please, don't let this feeling end

I arrived at my usual newspaper stand yesterday morning to find that every single paper had been snatched up. It turns out, papers city and nationwide were sold out. Alas, no reading material to occupy my commute. So I took out my notebook and pen and did some writing fueled by the euphoria and inspiration held over from the magical night before.

I watched the returns at the Red + Blue Election Night Party in Brooklyn. Afterwards, we spilled out onto the streets of Park Slope and joined impromptu celebrations along Fifth Avenue. Car horns honked eliciting huge roars from the gathered crowds. Strangers high-fived each other. I practically skipped down the avenue while I let out series of increasingly hoarse yelps and whoooooooooos! Garbage trucks, livery cabs, even a city bus joined in on the happy horn honking. An NYPD patrol car cruised by and instead of busting up the fun, the cops waved to us and sounded the siren in celebration prompting another loud cheer.

After a while, I begrudgingly jumped on the B63 bus to go home. I didn't want the night to end but there was work to attend the next day, or, more accurately, later that day as it was now well past 1AM. So I boarded the bus and exchanged smiles with the driver and every passenger onboard.

We drove past the throng and I waved my arms ecstatically to acknowledge their cheers. A few blocks down at 5th and Union Street, the bus was surrounded by revelers. They pounded on the windows and roared as we pounded back. They danced in front of the bus and delayed our journey. Nobody complained. Normally, if a rowdy mob surrounded a bus, I'd panic. That night, I egged them on.

I felt like I was smack dab in the ending of crowd-pleasing feel-good movie like Lucas or Rudy or whatever. There was no irony or sarcasm to the fist jabs and high fives. It was earnest and exuberant. I still carry the feeling with me. I hope it never ends. I'm going to try not to let it.

This morning, I approached the newsstand and saw that it was sold out of papers again. I was just about to start sulking when my newspaper dude reached under the counter and produced a copy of the Daily News.

"I saved this for you," he said.

He told me that he knew they'd sell out again so he put one aside for me. I teared up, I did. I then thanked him a bunch of times and told him how he had just made my day.

Later in the day, a coworker of mine stopped to chat. Normally, I wouldn't make mention of her race but given Obama's historic achievement on Tuesday night, it's appropriate here. So yes, she's black. During our conversation, she expressed disappointment that she couldn't get a paper today or yesterday. I reached into my bag and removed the special election section from my partially-read newspaper and offered it to her.

"Oh no, I cannot take your newspaper! This is special!" she protested.

"Which is why I want you to have it. I think this holds a bit more meaning for you. So please take it."

I would have held onto it as a keepsake, probably stashed away in a box with other clippings, out of sight somewhere. I knew this was far more than a souvenir for her. It was evidence... proof that she wasn't dreaming. How could I deny her that?

She finally accepted it and we both got a bit teary and we quickly caught ourselves and put a stop to that.

It's an amazing time in America. I don't want the crackle in the air to disappear. Ever.