Hope? A Running Commentary

About 10:00 last night I decided to take a run, from Uptown Minneapolis down to Lake Street and back.

Wheezing along, applauding myself on the decision to definitively quit smoking once and for all, I began hearing shouts --- seemingly from isolated spots all over town --- around 10:15.

Passing by Figlio's restaurant I looked in the window quickly at the big TV screen over the bar and saw a clip of John McCain talking, with the caption announcing Obama's win.

Jogging along the rest of the way home I uttered a silent "Thanks."

Still noting the littered streets, failing businesses, and other signs of poverty, and wondering how much the world could change for some people --- like that guy leaving SuperAmerica gas station lighting up a cigarette, or that one trying to jumpstart his rusted-out car --- I nevertheless had an interesting feeling that somebody had been elected leader who might better represent more of us, but who also represented me. With that I enjoyed a private moment of affinity with all people as I passed through my multi-ethnic, multi-income neighborhood.

Do I think the feeling could be two-way? I don't know. I have the luxury of musing on these elevated thoughts. But returning home and watching the victory speech the persistence of my good feelings was great.

The individual words rang out and the field lights hummed, it seemed, with the subtle echo of what's to come --- reality superimposed --- a sense that the words I was hearing would be heard again, notable in the inclusiveness, forgiveness and hope they carried.