Day 18 - Eugene, Oregon

History was made today, and I'm just thrilled to have been a witness to it. We spent the day trying not to be glued to the TV (I actually set up a wireless network and laptop for my mum), but this evening went with friends to Cozmic Pizza in downtown Eugene to see the election returns. The place was absolutely full, but we had reserved a table so could sit down immediately. The clientele was very diverse, from my dad (aged 88) to babes in arms, but certainly tended to the hippie - I felt right at home. They had a huge screen covering a whole wall, showing MSNBC live from the web. We had only just walked in when Ohio was announced for Obama - a massive cheer went up, and for every successive electoral upset the cheers got louder, and especially for Florida! There was bedlam when McCain's concession was signalled - people stamping, cheering, jumping up and down. All were quiet for his speech - which I found more genuine and affecting than anything he had said in the campaign. And then - President-elect Obama spoke. His speech is here if you didn't hear it for yourself:

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"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

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Many people were in tears of joy, myself and my parents included; my dad said he felt privileged to have been part of this. America, it's a new and better day!

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