Dan Markham

One of the things about the experience of covering election night from inside the bubble of a TV studio is that one becomes slightly paranoid that the entire event has been staged for the cameras: a cruel Truman Show kind of experiment, the illusion to be broken only once one leaves the premises and is interrupted by a passerby saying, “No, silly, Obama didn’t carry Ohio! And they’re having a recount again in Florida!”

– Nate Silver

Of course, I, myself, did not spend election night inside “the bubble of a TV studio”. Of course, it wasn’t staged. Of course both are, in fact, true: that Obama, indeed carried Ohio (hell, yes!) and that Florida, even though it was one of the last Eastern states to call, once called, presented no signs of doubt that Obama was the true recipient of it’s electoral votes. Mr. Silver has nothing to worry about.

Of course.

But I must still be in a period of adjustment. It still seems unreal. The light looks the same. Everybody is still on their way to work in the morning, on their way back home at night. Papers still need to be written. Dinner still needs to be made. But, people are talking. There is excitement and pride wafting in the air that the United States can stand for something more than arrogance, hubris and stupidity. I still see Obama pins out there. They still say HOPE.

I’m going to have to go easy on myself. Eight years is a long time and certain mental adjustments were made. It’s going to take some time, I think, to be OK with feeling positive about my government and to be comfortable having hope for the future. But I do have hope. I am proud — exceedingly so — of our country. I guess I just never thought this day would come.

Update: A serendipitous discovery …