it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings

I proudly hopped out of my Pilot and briskly walked through the parking lot of the Catholic church across the street from the elementary school that is my polling location. I could feel a giddy smile cropping up on my face. I tried to suppress it so that I didn't look like a foolish, little voting virgin skipping to the polls.

As I placed my feet on the sidewalk, now less than 50 paces from the front doors, my joyous bubble exploded with the words

"WE CAN'T LET THESE BLACK PEOPLE TAKE OVER OUR COUNTRY! IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL THE FAT LADY SINGS!"

I was no less than stunned. Immediately this alternate universe that I had created where everyone was voting for a candidate based on their credentials. Where people were voting for the party they believed was better qualified to do the job and not because of the color of their skin or maybe even their gender. Where REAL CHANGE was possible . . . all of this crumbled right there with those words of hate. I felt my body stop moving, and then I remembered that I live in an area that is predominantly Republican and sometimes VERY "old school." Her eyes met mine and for a second I could see the humanity in her . . . somewhere buried deep behind her glare. I chose to "just keep swimming . . ."

My eyes fixed on several McCain|Palin signs and I was hoping to see at least one Obama sign in the sea of McCain. As I reached the front door . . . finally. Obama|Biden.

At the door I was a little perplexed, I wasn't sure which way to go. I saw two people in suits holding information, I started walking toward them and we made eye contact. Before I could open my mouth to say anything, they glanced away and continued their conversation without a greeting of any sort.

"Ma'am. Did you need some help?"
My eyes met the kind eyes of a woman standing a little further up.
"Yes, which door do we use?"
"This one, right here. Here, have a sample ballot."
I hesitated. The paper was blue. **phew** "Thank you so much."
"God bless."
"Thank you, you too!" My giddiness was restored!

As I walked down the hall, I felt my smile coming back. I looked at the drawings of families and pumpkins, I peered in the empty classrooms and gazed at the squares on the floor. As I tried to walk with my feet in each square and not step on the lines (that must be where Ari gets it) I realized that tears were welling up in my eyes. I looked at my brown skin and I thought of all of the people who had put themselves in harms way. People who had given their life, just so I could have this experience. Just so I could fill in bubbles on a ballot. One tear. Two tears. The floodgates were about to burst.

"Excuse me, what line is this?!"
Why is she yelling? Can't she see I'm having a moment!?! GEEZ!

"I'm not sure ma'am. I think there's just one line."

She saw my face and my blue sample ballot and she stuffed her pink sample ballot into her purse and then turned to her friend and they started talking.

I was afraid that I would be standing in line for hours on end . . . but in less than 30 minutes I was sliding my ballot into the magical tallying device!

God Bless America!
I ROCKED THE VOTE!