Hope for change

The last eight years has been one rough ride for our family, starting with the events of 9/11. From there it all went downhill for us - the Vegas economy taking a turn for the worse resulting in job losses and decreased income, more job losses and decreased income that followed us to Portland resulting in my not being able to pursue my grad school aspirations, more job losses after moving to Colorado, complete with being involved in the failing housing market and being affected by the broken health care system. Every issue that has been a hot topic in this election has directly affected our family. We are the middle class family that has worried about paying the bills, worried about our credit and selling a house, worried about the price of gas and groceries, worried about lack of affordable health insurance and worried about fighting for coverage once we've paid for a health insurance plan.

After the historic events of last night's election, I sincerely hope the next four to eight years will be different. I hope that our country will be able to turn around and the middle class will become stronger. I hope we will find a solution to our energy, health care and financial crises. I hope for the change that has been promised. I believe in that hope, the positive look for our future and the change that brought about goosebumps and a lump in my throat last night.

I don't hold people to a higher standard, like idolizing celebrities. People are just people and nobody is really that more special than anyone else. However, I do feel like Obama is heroic for his efforts in his attempt to change our Nation. He has his work cut out for him and it will most likely take much longer than four years to change all that has been done by the Bush administration. Not only is it going to take a lot of work to change, he's putting his life on the line for it. Unfortunately, there is no doubt in my mind that there will be some kind of harmful chaos that will follow this election. There are some crazy whackjobs out there who spew nothing but garbage and hatred. A hope for change isn't exactly what they were asking for and I think Obama is pretty brave to face that for our Country.

I haven't posted anything about my opinions regarding this monumental election until now, but I have been reading, studying and paying very close attention to all that had been going on, on both the National and local levels. I'm sure Bill is relieved that he won't have to listen to my political rantings anymore. I'm relieved that a choice has been made and from here on out, we can stop talking about change and actually start doing something about it. Because we can.