During the morning, I can avoid thinking about the election because of the need to focus on my ETN presentation, which goes well. Like the Nuts and Bolts program, I feel as though I have skimped on the preparation time, but my delivery is smooth and confident for the most part. Amazingly, about halfway through the program, I have to put a lid on the discussion so I can get to the heart of my notes.
After driving home, I find that I have no appetite for lunch. I take a container of yogurt out of the refrigerator and methodically spoon out the contents. The afternoon at the library is fairly unfocused. I leave at 4 to pick up both boys at daycare. We eat out at McDonald's -- yesterday it was Burger King -- where I chow down three chicken fajitas, a fast-foot entree I actually find myself salivating over. I'm actually feeling less stressed out, even a bit more confident about JoAnna's chance. I endure a rather comical Common Council meeting, but considering these are the folks that will be voting on the library budget later in the year, it's a frightening display of pigheadedness and ignorance. Before the meeting, Bruce Kaufmann addresses Don in such as way as to suggest that Don has the election in the bag. I remain poker-faced but am chuckling on the inside.
The results are a long time comin'. Yesterday Tim said he'd have all the totals tabulated by 9:15, 9:30 at the latest. Guess again. Considering the speed with which he gets the checks mailed out, I certainly should have known better. Still hoping for speedy returns, I wait with Jim Wexler and Mike Duren in the administrative office. Who should join us but Don and his wife, who seems a real friendly sort but studiously avoids eye contact with me. Once they learn about the delay, they decide to wait things out at the Village Green. I decide to join the party -- in progress at home, the tension mounting each time the phone rings -- and it rings, chirps, actually, every five minutes. Around 11, Jim calls with the news that JoAnna has won, the 1st, 3rd, and 5th districts he clarifies after JoAnna hands me the phone. But the 5th is Don's district so we are heartened. Fifteen minutes later, Jim calls to ask to speak to the new supervisor from the 26th district. I relay the news to JoAnna across the living room and a joyous communal cheer raises the roof. JoAnna takes the phone and I give her the hug of a lifetime and feel the pleasant sensation of my eyes welling up with tears of joy. It's a feeling that rivals the birth of a child. I'm so proud and elated that I hug everyone in sight. It's especially nice to have JoAnna's parents with us to share this fantastic moment. For them it will be a memory of a special time that ranks with the best. It will certainly be for me.
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