I flew 3,000 miles today, from deep inside "McCain Country" (East Tennessee)to the beautiful blue state of California; and at each and every airport one thing became stunningly obvious: Obama Unites.

People gathered round each of two big screen TVs this morning at 6 a.m., in one of the reddest of red states, watching CNN rerun the Florida Rally from last night featuring The Big Dog. They did not sit. They stood, rapt in their attention; occasionally laughing, often nodding heads in agreement and most noticeably, smiling. They reluctantly moved away only when the plane was boarding, and then they moved slowly. It was evident, something was happening. There was something different in the air.

"I like your pin." If I heard it once I heard it a thousand times as people noticed the black & white HOPE pin with a picture of Barack on it. From there, people just wanted to talk. They wanted to smile, to connect with another human being. It was as if they realized they didn't have to hide their excitement any longer, or worry that the other person supported the campaign of Fear and Hate. If there were those around who did not share the excitement, they were eerily quiet today. Maybe, just maybe, Love and Hope does win.



In Dallas, once more, people gathered in the lounges around the scattered TVs showing CNN. Obama comes on, a snippet of a speech, a news item, they look up. They pay attention, they smile. In the bookstore, a gaggle of people gathered around to discuss my "Hope" pin. Friends made, numbers exchanged, strangers united through Hope - the Hope that Barack is bringing. A waitress gives me the thumbs up sign, an extra bottle of water to take on the plane. She says only, "When you come back through, we'll celebrate."

By the time I reached California, I'd lost the irrational fear of being tarred and feathered by hate-mongers. Instead I was bouyed up, floating along in a sea of humanity and realizing this is only the beginning of the reconnection of the American people. We can see the end of it - that long tunnel of greed and war and hate and fear, of animosity nearly a decade long. Moving into the light, people want only to know others will be there to take their hand, to share the journey.

Obama gives us permission to look at each other again; to share our stories as Americans, united in our struggles and working together for solutions; to give and relish in the giving; to strive together for a more perfect Union. He tells us, it's OK to smile with each other; we're not strangers anymore. The long national nightmare really is almost over. Breathe.

"Thank you." The voice of the African-American woman at the rental car counter. "For what?", I say as she hands me my keys. "For not being afraid to wear Hope", she said, and smiled. Overcome with emotion, as I am often these days, I shook her hand; patted it gently and the silent look that passed between us said, "We're going to be alright."

Finally. We ARE going to be alright. There is something stirring in the air. It feels like Hope.