this is the beat of a new generation

watching the democratic national convention for hours with my dad and my sister. the idealistic younger sister who still views the world through wide eyes. the stubborn irish father who's been through it all, but still manages to roll out of bed in the morning with a spring in his step, while whistling a tune. all three of us excited about the same candidate, the same potential for change.

i lived in dc from 1996-2000. watched the inaugural parade of bill clinton. worked at urban outfitters when chelsea clinton would come in to shop with her security detail in tow. 

i went to dc to save the world. to study environmental science at 17. to work for a non-profit or the EPA. not knowing how the political machine worked. how life really worked, for that matter. came out knowing the ways of the world. 

right this second, for the first time in a long time, i'm optimistic. 

listening to michelle obama talking about her dad's battle with M.S. i realize that the list i made myself of "ways my life could be worse" should probably be taped to the back of my bedroom door. so when i face each new day i am thankful for what i have, not sad about what i don't have. 

"this is the pulse

this is the sound

this is the beat

of a new generation

this is the movement

this is the rhythm

this is the noise

of 

revolution"

post script...

the guy in the photo above is my great great great uncle. Edwin M. Stanton. he was Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of War. upon Lincoln's death he said: 

"Now he belongs to the ages. There lies the most perfect ruler of men the world has ever seen." 

this quote is even in my webster's book of quotes. 

i've given up dreams of being a big time writer. along with a lot of other dreams. the positive feedback i've gotten from old friends after they read this blog thingy is really the only accolade i'll ever need. 

maybe i have made a difference after all, if only a small one. maybe i got someone to think outside their comfort zone for once. maybe i got someone to remember a band or a trip or a day that made them smile. that's enough for me.