The first results are coming in, and so far they are no surprise. The real excitement of the night comes later, when battleground states come down to the wire. But, as I sit here watching votes stream in (including, for the first time, my own), I find myself pondering my life in terms of Presidential terms.

1. Years 0-4: Bush Sr. Baby, Florida
2. Years 4-8: Clinton. Child, Florida.
3. Years 8-12: Clinton. Child, Washington.
4. Years 12-16: Bush Jr. Teenager, Washington.
5. Years 16-20: Bush Jr. Young Adult, Washington. Engaged.
6. Years 20-24: ?, Adult, ?. Married. ???

I was born with Bush Sr. as the presidential elect, and at four Clinton took office. I of course, remember nothing of these times. My first political memory, in fact, takes place in the apartment my family lived in when we first moved to Washington. I was eight and we were watching TV absent-mindedly as Bill Clinton was on trial for some “Monica Lewinsky” debacle. I didn’t really know what was going on, and if I had any concept, I have no recollection of my thoughts. My family was quiet and said nothing memorable.

Fast forward four years or so. Upon leaving the fifth grade, my teacher, as part of her farewell, challenged us to pay attention to the looming presidential election, saying it will shape our futures. I took this to heart and watched all of Saturday Night Live’s presidential debate sketches (hey, I was only 11!). In November, sitting in a middle school portable, I cast my vote in our mock election for Al Gore because he was against the death penalty, though I remember it being a hard choice because George W. was against abortion and was a strong Christian, and I, as a growing believer myself, believed this important.

Then September 11. I got on the bus that morning completely unaware. The bus was strangely quiet, actually listening to talk radio. So I listened too. Two planes had just gone down in Pennsylvania. And the World Trade Centers had fallen. We were all shocked. At school that day no one would let us watch the news. Instead we talked about what was going on. All I wanted to do was go home. And when I did, I dropped my bag and immediately sat in front of the TV, watching the images of the towers fall again and again, fear nestled deep within. Peter Jennings was my anchor of choice. And then Bush came on. And I praised his use of scripture and felt relieved to have someone of his caliber taking care of us all.

The following weeks were unsettling. Rumors of anthrax and next attacks ran wild. But nothing happened. I remained in strong support of our Commander in Chief, ever grateful for his presence and leadership.

The next thing I remember is the lead-up to war in January or February of 8th grade. I remember questioning Bush’s scruples. Really? He was willing to just jump to war without waiting for evidence? Without the UN’s blessing? What happened to not being the world’s police force? Why were we rushing? And then, most shocking of all, we were bombing Baghdad without any firm evidence. And I was outraged. I stood at odds against several of my Christian friends for questioning Bush’s judgment, but did so anyway.

My freshman year, there was a falling out between me and my youth group. The specifics don’t matter much anymore, but I left angry and bitter, and channeled my rage for feeling as though I had been brainwashed into a full fledged political rebellion — to the left. This rebellion was accompanied by my parents’ political awakening and growing outrage at the policies of Bush and their own dash to the far left. By the election my sophomore year, I had myself convinced that the nation would fail and die if Kerry was not elected. The night of the election, my parents and I stayed up deep into the night watching the results pour in, leaning forward as Ohio moved closer and closer and the votes narrowed more and more. The next morning, I crawled into bed with my mom and cried as Kerry conceded.

While this last term has not been the best in American history, I am not sure that we can call it the worst, mostly from my own lack of knowledge of full American history. Constitutional rights have been suspended or ignored (read: Habeas Corpus, right to privacy), torture has been condoned by our federal government, national disasters ignored, wars wagered with no clear plan or strategy or end goals, and more wars threatened. But we have survived. And we will continue to survive, no matter the outcome of this race.

Tonight, I plan to sit here as I did four years ago — watching the results come in on baited breath. But this time, I am much more at ease, in part because my candidate has a fairly large lead in the polls, but also because I sincerely believe that both candidates got where they are for a reason and that both are capable of handling the office. While I clearly believe one candidate more qualified for the crises that immediately face him, and that one will do much better than the other, both candidates can work their way through the issues.

This year is also different because I have done my part. I have made my stand. I have voted for Barack Obama. This time I don’t have to waste my time thinking, “I wish I could have voted…I wish I could have done something.” Now, I can watch the election results as a happy, exciting sports game, complete with pundits, flashing lights, and two colors turning on a map.

And, as I watch with my parents tonight, I enjoy the second time we have watched together, as a family. Yelling at the TV, getting excited, laughing as we watch Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. And I enjoy, sentimentally, a true end of an era. The next presidential election will be different on a personal level. I’ll be a married college graduate. Who knows what else will be changing or happening, who knows if I’ll even be able to come to my parent’s and share in this exciting night.

As I drove to my parents, I found myself wishing that I could have gone to the polls with my dad today instead of using the absentee ballot. Today, for all I know, was my only chance to share my first civic duty with someone I care about and who has taught me so much about the process. But, I am proud still to join the voting masses and I am excited for all the coverage tonight, and the “final” results tomorrow morning.

Happy Election Night!!