Strong Words, Softly Spoken

Well, I didn’t write on day four for one reason: Cashews.

Did you know that I’m allergic to cashews? Me either. Unfortunately I do now. My mom and I stopped off in Wisconsin to get some cheese and while we were there she bought some Amish made cashew brittle. I knew there was some particular nut found in mixed nuts that I was allergic to, because the couple of times I’ve eaten mixed nuts my tongue has swollen up and gone numb and tingly, but I thought for sure it wasn’t cashews. WRONG. I took 2 bites and within 30 seconds my mouth started to go numb and then my throat started going numb and it was just all downhill from there. I ended up being so sick – nauseous sick – for three hours on the way to Chicago. We were supposed to stop in Chicago and see the city but I was so sick by the time we got there, and the stop and go traffic and the car jerking was just making it all that much worse, so I told my mom to keep going and find the first nice, safe area in Indiana and get a hotel room. We stopped in Merrillville and I got to lie down for a bit and felt better, so we went to get some dinner. Bad idea. I got sick all over again after eating and spent the rest of the night in bed. It was absolutely awful.

So we decided to just come home yesterday instead of today because we were both so exhausted by that point and I had been sick and I just really needed today to be home and rest before I have to go back to work tomorrow. I did at least get to drive through and see Chicago. And sorry Lydia & Jessica….I wasn’t very impressed. It was a beautiful city, but I expected it to be bigger and more grand like NYC. Honestly it just felt like driving through a slightly bigger version of Atlanta. I wish we would’ve been able to spend some time there, but I guess that’ll have to wait for another trip. Although – what’s up with the McDonalds in the middle of the interstate? And I’m not talking those overpass things…there’s a McDonalds in the median of the interstate. Are people too lazy to get off on an exit these days?

Sunday excluded, we had a really great trip. AND – I get to add 5 new states visited to my list.

Illinois – check!
Indiana – check!
Kentucky – check!
Minnesota – check!
Wisconsin – check!

Back to reality now.

Well, today was the big day. The Mall of America day. Mom and I got there at 10am and shopped until 9pm and still didn’t see everything. It’s HUGE. I’m sort of glad I didn’t grow up here because then all other malls would pale in comparison. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

We really wanted to do the Aquarium and ride some of the rides but we just didn’t have time. 11 hours of walking….and shopping. So exhausting. Tomorrow we head out of Minneapolis and head towards Chicago. Windy City here we come…

Quick update because I’m so exausted I’m going to collapse in a moment. We made it to Minnesota about 7pm tonight.

Things I’ve learned so far:

1. Illinois is the most boring state ever.
2. After leaving Kentucky, the only choices you have to eat are McDonalds, Subway and the occasional Wendy’s, Burger King and Arby’s. But LOTS of McDonalds and Subway. LOTS.
3. Too much country music, too little NPR.
4. The Midwest doesn’t understand the difference between “fast lane” and “slow lane.” This is because they only have one speed: Slow.
5. Wisconsin has a love for indoor water parks. We passed about 12.
6. 30 degrees in November sucks. But seeing snow was fun
7. It’s been one day and I miss my boyfriend. I suck.

More to come when I’m actually coherent.

Today…I embark on my road trip to the Mall of America with my mother. Let the insanity ensue.

I’m writing this on the morning after we, the United States of America, elected Senator Barack Hussein Obama the 44th President of our great nation. And possibly for the first time in my life, I truly know what it means to be a proud American. It’s been a long, hard road, but we did it. We changed history. And I couldn’t be happier and more thrilled to have been a part of it.

I did what many other Americans did yesterday. I voted. I worked. And then I went home to watch the election coverage. I drank some wine. I ate some popcorn. And I waited patiently and watched as, state by state, the votes rolled in and MY candidate, MY President, hit 270…and then 300…and then 330. It was the single most important election in my life thus far. It will most definitely be one of the most historical moments in my entire lifetime. And for the first time since I’ve been able to vote, I feel like my opinion mattered. Maybe not in terms of how my state voted, since it was not unexpected that it went to McCain, but in the fact that I can stand firm with 52% of my fellow Americans and know that finally, we made the right choice. FINALLY.

I’m not one of these people who thinks that Obama is the Messiah. I didn’t vote for him in the primaries and he wasn’t my first choice. But now, all these months later, I do feel we made the right move in choosing him as our candidate. I’m not naive enough to think that it’s all roses from here on out. We’re in trouble, and there’s alot of work ahead of him. He’s going to make mistakes. He’s going to falter. I’m not always going to agree with him and I will, at times, be disappointed in him. But watching his acceptance speech last night…for the first time in 8 years I felt like I was truly watching a leader. For the first time in 8 years, I had faith that we were going to make it. For the first time in 8 years, I saw a President that exuded confidence and strength…and I didn’t just see it…I felt it. For the first time in 8 years I had hope..and for the first time in 8 years, I was proud to be an American.

As for McCain, I was truly impressed with his concession speech. I was proud of him for showing such grace and dignity in the way he conceded. And, I was sad for him for his loss, because I do believe that he very badly wanted this victory. I have never disliked McCain, I just didn’t believe in him. And that’s what really counts.

In 2000 I watched and wondered why the people were electing another Bush into office, after the first one resulted in a war and a recession. In 2004, I watched, mouth agape and bewildered, wondering how so many people could make the same mistake twice. Finally…FINALLY…America got it. America made the right choice last night. A choice we should ALL, regardless of who you voted for, be very proud of, for we have proven that barriers can be broken. We have proven that prejudice can be put aside for the greater good of the nation. That while just 50 years ago, African Americans weren’t even allowed to use the same public restrooms as my family, or attend the same schools as my family…in 2008 they can be elected President of the United States. This is a monumental day in history and even those of you who didn’t vote for him should recognize what an amazing feat this is for all of us. Yes we can, America, and YES WE DID!

In the words of my friend Mike Boody…that’ll do, country. That’ll do.