...well, as long as you can fit into a blue recycling bin in Los Angeles, it's fit to print.
I've been saving historical newspapers since I was a kid. Although I don't like to hold onto too many material things (I like to consider myself a minimalist), I like to hold onto photographs, the written word (ya know, mushy love notes passed in Chem class from the cute boy you hoped would ask you to the prom) and newspapers.
There's a little trunk in my parents basement so it's not too ostentatious.
The Challenger exploding, Princess Di passing, The World Trade Center Part one and two, the hundredth running of the Boston Marathon and well, a few more historic things we've seen in our lifetime.
President-Elect Obama might be one of the biggest.
I went to every 7-11, Vons, Pavilions, Ralph's, random newsstand and strange bodega I could find in LA. And, although, my dad said that he saved me the NY Times, I just needed to see it for myself.
I asked every one of my clients and no one had the paper or had them but then given them away to another collector.
I didn't know there were so many of us. I can't believe I didn't see even one.
My last client of the day had ALL of the newspapers - from the NY Post to the Times, LA and NY. Recycling had already been to their home the day before, so they tipped their blue bin and I dove in, in a blue state of euphoria and picked out every bit of Obama that I could.
It was a good day.

It's all we talked about today, of course.

We are now embarking on a new and exciting journey for ourselves as individuals, families, a country and the world.

Everyone felt the earth quake last night with screams of joy and celebration.

For those of you that voted the other way, I can only imagine that your mood changed to one of support, encouragement and surrender to a leader that will pave a new way.

I was never so excited to vote. I rushed with a crushing enthusiasm to the polls and stood in line with my book o' props, hi-lit, circled and checked, all my paperwork in line.
Pollers chatted about the 'free' things vendors were giving away on election day and I paused.

Free.

The line was about 20 minutes to wait.
Sweet.
There was a sense of community in that line.
I don't know what these people believed in but they believed in it enough to show up and for that there was communion.
Well, we were also in a Catholic church so I guess there is always communion going on somewhere in there.
You gotta be Catholic or formerly Catholic to get that Ten Commandment humor.

I was still antsy so,
I did calf raises and squats, arm stretches and side stretches with the folks on line.
The others thought this was a good idea, to warm up for polling, so they joined in.
Democrats and Republicans and Santa Monica unite.
Oy, if there was only a camera there, it would have been my next video, but alas, it wasn't about that today.
I did want to be limber, open and present for my voting experience.
My hands shook as I got up to my booth.
Just take your time, I thought. Even though there is a line behind me, read everything carefully and be sure.
I was receiving texts at the same time, as I am sure you were.
Vote yes on this, no on that.
I was so confused as to what I was yessing and noing, so I reviewed.
Yes, this is my final answer.

I wasn't the only one who couldn't figure out how to get the dang ballot out of the box.
This isn't my first time voting, what the fu?
Everyone seemed to be having the same trouble.
We figured it out and I got my sticker and left the building with a feeling that I made a difference.

Why is it that, as adults, we only get stickers when we vote. I would love to get a sticker each time I pump gas, get home safely at night, accomplish something good.
Alas, stickers are reserved for kids and adults when they vote.
And I wore that dang sticker proudly all day. I got nothing for free but checked to make sure it was there every so often.

Free.

Even though, in Cali, we all sort of swing one way, I felt I was part of that big ol swing and it felt gooood.

Proud to be blue, I rushed to Starbucks. Today is the first day of their red holiday mugs. I deserve it for taking part in history!!

Hours later, it was like New Year's Eve across the country. I haven't heard that many people cheering outside my window since Kelly Clarkson won American Idol.
No really, I remember that and it crossed my mind only briefly and went back to my home boy, Obama.

The speeches, we loved 'em, right?
Except for when the republicans booed Obama's mention.
Do you think, If McCain won, democrats would boo?
I think not.
Moving on...

When it was announced, I felt like I could finally breathe.
I had been breathing all along, all day and all night and all my life.
But tonight, I felt something different.

Free.

I'm embarrassed to admit what all my passwords are for all of my secret accounts on line.
I'm not giving it away, but I've wanted, like many of us, THIS.
This - possibility.
This - hope.
This - difference.
This - freedom.
This - change.

No matter what party you belong to, we all want this for ourselves and everyone around us.

And it's reminded to me every time I 'log on'.
Go ahead, try and use it.
I've still made it super secret but if you really want to log on to my Shopbop account, you can.

And here we are.

The next feeling I felt was this sort of uneasiness, an uncomfortability that was familiar and yet, not.
And then I knew.
Change.
Change.
It is exciting, new, romantic, different.
It also comes with a bit of fear - of the unknown, of the ability to follow through, of the possibility of it not working.
Change is the only way we can grow and transcend.
It's the way we move up, move on and move forward.
Obama and his Presidency-Elect not only reflects our shift as a people but as individuals.
It instills in all of us, the power and potential we have to make a difference.
To stand up, move into action, work hard and follow our passion.

It's our promise.

It's Obama's obligation and honor to carry that through with our support and faith.

After the announcement, I wasn't alone in noticing the wind had picked up in the city of Los Angeles.
Change had already begun.

Wind has an unmistakable way of making one feel tossed abut and secure at the same time.

No matter who you voted for, if you voted, you took part in history.

President-Elect Obama is our leader but we are all leaders because we made it happen in the support of his vision for our futures.

It is an exciting time, indeed.

But with that excitement comes confusion, uncertainty, strange feelings of doubt and fear.

Embrace the negative feelings that come with all of the positive feelings. Feelings of freedom, hope, strength and possibility.

It is the collective consciousness of the positive that will keep us secure when the world's challenges toss us about.

It is community that we so long for, reach out for and need in order to grow past the negative feelings attached with this change.

Enjoy the excitement, acknowledge the uncertainty and embrace the change.

To quote The Carpenters, 'We've Only Just Begun, to live..."

Be good to yourselves and proud.

Shanti, Om,
Laurie

on November 4th, after I hit the polling station, I'm hittin' Starbucks, 'cause all I'll see is red!
It's that time of year folks. The most important day of the year, Starbucks and their holiday red mugs. Woo Hoo! So while we are finding our peaceful place as the state of our country is being decided, snuggle up with a cup of hot Joe or Chocolate in your red Starbucks mug, take a deep breath, put on your fleece jammies and HOPE.
Good luck everyone, get out there and vote!
-Laur