Dreams made real

"All right! There you go! America, I love you! I'm proud of you!"
— Annie Kinsella in "Field of Dreams"

"My lady... It is is a new day."
"It is a new world."
— Nurse and Viola in "Shakespeare in Love"

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day
live in a nation where they will not be
judged by the color of their skin
but by the content of their character."
— Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Let there be no reason for any American to fail to
cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth"
— Senator John McCain

"All things are possible."
— Barack Obama, President-elect of the United States of America

I don't know if I can put into words what Barack Obama's election means to me. It represents so much more than who will sit in the Oval Office for the next four years. Instead, it's about my daughters' futures, my hopes for this country, my hopes for the world, and the America that I want to love both in image and in reality.

For the first time in eight long, painful years, I am proud of this country and excited to see what will happen next. The American flag is my flag again, and the White House will soon once again be a symbol of cooperation and equality.

We spent tonight over at cousin Sonya's watching the election coverage with an multinational, multiracial, multiaged group, all of whom came together with the same enthusiasm and hope for the outcome of the election and what it would mean for America's direction over the next four years.

Some favorite moments:

• When Ohio went to Obama. That's when I started to believe.
• All the networks projecting Obama as the winner at 8:00:01 p.m. Pacific Time, even though not a single vote had been counted on the West coast. This was exciting, but it made me very nervous. Remember "Dewey beats Truman"?
• McCain's beautiful concession speech. (Where was this McCain through the election?)
• Footage from across America of people of all colors moved to joyful tears by Obama's election.
• The gravity on Obama's face as he gave his victory speech. It was not the expression of an arrogant or overconfident man. He knows exactly what he's gotten himself into, he takes it very seriously, and he will not act rashly. And did you notice that the hug Michelle gave him seemed one of comfort more than celebration? These are not stupid people; they know how difficult the next four years are going to be. I think that's a very good sign.

Good night, everybody. See you in the new world.