As I rode home from work last night, Barack Obama had been declared the winner and John McCain had already given his concession speech. There had been on and off rain for a good part of the day, the streets where wet and covered with leaves in many spots. So I took my time, pedaled along and thought about the events of the day.

As I worked my way through Portland I came across a street party, which spontaneously took place on a busy street behind a construction barricade for some street work being done. I stopped to check it out and it was a large group of mostly young people, playing music, dancing, and celebrating Barack Obama’s victory. The police arrived and asked them to move due to safety concerns of having a party in the location, so everyone moved down the street to a parking lot and continued their celebrating. I stayed a while talking to the participants and then decided to continue my ride home.

All along the way home, as I past through different areas of Portland, I would encounter groups of people celebrating and I could not help but notice how many of them where young. Had I driven to work, I would have missed what appeared at first as celebrations of victory, but as I stopped and I spoke to some of the people it seemed these were more celebrations of a new hope. It was great to see so many young people engaged in something they have been so disenfranchised with. They were full of energy and hope. My hope is these younger people continue to stay engaged.

I am glad I rode to work in the rain and rode home on hope.

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