It's a GREAT time to be an American voter!!

When I was a little girl, my mom and dad told me that I could be anything that I wanted to be when I grew up. But, I can (honestly!) remember looking at all the white, male faces of all the past presidents and thinking, "yeah right...I can be a lot of things, but there are some things that I could never be."

Well, now that I am a mother myself, I am in the same position that my parents were in...trying to be both honest with my children, but also optimistic and encouraging of high aspirations and confidence. So, with that in mind...I have to say it is an AWESOME time to be an American right now.

Ben has been mildly aware of the political landscape around us these days. He has caught me reading stories or watching a news program of the presidential and vice presidental candidates. And since I almost never watch t.v. around him, he has been observant and asking lots of questions. And I have been JOYFULLY answering. It gives me unspeakable pleasure (and pride in this often crazy American society) to realize that his very first introduction into American politics...his very, absolutely, FIRST impression of the office of the President and Vice President...will include two white men, a BLACK man, and a WOMAN!!!!! Amazing!

He knows the names Barack Obama, John McCain, and Sarah Palin now, and has named one of his cars John McCain (ironically, it was an old-looking fire truck!) He thinks that he would vote for John McCain, but that I should vote for Barack Obama, and he would like to race Barack Obama some day! (I think he is still trying to figure out "race for the presidency" versus "running a race" :)

Anyway, whatever your political views are, I encourage you to stay positive about this year's election. No matter who wins, a 232-year-old barrier will have been broken, and, I believe, that we, as a country, will be the better for it!!!!