Last election day, I didn't vote. I voted early in Illinois and my father basically handed me a list and said, "Here's who I think you should vote for." I didn't know then that election means more than the president.
Last election day I was rewarded for voting with a bouncy castle.
Last election day I had to run from watching results to a tech rehearsal. Our rehearsal was delayed by almost an hour while we celebrated on the lawn. (It was much warmer than it is today.) During this whole event, I was dressed as a golfer.
Last election day, I had just begun college. I was falling asleep in class at least once a week. I was starting to really feel comfortable with the people who were becoming my friends. A big four years for me. I took my first Black Studies class during Obama's first 100 days in office. I learned to stay awake in class. I, like so many of the other 18-26 that got President Obama elected the first time, there was a time in those four years when I wasn't so impressed. I felt like there wasn't the change I had been promised. I was going to write in February about how I was simply not invested in this election, and then, like so many women, the insane conversations in the beginning of 2012 pulled me back in. I am now a college graduate with a degree in something generally regarded as an unwise choice. I am AmeriCorps member, which thankfully means that I'm not unemployed. I have almost nothing figured out, but things are going pretty well.
Last election day, I watched the results with a great sense of celebration.
Last election day, I thought it would be the most exciting and engaging election of my lifetime.
This election day, I think that that is not true.
This election day, I watched the results with a tense feeling in my stomach. In the end I felt relieved, did a little dance and tried to convince myself to go to sleep so that I can stay awake tomorrow.
This election day, I walked to the polls with my roommates after two days of anxiety dreams where I wasn't allowed to vote. (Being split between two different states is a real challenge sometimes.) I brought my own list of candidates to vote for since there were lots of things on the ballot.
This election day, I voted on matters that aren't a complete given; the two Constitutional amendments in Minnesota have been a huge topic of conversation for the last six months and I was glad to vote against them after months and months of "VOTE NO" stickers.
This election day, I left the polls, made myself a real breakfast, took three buses to work and then couldn't tell any of my students who I voted for.
This election day, I had Gossip Girl (Season One) on one TV and election coverage on mute on a laptop. There was too much drama in that room.
This election day, I'm reconsidering four years. At graduation I thought, "Great! This is the last time I will measure my life in four year chunks. I finished high school and college on time, but now there's nothing left to finish on time!"
I may no longer have things to finish on time, but there are still ways to measure life in four year periods. So, here's to four more years of YouTube with fewer political ads.
Next election day, I don't know what will happen. Though, I will probably be voting in Illinois!
love,
hannah
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