$2 bottles, $4 pitchers, Free Democracy

Presidents come and presidents go, in my lifetime I have seen the rise and fall of four of these leaders. However, this time was different in that I actually got to participate in the selection as opposed to just watching from the sidelines. Even though I did not choose the current president elect, I get to watch the rise of another leader. But what is to become of him, what will my children learn about him in school. Will he be remembered as the first black president? Will he be remembered as the savior of a nation, or simply as a publicity stunt that failed once in office? As of now it is impossible to say, but what I do know now is if I’m ever asked what my thoughts, feelings, and experiences were during the election of Obama, I’ll be able to tell a story similar to this.
It was a pleasantly warm November eve, the autumn leaves were just decending from their zenith, and a majority lied in scattered piles along the sidewalk. Several friends and I were making our way to an east side pub in order to watch the results unfold on CNN (money was tight in those days, and cable seemed to be a luxury better replaced by food, electricity, and other necessities) and perhaps imbibe in some spirits.
Once we entered , we found our place at the bar, figured out the cheapest drink specials, and began to watch the events unfold. I remember states changing color, the bizarreness of a newscaster talking to a hologram, and the sweet taste of a newly discovered cheap beer. I remember Obama’s commanding lead, McCain’s decreasing optimism, and a pretty outrageous Jon Steward/Corbert show. But what I remember most of all is the people; from red necks to hippies and professors to hobos, to me the people were the truly memorable occurrence of that night. Like the aged, long-haired, graduate student/TA, who compared the current election atmosphere to that of the 60's. To the very inebriated McCain supporters, who stumbled in after hearing of his certain loss. To the dirty wino, with the strangely new and expensive looking Ipod around his neck, who talked to me about his apathy for elections.
So the night went on; bottles turned to pitches, pitchers to mixed drinks, and mixed drinks turned to shots. The next morning (OK it was afternoon), my friends and I discussed the happenings of the night before. We realized that however different we all are, by the end of the night we all still had the same leader and expected leader that still has a big job ahead of them. So maybe when my children ask me about the day Obama was elected president, instead of telling them of his strengths or weaknesses, I can tell them how the election made me realize that elections are meant to bring a country together, rather than separate it into shades of red and blue. Then maybe, just maybe, I can leave out the part about being in a drunken stupor.