Welcome to a new and improved America.
Yesterday – after passing out GOTV literature at the train station and voting -- I stopped at Starbucks, wearing all my Obama pins and a lanyard with his iconic portrait that I had leftover from a special event. The barista, a young African American girl, loudly envied my buttons, so I took one off and gave it to her. (I think generosity of spirit will be "in" this season – perhaps along with WWBD bracelets reminding us to think "What Would Barack Do?" before acting.)
A middle-aged woman in line behind me asked how I had acquired all my buttons, and I explained that I had collected them while volunteering for Obama. She nodded approvingly and asked me about the experience. "Are they having a big thank you party for all you volunteers?" she wondered.
"I think the party is that we all get a better country," I replied.