrapped up in my little world, and now I'm so invested in something HUGE, the leadership of the free world, and it feels rather incredible.

[musical-emjay.livejournal.com]

Oh mannnnn ;____________;

Seriously, can I magically vote with my BRAIN? Like, can someone make that happen? Watching from the sidelines is making me all ITCHY and PANIC-Y and STRESSED D: I CANNOT AFFECT WHAT HAPPENS AND IT'S GIVING ME HIVES /o\

(Also, YAY YAY CONGRATS on your Film paper! :D Do you think I could maybe give it a read? I'd love to see what you came up with!)

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

I WISH YOU COULD! D: I am going to think of all my awesome international flisters rooting for us when I go to the polls, and I'll push that button or fill in that arrow with real vim and vigor, so it will kinda be like you voted! Or something! :P

GOBAMA!

And thanks sweetie! Sure, email sent! :D