Left in awe...

I sat in my chair, looked at my screen and checked the time. It came back 11:15 am, October 29th, 2008. I grabbed my jacket, checked my inside pocket for my wife's camera and started out. I told Scott, my co-worker I was heading out. He acknowledged it and said "Let me know how it is". I walk to the front cork board, move my button from "In" to "Back at 1" and head towards the door.

As I start on my trek, my mind starts to race. It is abruptly interrupted by the stinging cold wind of the North Carolina morning. I reach for my headband and zip up my jacket. I continue my thoughts and try to get them focused. What did I expect to hear? What did I expect to see? Little did I know this outing, this small walk into downtown Raleigh, NC would change me so much.

One of my idols has always been Dr. Martin Luther King, Now that I’m older, I’ve been able to grasp more of what he has done for the upheaval of African-Americans and minorities alike. Sadly, I could only see and hear about his great legacy. Those who lived through it have great memories of the good times and bad times that came from the man who "had a dream". As I was walking, towards another man with a message, one who has lived through MLKs dream, I stop and look around. I see the local Krispy Kreme doughnut shop on the corner, there isn't a spot left at noon. People were inside, but didn't look like they were getting dounuts. I continue my treak to Halifax Park; I am seeing old, young people running across the street, bundled up from the cold wind. I make my way down a familiar street that I see almost daily, be it getting lunch for myself and my boss or running to get gas at the Shell station.

But this time, its different. People outside, a line that was wrapped around; stretched for about a mile. The flashing, blue lights of Raleigh's finest and the whistles and gloves directing traffic through the various one way streets and 90 degree turns. I snap photos and some video as I walk down the street in udder amazement. I text message my mom and dad about the turnout, I call my wife and tell her how the turnout is. As I continue to snap photos, a young woman comes up to me and asks, "What is going on?" I tell her that "Barack Obama is having a rally in the park". She says "Cool, I went to the one in Greensboro, had about a lot of people there as well".

I survey the crowd through the view finder on the camera, I see a Hispanic mother putting an "Obama 08" t-shirt on her 5 year old son. I see a white grandmother, white afro, keeping warm next to her grandson. Of course, you have your peddlers selling t-shirts, pins and buttons. But that moment, this short walk, change my eyes to what the world has become since a great mans dream. In fact, it seems that the dream is starting to come true.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"

I have a dream today!

Only, it wasn't a dream for me, it was reality.