Relief

My hangover isn't nearly as terrible as I thought it was going to be. In fact, after some burritos for breakfast, Champions League on the tv, and a ton of coffee, it's hardly even noticeable.

Originally, OB - one third of the upstair's residents - and I planned to go to a bar and drink until someone was picked a winner, but those plans were scuttled in favor of heading to a friend's place. But I figure if I'm going to hang out with a bunch of married people I may as well not leave home to do so, especially when there are friends coming and going and leaving booze on the counter.

By four pm I was on my third drink, embroiled in a text message conversation with my dad about my sister's playoff match which had gone to a penalty shootout, the couch was filled with people, the boys were fighting over a Pokemon game, two tvs were on, and I was hitting refresh on all the pollsters pages. Thankfully, the boys were banished to watching cartoons in the basement (after a dramatic falling out over the Pokemon game, highlighted by the younger one declaring "You're not my brother anymore!!!!"), and the crowd left to their other party.

That left three of us to munch the steaks my wonderful roommate had thrown on the grill and sip the bourbon someone had left us. When Obama was announced the winner at 8, even my quiet neighborhood erupted in cheers. Fireworks were lit off at at least three different places, children were chanting "O-BAM-A!", someone screamed, "THANK YOU AMERICA!" and every bicyclist who rode past whooped a congratulations. I tried sending a text to my family, but the network was down, something that has only happened on New Year's Eve.

What a change from election night four years ago. Not only was I still in the army back then and under the impression that I would be held nearly two years beyond my contract for a deployment to Iraq, but that particular night my unit was in the field. It was an elaborate 7-day live fire exercise, something rare for a noncombat unit and we were generally thrilled that we got to sleep indoors. But as I unfolded my cot, I realized that unfolding his next to mine, was Rob the archconservative and the antithesis of everything I stand for. (Well, except for music. We oddly agreed on most of that. We made a pact that no matter who won, there would be no gloating. It turned out not to matter; though we spent most of the night huddled around our humvee using elaborate military intelligence technology to eavesdrop on NPR, the election wasn't decided for a few days, thanks to stupid Ohio. What a difference four years makes!

Back to last night. We brought the boys upstairs for Obama's acceptance speech and they watched quietly. I wonder how much of this they'll remember when they're older. Likely, the youngest won't remember a thing, but the seven-year-old might. I was younger than him back when the first Bush was elected back in '88 and I vaguely remember the unhappiness and disappointment that filled the house afterwards. Of course, unhappiness and disappointment filled the house anytime the news came on the tv back then. Let's not do the Reagan years again, kids.

Later in the evening the rest of the house returned from the party and we cracked open a bottle of champagne that the original occupants of the house had been saving for an occasion at which they were all present. Last night was that night! After the bourbon, the champagne tasted like bubbly ice cream it was so sweet. Almost as sweet as victory!