11.02.2010

(slightly beer-soaked) memories of election nights past

1996: Atlanta, GA. The first election in which I voted. For Bob Dole, no less, because I was concerned (no kidding) that Bill Clinton was about to get us involved in military entanglements in which we had no business. I don't remember what I did that night, but being during my freshman year at Georgia Tech it likely involved some combination of heavily salted pre-prepared food, chemistry, and calculus.

1998: I haven't got a clue.

2000: New Orleans. My first big conference. I'm at some crazy party in the Quarter for the launch of some science resource website. (Did I mention it was 2000?) Liquor flows freely. From the balcony, we watch a couple in the hotel across the street have sex, silhouetted against their drawn shades like an X-rated puppet show. When they come out on the balcony after, we give them a round of applause. They come over and join the party, and it turns out that they went to school with a friend of mine, also at the party. (You can't make this shit up.) I'm hit on for the first (and so far, only) time by a guy. CNN plays in the background, and I find it mildly amusing. I wake up with a killer hangover and all hell has broken loose.

2002: Tucson, AZ. I'm in love, recently cohabitating with the woman who will later become my wife. I could give a fuck about the election, as far as I remember.

2004: Tucson. I watch the returns alone with a bottle of Jameson's. I cannot believe what I am seeing. The less said about this, the better.

2006: Durham, NC. We've just moved here, and I abstain out of principle (not yet invested in the local races, don't feel right about casting a vote where I no longer live.) I predict the changes in congress with alarming accuracy, and briefly consider going into political journalism.

2008: Durham. Crammed into Bull McCabe's Pub with about a million other people, glued to the TV. The energy is indescribable. When they call it, people spill into the streets of downtown. I think I see basically everyone I know, and it's one big, freezing party. I hope I never forget this.

6 comments:

RW said...

2010 - Horizontal. At home. After too much vodka. Amused.

Dave said...

1992- Pulled the Bush Quayle sticker off of my car; quite possibly the only kid in my HS with a Bush bumper sticker.
1994 - Watched election returns on a B&W tv because dorms did not yet have cable.

Brian said...

Techwood delenda est.

Taryn said...

Election night 2000 in the French Quarter was a blast. I totally forgot you knew the folks having sex across the street! I also remember getting back to the hotel at 3 am and jumping on top of a sleeping Julie Miller to give her crap about Al Gore losing.

Brian said...

I didn't know them...I think they went to UVA with Lisa.

Taryn said...

Ok, you did say friend. Makes more sense coming from a UVA grad anyway.