Greater Than Before

It feels like every decade or so there comes a ‘where were you when ..’ moment. Now, historically those moments have often occurred from a tragedy but the most recent occurrence couldn’t be more different. 

On Saturday, November 7th I was heading to the store later than usual and stopped at the Starbucks near my apartment to pick up my third coffee of the morning.  As I’m standing in line I  get a call on my cell  from Scott (my business partner) and he yells “We won!!” The election had finally been called and Biden and Kamala were our new President-elect and Vice president-elect.  My heart was just about to burst with joy and relief. The days since Election Day had us living in slow motion, in an alternate universe. Waiting, waiting and worrying, and scared. The wait was finally over. But as I  looked around at everyone in the quiet but rather busy Starbucks, I realized that no one else knew. And I had the absolute pleasure of announcing loudly (okay screaming) to the entire place- WE WON!!!!! Everyone burst into applause and cheering. 

By the time I left Starbucks the celebration was in full swing. I walked past my building and looked up to see my two (young adult) kids cheering on our fire escape and after calling up to them and blowing up kisses,  I continued walked down Columbus Avenue to the store. Think of me as a cross between Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever and Hello Dolly.  I called the few people that meant the most to me but at the same time, I was sharing the happiness and clapping and hooting with absolute strangers, who were suddenly not strangers at all. Because in those moments and for the rest of the day,  we were all unified as one. There was no distinction of age or color, of wealthy or poor. There was just jubilation that we were going to have our country back and the hope that now we will all work together in making it ‘greater’ than before.