Amazing Day!

Driving, driving through Wyoming
Early, roads slick from fog, hot coffee two sugars
Sun peaking over mountain tops, leaving hazy valleys
Beautiful red sculptures of rock and boulder
Snow, bright, so bright as the sun finds me
Stop, buy sunglasses for this east bound drive
Driving again, engine purring loving the open road

Remains, bless the deer, now a crow's breakfast
No radio, snow patrol sings to my soul
January 20th, a new president on the horizon
Still no radio, more mountains, more snow
Trucks, so many trucks hauling America on their backs
Construction, orange barrels and sage brush
Wind mills pulling energy from God's breath

Static, Anna Nalick tells me to breathe, be patient
A cowboy croons through static, maybe now..surfing
Green river frozen, lone hawk circles..majestic
Yes! More static but almost audible news station
Then Biden, no longer shushing, but swearing an oath
Violin, piano.. John Williams draws peace into the portrait

Laying his hand on a bible once touched by Lincoln
Tears held back for fear of streaming mascara
'Deer crossing next five miles'
Still driving, old friend waiting for a hug
A voice of hope, a voice of integrity and strength
Swearing to lead and hold our nation
Many watching, trusting and listening

Almost out of gas, out of coffee, pulling in
Inside truckers huddle, small crowded lounge with cable
Some with fear, others with hope, watching our fledgling leader
Hurry, don't want to miss.. smiling at fellow commuter
"We have a new president!", too excited not to speak, pumping gas
He smiles back, "Should I be excited?" "Yes!" I flash
"Should we do cartwheels or pray?"
"Do both!" I reply at the handsome face, pulling away

Radio back on, words of humility, words of hope
Faith in this new leader fills me, brimming tears
Road blurs, fight lost with mascara as tears roll
National Anthem, powerful poem by Elizabeth from Yale
Prayer from a man who walked with a legend
Static returns, gifted pocket of reception drifting away

Cold play explains the speed of sound
Baron desert, beautiful, open and endless
'Continental Divide 7000 ft'
America and her power vibrate through my tires
Peaceful, free, alone I fly across her plains
On this day of monumental promises from greatness

Colin endorses Obama

Amen! Colin Powell, whom I respect very much just completed echoed my fears regarding the McCain/Palin ticket and endorsed Obama! Think my fence is tumbling! :)

The Debate

Finally today I had a chance to sit down and watch this last presidential debate. *Big Sigh* Ok so they both have good points on all of the key issues right now, but wouldn't it be nice if either one would answer any of the questions directly instead of just setting into their speeches instigated by the key topic in the question? And really aren't we all just completely saturated by the whole process!?! Does it really matter? If you are pro one or the other you are jumping up and down right now and saying, "of course it does!". I would say to that, if we paid as much attention to who we elect to the house and senate as we are paying to these two men, we may actually have a government that runs for the people. I admit, I am still on the fence but at the same time feeling defeated because my state will vote the way it has always voted and my voice won't really matter in the long run. November needs to get here and over with so we can focus on the real problems at hand and not the election!

As we enter a new era of economic uncertainty, who ever is in the white house will most likely be consumed with damage control over the next few years anyway and won't be able to accomplish all of the goals they are proposing. And then just like Regan and some of the great past presidents, we will not feel any positive affects from their accomplishments (if any) for many years. There is no quick bandaid to repair the current problems, no matter what either of them say on their soap boxes. Right now the country is in such a state of turmoil and division, I would be worried that who ever is put into office we may see riots and widespread civil unrest. For instance, Obama may be right about Detroit falling behind in the manufacturing of the more energy efficient cars, but pointing a finger at this struggling institution that helped build our country can not be a positive move. He is right that these companies should be accountable, but at the same time he didn't even pause or offer any suggestions as he rolled over that topic in the debate. So it's ok to bail out wall street but "Detroit" needs to get their shit together? I have family in Michigan and they are all very passionate about their industry, comments during a debate like that...when all of America is already suffering is out of line.

Like I said I am still on the fence, this is not an Obama bashing, most of what he says makes a lot of sense and I do respect that he is a brilliant man. McCain has used up all of my patience with his Obama bashing and is just coming across as an angry old man anymore. I respect the hell out of his trials and do see him as a great American. But just because someone is a great American doesn't mean he will be a great president. By the way I started this race as a McCain supporter, but just because Alaska likes Sarah Palin doesn't mean I want her running the country if something happens to him. Not sure about his choice of running mates, just following the approval ratings don't work for me, seems a bit lemming-like. Overall I felt the debate was a lot of what we have already heard and wished I had spend those 90 minutes elsewhere!