YES WE DID.

Let me give you a taste of my inbox from last night's crazy election day happenings.

"You: soil & water conservation district 4"
-Gordo
(write in vote, bitches! HERE I COME)

"NBC has it even higher at 103"
-Paul
(referring to the electoral votes in favor of Obama early in the night)

"It's over, honestly."
-Paul
(crowd goes WILD as news reports that Obama has won Ohio)

"Uh oh...it's a baROCK and rolling Obamarama..."
-Mark

"It's better than Palin being a heartbeat away, I'll give you that much."
-Mark
(Words from the indifferent)

"EEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"
-Maddie
(and so begins the texts as we all come to realize Barack is our next president)

"OMG I know!!!!!! I am so happy!!!!!"
-Eleyna

"OBAMA!!!! Hells yes!"
-Reed
(I then received about four more of these texts throughout the night, all from Reed)

"Fuck yeah Obama!!! I can't believe it!!!!"
-Olivia

"woo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is so cool...the first time we ever voted was for the first black president!"
-Pickett

"She knows she's not going anywhere."
-Paul
(In reference to Palin's teary eyes during McCain's concession speech)

"I know. You must be so disappointed that McCain lost."
-Pickett
(I can't remember if this was sarcasm aimed at me, or what we were even talking about)

"OMG girl I can't believe it!! :D"
-Coral

"Happy next 4 years!"
-Siri
(One of my favorite texts of the night!)

"We just made history. All of this happened because you gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign. All of this happened because of you. Thanks, Barack."
-Obama texts
(Here come my happy tears all over again)

"Franken took the lead!"
-Paul
(Right as I signed off because it was obvious Norm was staying in the lead. And now it's a recount. Ugh, fml)

"Coleman leads by about 500 with 100% reporting."
-Paul
(not what I want to hear in the morning)

"Waking up I'm not so happy. Coleman wins and prop 8 passes... dems are no where near the 60 they need. Oh, and Bachman wins."
-Paul
(SERIOUSLY. Who voted Prop 8, and WHO VOTED MICHELLE BACHMANN?!?!)

"Ugh the senate results are probably going to the state supreme court too...this could take months."
-Paul
(And so we wait)

"Bittersweet day, I tell you!"
-Paul

(These were not even all of the texts I received regarding the election last night. I had to clear my inbox out about quite a few times)

Let me just say, I have never been more proud to be an American or a Democrat in my entire life. The way people came out in droves to place their vote, waiting in lines for hours (luckily I got right in and right out), especially the young people who no one had faith in to actually make it to the polls... made me more proud than I can even say.
Listening to Obama's acceptance speech was beyond surreal for me. I remember when he came to the civic center two years ago and I went and saw him thinking "There's a possibility this man might be our next president" before he even made it official, seeing him less than ten feet away before things went absolutely nuts for his campaign. It's just crazy, and gratifying, and amazing. All around me, people were hugging and crying and breathing a huge sigh of relief. I know I was one of them.
I came home and re-watched his speech and I couldn't even stop the tears. America showed her true colors, and I can only hope (although I know in my heart) that Obama will bring a new energy and life to America, one we all know she so desperately needs.
I can feel the change that is making it's way to America as we get closer and closer to 1/20/09. And while I know some people are having a tough time adjusting to the reality of a new day with a brand new leader, I hope that you will find some respect and decency in you to stand behind the man who will lead our country for the next four years.

Here's to the next four years, and the guidance of a wonderful new leader. :)