Like millions of other Americans, today marks a day of profound hope for me. Hope for our great nation to shine brightly again in the glow of renewal and unity, of course, but also more personal hope.
I hope that one of my best friends (my college roommate, my bridesmaid, my sounding board, my comedienne) will come home from Iraq soon, soon, soon and that none of my loved ones will have to worry about ever going there again unless they so choose.
I hope that I'll be able to find a good, stable job in Maryland, one that affords me benefits (such as maternity leave) and a decent salary.
I hope they'll leave Alaska alone so that my parents can take that 40th anniversary cruise they've been dreaming about and still have wildlife and wilderness left to see.
I hope that my good friend can marry the man he loves, without question, without stipulation and without boundaries.
I hope that our condo will sell swiftly and painlessly and give someone else the same joy and pride and sometimes heartache that comes with owning your own home. I hope that we'll recover quickly from our own housing crisis.
I hope that Jon and I are blessed with a baby when the time is right and that he or she will never know the word nigger, chink, honky, raghead, faggot, and kike or any other word that's based purely on hatred. I also hope that child will one day say "Yes, I can" and believe it.
I hope that Americans will continue to care about this government of the people, by the people and for the people because for a poly sci/history nerd like me, it's breathtaking to watch.
What do you hope for?
