Will This Be the Change We Need? I Dare to Hope.

I wrote this last night right after it was announced that Ohio went blue.

I grew up in Western Pennsylvania. And my heart will always reside in Pittsburgh. I will forever bleed black and gold.

And, truth be told, I’ve never really been proud to be an Ohioan. I’ve been the butt of jokes and I just wanted to say, ”BUT! I’M NOT REALLY!”

Until tonight.

My God, we’re going blue. I had hoped. I had prayed. I had thought that maybe it was possible. But I’m cynical and skeptical and I just didn’t think that my vote and my friends’ votes and the votes of others like us would overcome the votes of my in-laws and our neighbors. I was almost out of hope.

But, darn it, I’m an Ohioan. You can’t blame me (or us) this year or for the next four years.

I’m so choked up.

That was before the announcement that Obama had won. And yes, I cried. My Husband gave me a big, big hug and I just cried. I had dared to hope. I had dared to dream. But I had this small voice in the back of my head that said it wasn’t possible. I let myself worry which, of course, is part of my nature: I’m a worrier.

I’m proud today. I know the long road that lies ahead of our President, our new Congressional leaders and for us as concerned citizens no matter who we voted for yesterday. I’m well aware that there are no easy answers or changes. In fact, change often sucks. I normally hate change. But I’m ready for it. Apparently others were as well.

Now if only I could get a personal interview with President Elect Obama and/or his very intelligent wife and find out their stand on adoptees gaining access to their Original Birth Certificates. I know, I know. There are much bigger changes that will be concentrated upon but, well, with the successful election of Obama, my heart is daring to hope that maybe all of this other change will lead to the change that so many have been longing for and dreaming of for so, so long.

Maybe this really will be the change we need.