After the elation and bitterness comprising Election Day 2008 — elation that Obama won; bitterness that Florida, Arizona, and California voters feel that not everyone deserves civil rights — it's taken me a while to get back up to speed. So, given that the atomic turbines are not yet up to power, here are some scattered reflections.

• It had been years since I'd been called a filthy sodomite. I didn't expect the streak to be broken by a sweet old couple heading in to vote. How dare they call me filthy?!
• Oh, okay, I'm not a sodomite, either.
• There were only a couple of McCain supporters at my polling place. The main one was an oddly-familiar tiny old veteran who seemed genial enough until he got his rant going. And even though he was only there to support McCain, he still went out of his way to tell voters to vote yes on amendment two. It took most of the day, but eventually I realized he was Hank Hill's father from King of the Hill.
• There were a fair number of people who had made up their minds before arriving at the polls, coming in with cheat sheets. They seemed genuinely surprised when I responded with "Thank you for taking the time to consider the issues" and didn't pressure them.
• Working with the SAVE team was a great experience. These are some dedicated, hard-working, and loving people who are giving their all to fighting inequality, and I am proud to have worked them in the past and against Amendment 2, and will happily work with them again. (I miss my buddy Pamela already.)
• Going to News Lounge with the team after the polls closed was nice, even if it was off-the-rails crazy in there. The sadness at realizing that we had lost our fight for equality was ameliorated (for most people) by Obama's win, and being swept up by the amazing and unfettered joy in the room during his acceptance speech is something I'll not soon forget.

The struggle for equality and civil rights isn't over yet, although this is a set-back. As long as I am able, I'll keep working to see that all my friends who choose a life partner can enjoy the same rights and privileges.