Marjorie Seawell

When Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992, I celebrated the fact that my age group, the early Baby Boomers, had finally taken over the reins of leadership in this country. Bush Senior was my father’s generation so I was unbelievably excited that now people like me, who came of age in the Sixties, were at last in charge.

Imagine my surprise last year when many people associated Hillary’s candidacy with the Washington Establishment! Weren’t we just the vibrant new faces in DC? That was "only" sixteen years ago. How could we be "has beens" already?

As I (and my two daughters, I’m proud to say) worked hard for Hillary’s campaign, I also listened as many of my adult children and their spouses spoke of their excitement about Barack Obama. I watched them take their kids to rallies and donate rare discretionary hours to making calls and ringing doorbells. Their passion was palpable – and very familiar. They sounded like I sounded in 1992. They saw in Obama a leader for their future, the world they could envision. He was who they wanted to guide this country forward into the green, global village they dreamed of living in and of leaving to their children. When Hillary’s bid ended, it was a smooth, natural transition for me – and my daughters – to begin supporting Obama.

The reality is I am retired. I am a grandmother. As Bill Clinton often says, I have more yesterdays than tomorrows. Elections are always about the future and our future belongs to my children and grandchildren, together with their age-mates all over the world. Barack Obama is their candidate and now he is mine as well.