History

Wow! I can hardly believe we pulled it off! We actually elected a black man to the highest office in the land. I have had so many mixed emotions over the last few weeks with the remembrance of 2000's election like a lump in my throat. I have taken some heat here in the Upstate of South Carolina for my support of the Obama campaign, including my own family. But, what it all comes down for me is an attitude that we can do better and we must. I did agree 100% with either party but Obama and Biden were the only acceptable paths for me. Tricia and I were both very vocal about the war in Iraq before it started, again at odds with our families. We both have strong convictions about economic policies that are aligned with the Democratic ticket. As environmentalists at heart, we could not support the Republican ticket's view of our natural resources and continue the policies that Bush has held towards our environment and wild places. To me, that was probably the most important issue on the table for this election. I hope our push towards a green economy will come true, for the sake of our children's children.

I was so proud of both McCain and Obama with their great speeches last night. It was worth it to stay up and listen to Obama make his historic speech in front of the crowds there in Grant Park. Miles and I have watched the speech several times today. When I woke the boys this morning, the first thing they both asked was if Obama won. Dylan even corrected me when I said Obama was the new President. He said "not until July 20th of next year." I knew he meant January but he had only been awake for 5 seconds tops! It was a proud moment for me too. Miles gave me the Obama knuckle tap when he heard the news.

Over the last few weeks, Miles and I have talked about why his Mom and I supported the Democratic ticket and what this election meant for our country. They had a mock election at school and they both told us they voted for Obama.

We did it! We made it happen and we must now all come together as one people. It's not going to be easy. Bush has left us in a mess that will take years to unravel. I don't need to waste any more time writing about that. I pray for our country and our leaders, regardless of party. I am also very thankful to live in a country where a major change in leadership does not involve tanks in the streets and blood in the ditches. There is a lot of hard work to do and I look forward to being a part of it. Now, I need some sleep!

See ya!

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

Copyright ©1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

Bob Dylan