Yes, We Did!

What started in Iowa City ended in Chicago's Grant Park. And I was there every step of the way.

On Earth Day 2007, I was nestled snugly inside mommy's tummy with only a month to go in development, and mommy and daddy went to the old capitol in downtown Iowa City and heard Barack Obama in person. Mommy was impressed and intrigued by the experience, but remained skeptical. Her realist approach is something we all admire and I look forward to inheriting. Daddy, however, was smitten from the first few bars of "City of Blinding Lights", the U2 song that Obama uses to enter his rallies.

In October 2007, daddy took me to the Coralville Marriot to meet Mr Obama in person. I was mesmerized by the experience, and it was a little overwhelming for me. Daddy had made his voting decision, but the encounter helped show how Obama could appeal to others. Here's the blog: http://sophiehouse.blogspot.com/2007/10/meeting-barack-obama.html

The first real step into history was taken 3 months later in the frozen snows of an Iowan January when the whole family attended the caucus at our local school. Packed into to tiny gym, the 300 people spoke clearly and forcefully in favor of a new direction. As I wrote in my blog, it was the moment that Iowa began to change the world: http://sophiehouse.blogspot.com/2008/01/caucus-night.html

Many were surprised by Obama's strong showing in Iowa, but daddy had predicted it 2 months before, based on Iowa's football team lack of a bowl game. Remarkably, this blog is cited and cross linked throughout the internet (based on google search results):

http://underdogcontest.blogspot.com/2007/11/butterfly-in-china.html

Mommy was still skeptical of Obama, and fought bravely to put Hillary into office. I know that she did this for me. She wanted to be sure that I grow up in a nation that ignores sex when it comes to hiring and judgement. Although Hillary fell short, mommy can rest assured that he goal was met. Hillary was not a woman candidate for President- she was a candidate for President who happened to be a woman. Yes, mom- I get it. Yes, gran- I get it. Yes, Ada- I get it. I can be anything I want to be. Sasha and Malia Obama can grow up to be President. And so can I. Thank you, Hillary.

Once the nomination was clinched, we did not see Mr Obama in Iowa again. He visited, but not to Iowa City. He knew that our county was a done deal and he was right. Daddy volunteered by getting people he knew to vote early. He took me to the county offices to vote early. He likes voting- he says it makes him feel powerful. Mommy voted a little later at the hospital, in their satellite voting. All we could do was wait until November 4th.

Today just happened to also be Daddy day, so we went to breakfast at Lou Henri's - my favorite spot. Later, Daddy picked my up early from day care and took me to the hospital to see mommy. We brought her and her office some Obama stickers. Mommy pointed to the face on the sticker and asked me who that was and I said, " 'Bama"! As we left the clinic, we passed a photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King. Daddy was reminded that 40 years ago King proclaimed he had a dream that sons of slave and sons of slave owners would sit down to a table together. Amazingly, that dream has now come true.

We had nothing else to do until the election returns started pouring in, so I helped daddy rake the leaves. It was a beautiful evening- warm and calm. And full of anticipation.

I went to bed on time, as usual. Daddy promised to tell me all about it in the morning, then welcomed a few of his residents into the basement to watch the results. At 10:55pm CST, I awoke spontaneously and upset. When mommy and daddy brought me some milk, I felt a little better. But I sensed something happening and I refused to go back to bed. Daddy relented and brought me downstairs, where President Elect Barack Obama had just started his big speech from Grant Park in Chicago. A park that I have been to on numerous occasions. When I frst say the screen, I called out, "Bama!" I watched itently, snuggling in daddy's lap. I pointed at daddy's sticker and then to a Obama poster, clearly demonstrating understanding of the moment. To their credit, my parents let me watch the speech and then took me back up to bed.

Calling Mr Obama "president elect" is so wierd and so amazing. 40 years after Dr King's speech, America took a step beyond race and elected a "skinny kid with a funny name". Daddy was so emotional during the Grant Park speech- crying tears of joy. It has been such a long road and, finally, at age 37, daddy cast his presidential vote for the winner for the first time in his life. Mommy is equally thankful of the results. Barack Obama will be my president for the first years of my life, and, possibly, the only president I will know for 8 years. My parents believe they chose wisely- lets all hope so.