Watching the Returns With Smedley

Three of us bundled into the recliner, huddled under blankets against the frigid California air.  The girls had to make it to the announcement, they just had to.  Sure enough, at exactly eight o'clock, we got the word.  Barack Obama will be our 44th president.

"Mama, did he win?"

"Yes, Smedley, he won."

"What's a donkey, Mama?"

"Democrat."

"And what's an elephant?"

"Republican."

"I'm a donkey."

"Okay."

"Which one are you?"

"Neither one, actually."

A well-known female journalist came on-screen.  "Her nose is HUGE, Mama."

"She's a very good journalist, honey."

"With a very big nose.  Mama?"

"Yes Smedley?"

"You know the place we went to vote?"

"Uh-huh."

"It really smelled."

"But did you notice how fast we voted?  We didn't even have to wait in line."

"Yeah.  But it smelled.  Mama?"

"Yes Smedley."

The screen changed to show coverage of California's Proposition 8, the vote on gay marriage.  Stock footage of gay pride parades and same-sex weddings rolled across the screen.  Rosie O'Donnell and her wife were shown walking down stairs after their wedding.

"Mama?  Is that the Queen of England?"

"Not really, Smedley."

"I want to go to bed.  Is this over?"

"Yes, honey.  I just wanted you to see this.  It will be something you'll want to remember if you can."

"I'll never forget this night as long as I live, Mama."

Me neither, Smed.

Comments

[lisa mertins]

i loved the fact i was able to bring my 13-year-old daughter into the booth with me. and all the opportunities we got to talk about civil rights with regard to prop 8. so what if were in a depression, tomorrow is another day!

[mommypie]

Is that the Queen of England?!?

Bwahaha! Smedley rocks.

[mommypie]

Is that the Queen of England?!?

Bwahaha! Smedley rocks.

[Kathi D]

I will never forget it, either. My cousin in Denver was able to take his two teenaged girls to several convention events, and they even got to shake Obama's hand. The girls were thrilled with his candidacy from day one and they were blown away to get that close to him. I'm sure they will tell the grandkids about it one day.

[San Diego Momma]

So who was the journalist? Was "she" Anderson Cooper :)

[Mental P Mama]

I'm with Smedley; I'll never forget it either. Now about the big nose, tell me: Mary Matalin, right?

[Cactus Petunia]

Me, neither!

[bejewell]

Saddest thing about last night for me was that my little bean was too small to get it.

[Chesapeake Bay Woman]

Smedley and my daughter would get along famously. My daughter thought the newscaster favored a horse.

[Fancy]

It's an amazing day in America's history, they are both good men.

[Tootsie Farklepants]

Me neither, Smedley.

[Tammy]

I took Monkey Girl to the polls with me yesterday and explained to her that she was witnessing history -- will these kids remember this? I hope so.

[Kyddryn]

Thank you for voting, and for taking the kids along, too...I think it's a terrific idea to let be part of the process as early as possible.

I haven't seen, yet - what happened with prop 8??? Oh, now I need to go wade through all the media hoo-ha and find out...

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

[MomZombie]

That's one way to get people through the ballot quickly, a less-than-fresh polling place. The things kids say.
--MomZombie

[Rick's Cafe]

...always good to see the start of the end of civilization. It is a momentous occasion.

[Bob Cleveland]

I can recall doing the same thing .. making sure my kids saw and understood the news that was just then happening .. when they were young. Except in our case, it was the assassination of President Kennedy.

Your were wise .. and considerate of you children .. to do that.

[WaltzInExile]

We let the goats stay up to see the announcement, too. Which, seeing how we're in the Eastern time zone, wasn't our smartest idea.
And now it's just me, unable to sleep because I want to see if there is any chance that Prop 8 goes down. I can't give up just yet.