There are a lot of things that I likely should try to remember through words captured and frozen in time, but there is one theme that prevailed this weekend.
Relief.
Is it just me? Or did anyone else suddenly discover that they have been holding their breath for the past four years? I really didn't know it until the words flashed on the TV screen that gave me a reason to exhale. I knew the words were coming, I knew how Pennsylvania would turn out, and yet. AND YET.
Exhale.
We've got a lot of work to do, mountains of it, but step 1 is complete. Now we begin to fight to make sure that all people are given a fair shot in this crazy American life.
These two, for example.
If ever there was a weekend that perfectly demonstrated how very different they are, especially in terms of what they think is possible, this was it. I cut Alexis off from social media and most of the internet early last week because she was waaaaaaay too stressed out about the election. She hit a point of needing updates that simply isn't healthy, so *poof* I fixed it. She was genuinely worried and stressed and had no idea how it would all turn out. Though, if you need someone to tell you what literally every poll was saying leading into Tuesday, she's your girl. She had all of the data right up until I shut her down.
But not Mila. Mila already knew what was going to happen. It quite simply never occurred to her that there was another option. She made her decision about who should be in the White House next year in the most 6-year old girl way possible - she just plain likes Kamala. She thinks Kamala is pretty, wears cool shoes, says smart things, and seems very kind. And she's a girl. Kamala being a girl wins her a LOT of points with Mila. And OF COURSE there should be a girl Vice President. Why wouldn't there be?
So while I was over here in complete awe that there will FINALLY be a female Vice President, Alexis was mildly surprised, but Mila was all, "Well, duh. Girls belong in positions of power." It was a pretty fantastic lesson in remembering that the glass ceiling is moving and there will be differences even just with the 8-year age gap between Alexis and Mila.
Oh, and Mila's line of the weekend is all Kamala's fault. During her speech on Saturday, Kamala mentioned possibilities. If she was trying to inspire little girls, well, it worked. "Kamala said anything is possible so can I have the car keys? I need to go to Target."
Mila was completely serious. In a world of possibilities, even little kids can drive.
I should probably go back to holding my breath, but at least now it will be nervousness about what Mila might do and not somebody taking away basic human rights from entire populations.