It's the future.
At least, you know, to the people reading this in the States. It's 11:18 pm on November 5th (to be exact). From the time I got home after work yesterday, until the time the first projections started coming in was about a six hour wait. And you know what? I couldn't take it. On Monday, I was just feeling nervous; however, by Tuesday at 6pm (future time) I was basically having like a full on panic attack. Not dread, but having had a good two weeks from the time I sent in my absentee ballot to reflect on the ramifications of this year's election, the overwhelming significance really manifested itself in a physical way.
One of the only things that kept me from passing out from the stress was keeping a close eye on my Facebook live feed. My network isn't absurdly huge, but it's a good cross section of friends and family from all over the country (and the world). It was amazing to see how pumped up everyone was and reassuring to see the updated status reports by the minute.
Cupcake chronicled her status from pretty much the moment she woke up, until the moment she got to the lever (and then some). A. Neezy-Peezy kept me updated on the goings on in Wisconsin where she took the day off and spent it volunteering for the Obama campaign. Supa D wrapped up her whirlwind USA Politaoke Tour Part Deux. EEJ basically just liveblogged the shit out of whole damn day. And that's just to name a few...
Still, by the time evening rolled around (here in the future), I felt like I was just going to keel over at any minute. I managed to make tacos and eat approximately one. And although plans had been made to watch CNN until (at least) midnight -- I just couldn't do it.
Election Day/Night 2000 was spent in my dorm room in Scales House playing The Sims and sleeping like a baby. I voted, but the outcome didn't matter so much to me. In 2004, I paid much closer attention, watching CNN in my East German Apartment from Yesteryear in Dresden and thinking, "Seriously...are you kidding me?!" Although I wasn't completely devastated, my confidence was more shaken than I would have admitted at the time.
That said, I got out of bed this morning (after a few "helpful"(?) wake up calls -- fuuuuuuture!!!!) with a good deal of that confidence restored. Not only because of the election results, but also because of sheer voter turnout. Just the fact that so many people on both sides went out to make their voices heard, stirs up feelings that I can't put in to words at the moment. Maybe I never will be able to, I guess.
When I entered the subway on the way to work this morning, (literally) everyone in the car had a newspaper. Everyone was reading about what we had accomplished! I felt really really good. Proud even. Couldn't stop beaming.
Good job, everyone! And, for all who voted, regardless of your candidate of choice, my sincerest thanks!
Anyway, as of this moment, it's 12:02am (future time) on November 6th and I have to get up for work in 8 hours...
At least, you know, to the people reading this in the States. It's 11:18 pm on November 5th (to be exact). From the time I got home after work yesterday, until the time the first projections started coming in was about a six hour wait. And you know what? I couldn't take it. On Monday, I was just feeling nervous; however, by Tuesday at 6pm (future time) I was basically having like a full on panic attack. Not dread, but having had a good two weeks from the time I sent in my absentee ballot to reflect on the ramifications of this year's election, the overwhelming significance really manifested itself in a physical way.
One of the only things that kept me from passing out from the stress was keeping a close eye on my Facebook live feed. My network isn't absurdly huge, but it's a good cross section of friends and family from all over the country (and the world). It was amazing to see how pumped up everyone was and reassuring to see the updated status reports by the minute.
Cupcake chronicled her status from pretty much the moment she woke up, until the moment she got to the lever (and then some). A. Neezy-Peezy kept me updated on the goings on in Wisconsin where she took the day off and spent it volunteering for the Obama campaign. Supa D wrapped up her whirlwind USA Politaoke Tour Part Deux. EEJ basically just liveblogged the shit out of whole damn day. And that's just to name a few...
Still, by the time evening rolled around (here in the future), I felt like I was just going to keel over at any minute. I managed to make tacos and eat approximately one. And although plans had been made to watch CNN until (at least) midnight -- I just couldn't do it.
Election Day/Night 2000 was spent in my dorm room in Scales House playing The Sims and sleeping like a baby. I voted, but the outcome didn't matter so much to me. In 2004, I paid much closer attention, watching CNN in my East German Apartment from Yesteryear in Dresden and thinking, "Seriously...are you kidding me?!" Although I wasn't completely devastated, my confidence was more shaken than I would have admitted at the time.
That said, I got out of bed this morning (after a few "helpful"(?) wake up calls -- fuuuuuuture!!!!) with a good deal of that confidence restored. Not only because of the election results, but also because of sheer voter turnout. Just the fact that so many people on both sides went out to make their voices heard, stirs up feelings that I can't put in to words at the moment. Maybe I never will be able to, I guess.
When I entered the subway on the way to work this morning, (literally) everyone in the car had a newspaper. Everyone was reading about what we had accomplished! I felt really really good. Proud even. Couldn't stop beaming.
Good job, everyone! And, for all who voted, regardless of your candidate of choice, my sincerest thanks!
Anyway, as of this moment, it's 12:02am (future time) on November 6th and I have to get up for work in 8 hours...
Comments
However, prop 8 passed. It was confusing. Vote yes if you were against gay marriage and vote no if you wanted to keep it. I think people may have voted wrong.
reason i clicked on your linkylink was because i had a queer friend named Raven, also a feminist (in the way that coastal cities embrace ideals to the point where the next generation after that has many of the civil rights already embedded in their psyche and social sense), also a woman of color and for a second, i thought "does she have a hidden blog??"
anyway. i was just going to tell you that i thought you were funny.
but then i read your post on future time after Nov 4.. taking into account you being in GER (one of my best friends is now in Eindhoven).. i felt the same beaming-ness. majority of which around 10pm Nov 4th, while getting kicked off the bus in San Francisco because public celebration flowed onto the streets. Yes there was Prop 8 to be sad for, but the greater battle seemed to be won, and people reveled. I watched the events unfold so closely that day, during work, i barely got anything done. it was close at one point, and to have it turn out the way it did, followed by Obama's (AND McCain's) speeches, well -- lets just say there were no words. You know what I mean, that wordless pride and stupification that came on.
we were all a part of something that day, and not just the US. Even on flickr (one of the most intl communities on the net) did I find comments from Norway, UK, Russia congratulating us, saying Nov 4 was the moment they fell in love with America, and such.
and so now the attention turns to the transition.. and the Clintons.. and of course, Prop 8. which is far from over.
see, that's what most people I personally know said afterwards, with a shrug, like optimistic dismissal - "well, you know, it's not over."
peace miss curvy brown you. no, not the other one -- YOU.
haha.
(i'm shorter, light brown, and ubiquitously Asian, have basic/swept hair, living in California, so I'm no stranger to this either...it even gets me drinks??)
-waylan.
thanks for the compliment and the comment. the comment-pliment? anyway...yeah...sorry for the slow response. been busy this week.
nov 5th was one of those days that i think i'll always have in my memory for the rest of my life. people at work were literally congratulating me with like a fonzy-style "eyyyyyyyyyy!"
it was, to sum it up, crazy....in a good way.
also, i don't know why, but i really like the phrase "optimistic dismissal". it's a great description...
i feel myself thinking maybe something similar, in a way. i have confidence in the president-elect...but at the same time a general mistrust of many politicians. for me, it just seems so much like forging unknown territories. "cautiously thrilling"? something like that..
i hope you come back for a visit and enjoy my ramblings.
peace right back atcha...
you might be "ubiquitously asian" in the states...but here you'd be like "you know...that asian dude." (or on special occasions..."that other asian dude"). try it, it's fun. and if you ever come to hamburg the first round's on me!
- raven