nov. 4th.

crowds, originally uploaded by yenna.

the entire week andy and i were debating on whether or not to go if we didn't have tickets. he, vehemently no. me, probably no because i am lazy but maybe yes because it is history. on sunday my spot on the ticket waitlist became a ticket, and the time from then on was figuring out what time to leave. we had planned on having friends and snacks and watching MSNBC in all of its glory but everyone we knew got tickets at the last minute so a scaled back party there was. we watched until ohio and everyone just kind of smailed, i declared it, folks left and me, andy and jasmine got on our bikes and met tom on the lakefront path.

let me tell you. as skeptical as i was on biking down, it was truly the best thing i could have done. not only was i CRAZY ENERGIZED FROM OBAMA but the bike in the dark, down the lake looking at the city. man. i cant even explain. and once we got to the loop, he hit 270. mccain was conceeding as we passed nbc and people were gathered around the building to watch. cars sat in teh streets, horns blared, people yelled and laughed and smiled and i have never ever ever seen anyhting that spectacular.

andy hit a rough patch on michigan and fell in front of a cab and i thought he had died and freaked out. he was fine and has a gnarly bruise on his knee. we parked our bikes and walked and ran with the masses to the park. thousands of people, who weren't counted in the final rally tally, just stood in the streets, cheering the entire time. we ran from the entrance to the park and stood at the very top of the crowd. i cried and couldn't believe where i was, why i was there. it was incredible in any and every sense of the word.

when his speech was over, we hung around at the park, in the grass, talking to friends, trying to reply to all of the texts we had. there was a long line of people leaving between gates where people stood, high fiving everyone that passed, like at a little league game. hilarious. no violence, no attacks, no riots. i was not afraid one bit. it was the most comfortable experience i've ever had in the loop. the city was warm and beautiful and peaceful and i was in love with everything.

i got really sick on our way to get our bikes so we caught a cab (which were plentiful) and i found $20 in the back seat... so, free cab ride. THANKS BARACK!

the next morning i got up and watched the MSNBC coverage i dvr'd as we lef thte night before. i cried and crazy amount when KEITH (YAAAY) announced the result at 10pm. and at all of the cheering, the crying, the reactions. it's too much. it's just... i dont know. it's something. that i am so glad i saw, and was here for. and so glad i spent it with andy and jasmine and a few other friends. dear god, you guys. you guys....!!!