the secret's out...

We've never talked much politics in my family growing up, and voting always seemed such a secret act to me as a kid. My parents would go off to the polling places separately, never discussing their votes afterward... I had no idea who received their support.

So I was surprised when my mom started voicing her support for Obama throughout this campaign. My dad was quick to counter-- it turns out he's a long-time Republican-- and pipe in that Obama wasn't qualified or didn't have the experience. My dad felt comfortable with what he thought was tried and true... and that was to vote McCain.

My mom confessed that after weeks of political talk between them, they agreed to disagree, and they stopped talking about it altogether. She had shown him the Obama tax calculator online and a chart featured in the Tribune that broke down what each candidate believed in and how it would clearly affect the middle class. She told me she tried to get through to Dad that what we had now wasn't working, and it was time to give Obama a shot. Just give him a chance, she said... change was worth a try.

Nothing worked, so she shut up.

They both made for the polling place today and collected their "I voted" stickers...

My dad came out after and confessed...... I voted for Obama.

The secret's out now... change can happen!