CHANGE is Scary

I think this must have been my first presidential election as a grown up. Maybe it was the first one that I really cared about . . . probably because I'm now a grown up. It was definitely the first election that I felt would actually effect my household.

And now, honestly, I'm a little scared. I don't know what the future holds for our country . . . or for our family.

Before . . . the future was not that big of a concern. If it was something that wouldn't happen in my generation, I didn't give it a second thought. When I voted in previous Novembers, it was for what would be best for me, and only me. Now I have two little legacies that will live on long past me, and I fear what life in our country will be like for them. I can handle this hard time we are facing . . . but I need to know that things are going to be OK for our girls.

Our current president has, more or less, run us into the ground. The United States is in far worse shape than it was when he took office 8 years ago. Our country is in need of some big change -- yes, CHANGE, I agree with. We need it. But, what I don't agree with is electing somebody to change our country that has no experience with changing anything. Frankly, he has next to no experience in the way things are, let alone changing things for the better.

I'm scared that things are going to get worse. I guess the thought is that they might get worse before they get better . . . but who's to say that they will get better? How long will it take? There's got to be a big learning curve for this job . . . and for someone who has such a thin foundation, that curve seems huge. Will he fulfill all these promises?

I'm scared that those people who went to the poles voted for someone without knowing who they were really voting for. On election night, some news reporters were discussing the fact that we, as a country, know very very little about our president-elect. My thoughts on that? "Well, it's a fine time to be saying that . . . here as you are declaring him to be our next Commander-In-Chief."

I'm scared that the life that Jim and I work so hard for is going to change in ways we are not able -- or willing -- to handle. Whether or not he meant it when he talked about "Spreading the wealth" . . . it's still a major, major concern for my family. Jim works too hard to be giving more of our money to the government . . . so they can give it to others. Sorry, that's not how I think our democratic society should run. Call me callous, call me Republican, call me whatever you want . . . I just want to keep our money.

I'm scared that race will play a bigger role in this than it should. Yes, I said it. I'm addressing it. Nobody talked much about race while he was running . . . but last night, the accolades about the first African-American president rang in my ears as I tried to fall asleep. Is that what this is all about? I thought we were voting for change.

We'll see what happens. I hope and pray that I'm wrong. That there is nothing to be scared of. That we will be in great shape 4 years from now, and that I can vote with confidence to re-elect the man that will be in charge come January. We'll see.