You're gonna be bothered by how cool I am.

I just can't quite believe it's all over and that Obama has really been elected. I'm seeing his face all over the papers this morning, and every time I do, I do a double take and then burst into a huge grin that borders on joyous tears. Because I keep having to remind myself that there are no obstacles left and that we really (and pretty overwhelmingly) chose him. That we really won't hear John McCain talk about Joe the Plumber anymore. That Sarah Palin will be little more than a blip unless and until she starts her (*gulp*) 2012 presidential bid. That we won't hear dubious pundits asking why Obama can't seem to close the deal (by the way, how's 338 electoral votes for closing the deal? :P).

He's really, truly going to be the President. And we'll never say his name again without the word "President" attached to it in some way.

It will be interesting to be here in NYC for Thanksgiving, but not as interesting as it would be to go to the traditional Mississippi Thanksgiving dinner with the aunts and uncles who are so died-in-the-wool Republicans (and a little racist) I almost can't stand it. Oh the things I'll miss hearing them say about a President-elect who's not only a Democrat but a black man to boot.

You know what's funny, though? The only other time I missed the family Thanksgiving dinner, the country had just elected a Democrat, too, when after a long period of Republican rule some upstart governor from Arkansas beat the elder President Bush. I'm sure there was all kinds of whinging that I missed on that occasion as well, and you know where I was when I missed it? Right here in NYC, marching in the Macy's parade. Huh.