I Voted!

November 4, 2008. 6:45am. It's dark outside but just light enough to make out a sheath of frost covering the ground and my breath puffing in small clouds in front of me. Normally sleeping under a mountain of blankets this early in the morning, I'm surprisingly alert. Excited to be waiting in line outside in the cold, jumping up and down and hugging myself for warmth. And I'm not the only one. The 50 or so other people joining me are smiling and buzzing with anticipation. Neighbors call to each other, "Hello, Miss Julia, how are you this morning!" "Good morning, sir! Fine morning isn't it?"

So this is what it feels like to make history. Millions of people all over the country waiting in long lines, some for as long as eight hours, just to cast one vote. Folks standing in the pouring rain at an elementary school at 5:30 in the morning, just to do their civic duty. And all the while, they are smiling and they are proud because they know they are a part of history today. No matter what happens.

Plus, your I Voted sticker can get you all kinds of free stuff today like a free coffee at Starbucks, a free donut at Krispy Kreme, and a free scoop of ice cream at Ben & Jerry's! As if making history wasn't enough...