I voted!
I voted this morning in Maryland - outside of DC. I was in line at 7:05 and waited 40+ minutes to vote. I have NEVER waited longer than 5 or 10 minutes before. Maybe it's that I got their earlier than usual. Maybe more people were trying to vote early since rain is expected later in the day. Others in the line were remarking how unusual it was to have a line at our polling place.
More than the simple act of voting was how I felt about it. I've voted in every election (presidential, mid-term - primaries and general) since I was 18 - I'm 43 now. This was the first time that I actually had a thrill about voting. The first time that I was excited to vote - that it felt more like a pleasure and a privilege instead of just a duty or an obligation. Casting my ballot for Obama and Biden was like a weight being lifted, like a big cleansing breath, like the sense of peace that comes after a hard workout. This was simply a joy.
I know my vote won't count as much as that of my sister, who lives in Richmond VA, or those of my cousins who live in Pittsburgh PA. But it was still wonderful.
I'm off now for canvassing in VA.
