When I woke up yesterday morning it felt like any other day. The alarm clock went off and I hit the snooze button. I laid there dreading the thought of getting up and walking across the cold tile floor. I forced myself out of bed, got ready for work and started off on my long commute to work. I worked my eight hours. Then I started the long commute back home. It was just a typical day, nothing out of the ordinary. And then at 7:00 last night everything changed. I became part of something big; something history making. I became part of the Obama campaign...
It all started Sunday morning. I had gotten a call from the local campaign office inviting me to a campaign organization meeting. I thought it would be interesting to attend, but didn’t really think that I would have much that I could lend. I just figured I would lurk in the back of the room. So I went in with very little expectations. I was more interested in seeing who and how many would actually bother to attend. When I walked into the conference room I was shocked. It was not what I expected. I figured there would be a few college students sitting around. I thought I would be the oldest person there (at 37). But the people who were actually sitting in that packed conference room were as diverse as America. There were Caucasian, African Americans, Hispanics, and Indians. There were senior citizens, middle aged people, and people in their early twenties. In fact, to my surprise, there were probably more seniors present than any other demographic.
The energy in the room was palpable. You could feel to excitement. More importantly, I felt like this is where I belonged. I was surrounded by these wonderful people that shared my beliefs and my hopes for a better America.
The meeting lasted for close to two hours. There were lots of questions asked and answered. It was very positive and inspirational. Some of the people in the room had participated in previous campaigns; some had been very active getting people registered to vote in the primaries; all were interested in helping Senator Obama become the next president.
Towards the end of the meeting, volunteer sign-up sheets were hung on the walls. EVERYBODY in the room got up and stood in lines to put their name on the sheets. In fact, I waited over ten minutes to get a pen to volunteer. At first I placed my name on the sheets for the "Comfort Corps" – the group of volunteers that would help to make sure the campaign office had pens, drinking water, toilet paper...basics so that the staff could have a good working environment. Then I signed up for the "Administrative Corp" – the group that would help organize the office and keep it running smoothly so the field people could be out working. And then I stood next to the "Precinct Captain" sheet.
I admired the people on that sheet. It was something that I felt I couldn’t do. I’m not a "people person" I told myself. I've always had a problem with being shy and introverted. But as I stood there I thought about my kids. I want a better life for them. I want them to know that you can make a difference. I want them to realize that you have to step out of your comfort zone sometimes in order to fight for what you believe in.
So as I was standing there trying to convince myself that I could do this, a man from the campaign came and stood next to me. He must have been reading my mind. He said to me "You can do this". I replied that I wasn't so sure. And then he said "It’s easy, you just have to believe in the message." Was it really that easy? Could I really do this? There were surely many more people that would have much more to offer than me, right??? Even with all these thoughts and doubts spinning around in my head I did it. I signed the sheet. I had to. For the first time in my life I stepped out of shell and pushed down that voice in my head that said I'm not good enough. I became the person that I was always too afraid to be. The person that can make a difference. I did it because I do believe in the message and the messenger. I did it because there is so much at stake and I can't afford to sit on the sidelines and just lurk around. If I want a better life, I have to fight for it. I am now doing that by being an Obama Campaign Precinct Captain in my town of Dyer, Indiana. I will show my kids that you can make a difference.
<div>This morning when I woke up I felt like a new person even though I was so excited last night that I couldn't sleep. I was reborn. I am ready to challenge the status quo! I am now a part of something big; I am part of a movement that will be history making.
To my fellow Hoosiers: Let’s Make This Happen!!! Vote early! You can vote early from now until noon on May 5th. If you are in Lake County you can vote at the Lake County Court House in Crown Point. Otherwise please go here to find out where you can vote.