The 2016 Election Process has been tiresome. Not just for me, for everyone. The country has become so polarized over candidates that seem miles apart, even within the parties. Republicans can’t stand Democrats, Democrats can’t stand Republicans and both parties have inner struggles that equal or even surpass in some cases that disdain. Personally I have a growing list of of Facebook Pages I had to put into political “time-out” hiding them from my feed until this thing is over. (Social Media is part of my job and it was getting to me and looking away is not an option). Frustration, Depression, Apathy abounded.
Then the DNC came to Philly and I got to cover it for my station, PHL17 and much of that fog lifted. First, what a privilege to cover ANY political convention of that magnitude. Second, what a pleasure to be on hand for a moment in history that we as a country, broke another glass ceiling and nominated our first female candidate for a major party. It saddens me, and makes me happy (I know weird combo!), that some are so young that they already have seen past this eventuality and are unenthused, apathetic, wishing it were someone else, etc. Those are not the women that came to mind for me however.
No, for me it was about the women in my life I have known along the way that it DOES mean a lot to. I thought of my Mom that remembers a young JFK being the first Catholic prez and telling me how unbelievable that seemed in the 60s, I thought of my South Philly Mom Mom that grew up just blocks away from the convention that never lived to see the moment but would have loved it. I thought of my Godmother and how much she loves politics and has always shaped my opinion, I thought of strong aunts, cousins, my sister, mentors and friends– that reveled in this moment. Whatever you think about Hillary, truly will go away in a few years. History will record her as the first however. And I got completely caught up and swept away in that moment thinking of how much it means to those that mean so much to me.
Here is a taste of how my day went…
Here are some other photos from the day….
