notes from the last day of the frenzy...

Random thoughts after looking at fivethirtyeight.com for the zillionth time in the last month or so...

Over a year ago I was saying there was way too much emphasis on the presidential election, but a few weeks ago I found myself caught up in following every word, every pundit, every poll. All the major polls are bookmarked in my browser, and I had a Mac-style sticky note on the screen to tell me what time each poll came out daily.

I've been twittered to death, and likely twittered some people to death. I've been swamped with email, and probably have sent some people more political email than they ever wanted to read. A lot of those people, I'm sure, automatically tossed the mail after reading the subject line. I know a few of them had no intention of voting. I'm very sad about that.

We voted absentee - something available "without cause" in Florida - and we both hope our ballots weren't lost and will be counted tomorrow. We've listened to some friends talk about the lines they experienced waiting to vote.

A neighbor was thrilled to see the Obama 08 sign in our front window, and asked Mikal if we were voting for him. Mikal assured him we'd already voted... and Jacques was thrilled to hear it. Perhaps he, a black man, thought we, a bordering on senior citizen white couple, wouldn't vote for a 'person of color.'

The best story was at a party Saturday evening, where we gathered to remember our ancestors -- talking to Pearl and Ed, a late-60's or so black couple with whom my friend Bill works. They attended Obama's rally here last Wednesday night, in Sunrise, FL - about 15 minutes from our home. The enthusiasm, the joy and exuberance that radiated from Pearl and Ed was almost palpable. Pearl told me the audience, at one point, started the "wave" and Ed had to help her to her feet to participate, but she wasn't going to miss it. They waited in line over 3 hours to be part of what I hope will be history in the making.

So, on this Monday night, I'm weary of it all, and looking forward to 24 hours from now, when the first reports of voting results will start to come in. Were I still prone to biting my nails, they'd be down to the quick now.

Were I a praying sort, I'd pray for the outcome I desire.