Did you feel it?

The Earth moved under our feet yesterday -- the same thing your parents felt when you were born, the same thing you felt when you made love for the first time. It's an odd comparison to make, but I feel like I've been in foreplay for the last two years, and it's finally time to release.

Was that disgusting enough for you?

Yesterday was an absolutely amazing day for me. I woke up, showered, and worked from home until 11:00 CST. I drove to my polling place to find a line snaking out and down two blocks. The sun came out, the temperature hit an easy 70 degrees, and there was an incredible energy in the air. After 45 minutes, I cast my ballot in Hennepin County, one more vote to seal the fate and future of the United States. From there, I raced to my car, and drove down to one of the South Minneapolis DFL temporary headquarters near Lake St and 16th Ave. On the way, I saw two other polling places, both with huge lines, people waiting patiently, anxious to get it done, but willing to pause their day to make sure it happened. When I arrived, I could only describe it as organized chaos, with representatives for Obama, Franken, and Ellison there to greet people. Within five minutes, I was registered, partnered up, given food and water or sodas, and handed door knocking kits. We went through ten minutes of focused training, and given maps for the precinct we were going to walk through. For those familiar with Minneapolis, we were given a portion of the Powderhorn neighborhood, right on the border of Phelps. It's a very diverse neighborhood, full of families, single family homes, duplexes, and apartments, and a smattering of small businesses, markets, and tiny restaurants. Door by door, only skipping 100% Republican homes, we knocked to find those who were at work for the day, those who have been evicted, those who have been foreclosed on. We talked to people who were in the last two weeks of their residence, and we walked up to houses boarded up and signed by the City warning of trespassing and illegal occupation. We talked to those who had voted right away in the morning, brimming with excitement, and just wanting to talk it out with other supporters. We talked to people who were still undecided and wanted to debate policy one last time. We walked people who weren't sure to the polls so they could have their say. Only one or two homes out of the tens we knocked on were remotely close to negative, and we couldn't find one single McCain-Palin sign. Five hours later, we were done with the last house -- sore, tired, yet excited, because we knew what tonight's result was going to be. We were going to deliver Minnesota.

Those who know me, especially now, would have found it hard to believe that I even did this, or was able to deal with people. I've lost a lot of my ability to be social, much preferring to be home with my wife, or typing away at my computer. This was too important, this was a historic day, and I had to be a part of it. You know what? I enjoyed it. My cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing with people, and there was so much positive energy that I couldn't believe what I was seeing. This year was a different experience, people jumping up and down in the streets, people begging to get registered, to be able to vote, to feel like they could change their future. There were people in the lowest point in their life, struggling to feed their children and keep their home, but willing to take time out of their day to do something about the world and nation they live in.

Last night, I sat in a bar watching the votes come in. It seemed like nothing happened for so long, and one by one, Obama's face lit up the screen as CNN called state by state for him. We captured the northeast, we captured the upper midwest, we captured the west coast. We captured a good part of the Mountain West, and we even took Florida and maybe North Carolina. This was new, this was different, this is what a mandate starts to look like. We watched as the world moved aside for something new, and saw it in the faces of people who couldn't believe this was happening. John McCain gave a gracious, amazing concession speech, and I'm proud of him. At the end of the day, he stood up like a man, and passed the baton appropriately. President-elect Barack Obama stood up in front of thousands in his home of Chicago, Illinois and introduced himself to the people as a President for the people, and not just for the Democrats.

I know this is merely stating the facts, but I can't possibly explain how I felt yesterday. Tears in my eyes and swelling in my heart, I knew that America took a huge step forward last night. I also know that Obama will not be able to do everything he says, but it is what he stands for that is so important. The next four years are going to be repair for the last eight, and the start of a foundation for a progressive and fair America. January of next year, we have a new leader. Next year, the opinion of our country swings just a little better. Next year, we start building anew. At the end of next year, my taxes may drop. In four years, our country will be just a little better, and I will be even more proud to call myself an American.

The pundits are calling this many different things for many different reasons. Many of them are painting this as a civil rights victory, as though we elected Barack Obama because he was African-American. Barack Obama only happened to be African-American, and the only people who made this about race were some of his supporters and his opponent's supporters. We elected Barack Obama because he was spot on with his message, that he had a record of walking the walk in school, as a community organizer, as an Illinois State Senator, and as a United States Senator. We elected Barack Obama because he had well thought out plans, collected from many intelligent advisers and supporters, to provide solutions to the issues that the country faces this very day. We elected Barack Obama because he surrounded himself with intelligent, capable people, starting with his Vice Presidential pick, Joe Biden. We elected Barack Obama because he was really the only choice to push the United States up and out of the mess and trauma we have experienced for the last eight years.

I know that this site is divided, at least those from the US, though not as evenly as the rest of the country. I hope that Obama's dream of bipartisanship and unity come to fruition, because divided, we can't accomplish anything. I'm proud of what we have done, and what the campaign has done, and what you have done -- whether you supported him or not. The debates, discourse, and petty politics all played a role in choosing where we go from here, and I couldn't be happier.

Congratulations, Mr. President-elect, and congratulations, America. It is time to move forward.