Way back, in—was it 2004? 2006?--when that brash, intelligent, and GORGEOUS—first-term Senator from Illinois was introduced to the World with his speech before the Democratic National Convention—and television viewers, and launched the crazy idea that America was finally READY to elect its First. Black. President.
I saw that speech as it was happening, and I haven’t been the same.
A personal note about me:
I have two grown sons—28 and 20. My older son lives in South Florida; my younger son lives in Eastern Texas. My older son’s father is a Secular Jew of Sephardic heritage. My younger son’s father is African-American. I’m so White that I practically glow in the dark. For most of my life I have been reaching out to people who do not share my Western European heritage to find friends—and “baby daddy”. That is how I feel about my politics as well.
I stopped whatever I was doing so I could watch—and listen—to the hottest politician since JFK. OMG! Who is THISSSSS? I couldn’t get enough. Not just his handsome face, but what he had to say. Now I can’t remember one word from his speech—thank goodness for YouTube. But I do remember thinking that here was the Great. Hope. for my country.
In February, 2007, this still-handsome Young Senator announces his Candidacy for President of the United States. Without really knowing anything about him—other than what the news media was saying about him—I knew I had my 2008 Candidate. Senator Barack Obama. Running for President. I was so excited!
2006 was a very difficult year for me. It was the year that I had to send my sons away from me so that they could get the parenting—and help—that they so desperately deserved. I had to work on my own Salvation—righting all the wrongs that I had done to the two people whom I claimed to love more than anyone else in the World. (I still haven’t forgiven myself for how I treated them when they were with me. But, thank God, they have forgiven me.) My life wasn’t “on the right track” then. But sending them away was the best thing I have ever done in my life.
Now, 2007 wasn’t looking to be any easier. I developed a Fibromyalgia-type illness—that still has to real diagnosis—and was fired from the job I had less than six-months. Not only that, before I lost my job, I decided to finally reveal my true income to the local Housing Authority and accept the consequences of Fraud. Then I lost my job. Had to report that, too. Now, with no money coming in to pay my now-Full rent and to pay for the money I defrauded HUD for, I was heading for disaster. But I was voting for Obama in 2008.
I didn’t have much money, so contributing to any political campaign was a non-starter. And because of my then-work schedule going to a Political Rally wasn’t going to happen either. What I did have was my mind, my television, and my vote.
I wasn’t really concentrating on Social Media then, but I could “talk up” people. I could talk ENDLESSLY to my best friend about Senator Obama. Something I still do—except it’s all anti-Trump now. I also talked “Obama” with other “like-minded” people. And I was voting for Obama during the next General Election.
2008. I became homeless. Again. Again, because in 1992, I left my abusive husband and took our less-than two year old son with me, after he threatened to kill me. It took over a year to get section 8. Then it was gone. (Unless there is some sort of “miracle intervention”, I will never be eligible for section 8 again. Strangely, I’m ok with it.) Then I got in a housing program—my first of four. I was out of the shelters. But I had this crazy idea—before I lost my section 8—to go work for my County’s Board of Elections and become a Poll Clerk. Not only that, I “convinced” my extremely long-suffering Best Friend to come along with me and become the Poll Manager. Our first election was the 2008 General. Oy Vey! Although my Best Friend had managerial experience, I was deep into my disability—Bipolar 1—and required constant supervision. But, strange enough, everything worked out.
And Obama got Elected!
My life since then has had more downs than ups. But that’s OK. I’m still here. Obama got elected to his Second—and last—term. Even though Obama can’t ever become President again, he can still SPEAK, and TWEET, and MAKE VIDEOS about the wrong direction this country is stuck in. And Obama STILL continues to impress the HELL out of me. He’s my Generation’s JFK—without the scandals. And he’s still ALIVE! In spite of the premature aging that is visited on almost all of our former presidents, to me, Obama still looks GOOD!
Now, I’m praying for that next brash, young candidate to pick up the pieces that our country is in and put together a country even better than it was during the Obama years.