Perhaps I should be, but times are too dire to pretend it doesn’t matter who’s in charge.

I’ve voted early, as we can here in North Carolina. There was a long but happy crowd, tempers were upbeat, polling staff were tired but thorough and things went smoothly.

I was with our youngest son who gleefully cast his first ever vote in a presidential race. Obama all the way. He is truly excited about the chance to make a difference.

I voted the same way, and am equally happy to be able to possibly help bring North Carolina into the blue column and maybe make Senator Obama’s victory all but certain.

I’m a real estate agent and it kind of sucks to be one right now. But I know this rough patch will pass. And I’m only inconvenienced - not seriously impacted - by the economic flu with which the country is currently dealing. My kids are smart, happy, safe (one newly married and preparing to buy a house - not from me because they cruelly decided to stay in Tennessee for a while, way on the other side of the mountains from us), my husband’s business is doing well, we are still in love after 28 years, and all is right. So, while real estate is a challenging field in which to make a living right now, I’m fine.

But the country? Not so much. And now’s the time to do something about it. Voting presents us with that chance.

You know, one wonders how things could have gone so terribly wrong so quickly. My theory is that we as fortunate Americans have come to feel that our country will always be fine no matter what. That the momentum of our past successes and the natural resources and expansive talents of many of our citizens will keep things moving in a positive direction.

But that’s just not the case. We have to work at these things. Protect them. Cherish and nurture them. We’ve been glib and wasteful. But it’s not too late.

Vote. I hope you’ll vote for Obama. But either way, take part in the process.

[As an aside, if you want to read a funny bit about the election as it winds down, check this out.]

Tags: politics