November 5, 2008

Good-enough-for-a-venti-but-depressingly-overpriced coffee happens to be my vice. Last month, I so solemnly swore to my health and my Visa that no longer would I use and abuse the power of caffeine so I cashed in all my SB gift cards and bought some tea. Unfortunately, the effect of tea is not as reviving; there is a reason why jasmine-drinking asians go to temple and not to clubs.

This morning, when I woke to the sweet visions of daylight and the murmur of student life, I rolled over in my sheets, and cracked my eyes just enough to see…. EIGHT. FORTY. SEVEN. LIKE, IN THE AM.

Class starts at nine.

I had fallen asleep while listening to the Best Night Ever podcast, and somehow FORGOTTEN that my cellphone, held together by a small sinew of data tape, existed in two pieces and was no longer responsible for my waking up on time!! My eyes were forced shut by disappointment and anxiety, but not long enough to see Karen still fast asleep on her bunk. HER day begins at two (like, in the PM). For about thirty seconds, I was so, so jealous.

Suddenly, it occurred to me that the bathrooms are closed for cleaning at nine daily and I peer into the hall to make sure I was safe. She’s glued to her cellphone - thank the morning lord. As I’m walking down toward the bathroom, I hear her cart approaching.

The grunts of un-greased wheels become louder. My dragging feet begin to walk briskly. Closer, closer. I’m running at this point, and finally throw myself at the swinging door; it flies open to reveal yet ANOTHER cleaning crew, bewildered at the sight of someone with such a disoriented disposition. So, since I couldn’t defeat time to the bathroom or my class, I surrendered and decided to take things at a pace my body could actually respond to. I guess you win some, you lose some .

Pretty much, I desperately needed this three dollar, fifty cent, tall-double-shot-extra-pump-of-caramel-macchiato. The economy is damaged anyway; I might as well uphold my responsibility as a consumer and contribute to the cause.

But on a note of monumental importance - Barack Obama is the newly elected leader of the free world! It felt like these past 21 months of speculation could not be over any sooner; but the speedy election really made it all clear. Congratulations to all of the Democrats, minorities, college professors, rappers, talk show hosts, urbanite youth and stoners who supported Obama with zealous passion through t-shirts, lawn signs, subtle references in supposedly unbiased lectures, borderline propaganda, etc. And, although they have yet to realize it, congratulations to the Republicans, who will now “Hope” - fully live in a country of a more united and progressive temperament. With all of the historic commotion going around, it is an exciting time to be growing up and witnessing the dream of a pastor from Montgomery, Alabama being realized. But I pray, pray, pray to all the higher powers that “Obamz” will truly fulfill the expectations of the iconic symbol he has become. In his Grant Park address, he warned, “The road will be long, the climb will be steep…there will be false starts and setbacks…and we know the government can’t solve every problem…” He is right, and whether or not the country will still support him when they realize it, we don’t know. The faith of African American people, the Democratic Party, and the United States of America rides on Barack Obama’s shoulders. The world is so closely watching, and it is a heavy burden to bear when the issues and problems vexing our country are even heavier.

I think people are going to expect big things right now, right here, and in the right way. I think people want to wake up and feel like America is changed, hopeful, and magical. But when I woke up this morning, my phone was still broken, my bike was still shitty, and the front page still reeked of financial crises. Yet somehow everyone thinks it will be okay because apparently, Change with a capital C is coming. When? We have yet to find out; and will we know when it hits? Maybe.

Amidst all the Obama excitement, I still fear for our new president. I hope that through the corruption in Washington, the maltreatment of the media, and the hellish rigor of politics, Barack Obama will remain true to the spirit of his campaign - trust, hope, and, above all others, reform.