Well, it all comes down to this. I have voted, and hopefully you have or will too. This election has come to mean far more than any other in which I’ve voted. This is about more than a change in policies or personel, this is about the changing face of our nation.  We, today, take part in history.

Personally, I cannot think about much else. It will be difficult to focus on my work while my mind wanders to election returns and exit polls and the associated hopes and fears. Even last night at the less-than thrilling Redskins game, it was difficult to keep one’s mind from the election. Fans on the ‘jumbo-tron’ produced Obama signs. Talk wound around to the notion of the Redskins as a barometer for Presidential elections* and to when and where everybody had to vote in the morning. (Glad I voted on Saturday!)

I’ve been watching polls (electoral-vote.com, Real Clear Politics), watching too much CNN (Amy likes that Anderson Cooper, anyway), and living on Huffington Post.com. I’ve gotten into friendly discussions and heated debates. I’ve shouted “O-Ba-Ma!” as I passed a republican campaigning at the Metro yesterday. I’ve done this a few times around town. Not aggressive or in-their-face, just loud and in no one’s direction as I passed. My brief counter to their campaign.

I think living near and working in Washington, D.C. plays a significant role in this stress. It goes without saying that politics is the blood of this city. It’s also the bones and the bowels. I sometimes wonder if being geographically removed from D.C. would allow me to divest some of my focus as it’s utterly inescapable when you are here. This morning, for example, as I left the Starbucks near my office with my free coffee, I found myself holding the door for the next two patrons; secret Service officers from the security detail of a major political figure who happens to reside in that building when in town. This is everyday life. You look not for regular traffic when stepping into the street, but for armed motorcades. They don’t stop for pedestrians.

I’m so wrapped up in this thing that I won’t sleep tonight unless I know a result. I’m running on a stong simmer and in danger of boiling over. I passed a staff member as I entered Starbucks. As she walked outside, she took one look at me and said, “You voted, ask for your free coffee.” I stood stunned for a moment and I looked down to confirm that my “I Voted” sticker was still hidden underneath my coat.

She must have read it in my eyes.

Come tomorrow, you’ll be able to read the results in my eyes, too.

^*Snopes suggests that the streak was broken in 2000 but, if you count all of the votes, it was not.