Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States!! Incredible. Even though I had trouble falling asleep last night and Marc woke up an hour before the alarm went off, we bolted out of bed at 6:15 as if it were Christmas morning. Only there was a sense of dread that accompanied our excitement; what if McCain was elected? Would the next 4 years be a continuation of the last 8, led by a man who changes ideological camps when it suits him and champions far-right policies or would the next 4 years be led by a man who is intelligent, capable, inspiring, and worthy? We turned on the TV and there it was, live: an image of Obama on stage in Chicago, waving to the crowds. Marc and I sleepily jumped up and down and hugged each other. America has disappointed me time and time again only to surprise me. I have a renewed faith and pride in my country, I really do. Just when the world had had enough of America we showed the world that we had had enough of ourselves and recognized, as Obama said, the time for change has come. It's strange to be in France during all of this, similar to when I was in Moscow during 9-11; only this time around it's a cause for celebration and a sense of change for the better, of new things to come, is palpable even an ocean away. Yesterday while running errands I had random encounters with 3 strangers -- a Lebanese tailor and a French aid worker and post office worker -- who all confessed their hope for Obama to win. I was nervous. There was the sense that if we elected McCain we'd not only be letting down our country but the world. Not this time! Before he left for work this morning Marc told me, "If we had an Obama button I'd wear it to work," and I laughed at the thought of a French-Canadian in a French company sporting an Obama button; not because I find it silly but because his comment is symbolic of all the hopes of so many who wanted Obama to win and saw that hope become a reality. I can't wait to go home in January!!!!
