Just a thought and moment in life to share!

By Michele Wilson

As most of my friends know when something special hits me, I like to share it.  Recently those moments have been about loss or death.  Sad things!

However last night as I walked to the local school, our polling place, to cast my vote and a twinge of joy began to simmer.  

By the time I emerged as one who'd cast my vote, I was in full elation - taking in the moment that I was experiencing - a permanent place in history.

In the history books it would read "in 2008 both a Woman and African American man were running for the most powerful office in the world."   The thought of it just sent chills through me.

Literally I'm walking down the street with a big grin on my face.  You would have thought that my long time love had just popped the question. Or maybe I'd just won a million dollars.

I could not contain my joy as stood at the corner and tried to visualize the smiles on the faces of the amazing freedom and civil rights fighter who had paved this road.  

No matter who you voted for or the cause that you endorse, this is a moment in time, a transition some might say transcendence, that needs to be appreciated.  

What makes it resonate even further for me is, that all of this is happening in the month celebrating Martin Luther King's message of Civil Rights & Equality.

It is amazing that just 100, 50, even 20 years ago both groups were intrinsically treated like property and their voices neutralized as having no real value.  

Now, we have not reached Brahman or a garden of perfect balance and harmony.  We the People still have much work to do.  There are still atrocities to stop, civil liberties to protect, and minds to expand, but for this moment in history I think it is important to appreciate how far we have come.  

So back to me standing on the corner and bursting with joy.  Who would I call to share all this joy with?  My aunt Gertrude!  At 93 she is the matriarch of our family. 

(Yes, I have the live until you are in your 90's gene. Granny 87, grandfather 92 and my great-grandfather lived until 103, but that's another story)  

Aunt Gert is a tell it like it is spitfire who has been honored for work on Broadway, in films, and the community.  She knows her politics.  

So I call her with my glee oozing, because when you are having a joyous historical moment, who better to call than a walking & talking human version of history.    

When she answers I hear the TV in the back ground, she is soaking up the information and sharing with me the commentary.  I know she recognizes the significance of this 

primary and election. So like a reported on the Super Bowl field asking the all important questions, I asked her what this moment meant to her.  

She said "it is a great moment to see because I've seen a lot... , but I'd like to see Obama win because if he doesn't, I don't think I'll have the opportunity to see that part of history."

Two things I took from our conversation and that statement she made.  First, this is a milestone to be appreciated soaked up and seen.  A major event, the next step in history, 

especially for a 93 year old woman who grew up in the deep south.  The other item, and totally off the path of history, was that at 93 she did not say "I won't have the opportunity", she said "I don't think."   To use the word "think" meant she was leaving room for the possibility. One small word that makes a significant difference in how you live and pursue life!  

So lets take a moment to appreciate and keep ourselves open to the possibilities in life and making history.

Just a thought and moment in life to share!

Have a great day.

Michele Wilson

mwilson72@nyc.rr.com