I loved the last hours of this election.

First, the pundits nearly pulled muscles trying not to call the election too early, even when the outcome became blindingly apparent.  We heard a lot of hypothetical scenarios like, “Let’s suppose Obama wins California.  Here’s how he might win the election then.”  As it turns out, 61% of California voted for him, and I’m sure we’re stunned.

The lessons of the 2000 election seem to have set in too deeply.  They shouldn’t have jumped on the “victory” button the moment Pennsylvania went to Obama, but they probably didn’t need to wait until California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii all actually closed.

Second, although I generally detest when my neighbors shout “whooooo” from their balconies in the dead of night, watching Grant Park erupt into cheers at the same moment my entire block began to scream “Obama” from their windows portrayed, better than anything that came before, the unifying power of this leader.

Third, I realized for the first time watching Obama’s speech that this election was played “for keeps,” and we have chosen a man to serve as our president for four years.  I’ve forgotten what it’s like to want to tune in when presidents ask to address the nation.  Now we can feel something we haven’t felt in eight years: inspiration.