An American in London

This morning I was afraid to get out of bed. I thought maybe if I stayed in bed I could still dream that somehow McCain could have possibly won. Yes, despite his onery-ness (or perhaps because of it) I was rooting for my neighbor John. So why then, you may ask, when I finally got up and turned on the computer to check, did I find myself so dang excited? So excited in fact that I have been bouncing with love and joy all day long?
Well, first of all, even if I wasn't voting Obama, it doesn't mean that I dislike him. The two candidates appealed to two different parts of me. I think the thing that thrilled me was how squarely and completely he won and how enthusiastically my fellow Americans turned out in droves to vote--mostly for him. I looked at photos of friends and strangers all through out the US waiting with baited breath--and celebrating in the streets. I read about the hope and joy and excitement permeating through everything and I felt it all the way over here, across the pond. I know full well that anything can happen and that politicians are not always able to deliver.
I believe in the power of collective belief (awkward statement, I know) and to have so much of my country actually feeling hope--that is a blessed, blessed thing. Perhaps that is really why I am excited. The power rests with us and we know it. If we can keep aware long enough to remember that than even an inexperienced president can be allowed to do good things. Under Bush people pretend that nothing can be done. I hope that people will remember under Obama that things can.
On my facebook status I wrote: "Corina is in love with her country." I love that the two people who responded were American friends Heather living in Kazakhstan and Britta living in Korea. We are feeling it over here too, we are feeling it everywhere! This amazing awareness that we CAN speak up and we CAN make a difference! A replacement of irony and disillusionment with hope and excitement! I just feel so grateful to be an American, so grateful to be a part of this process. I am proud of my countryfolk for speaking up. And even though I would have liked to be there in New York, celebrating in the streets, I somehow feel that I am doing just that as I go throughout my day today--beaming with native pride. As I've said before, for me it is often being among the other nations of the world that I feel MOST American, as I imagine Heather and Britta would agree. And you better bet your buttons that I am proud of it :).