In two months, we will be living under a historic era.
Barack Obama, the nation’s first black president, was elected this week by the American people.
While I did not vote for him, he was chosen and we must abide.
To me, the popularity swirling around Obama was similar to that of the JFK era.
Now, those who voted for him have not just made history, but also have become a part of it.
For centuries, we have speculated on a black president or a woman president. For centuries, we balked that it could ever happen; we treated it as a fairy tale.
Yet now, to many, it’s a dream come true.
Some remain ignorant and racist, angered in a black man running the country.
Grow up.
Furthermore, the youth have experienced something groundbreaking — no, not the Phillies World Series win — but something on an unbelievable caliber like it. There are those who lived through the implementation and abolition of segregation, the Prohibition era, the assassinations of MLK and JFK ... welcome to another change in history.
There’s a late rapper named Tupac Shakur, maybe you’ve heard of him, and he has a song called “Changes,” ironically. In it he raps the lyric: And although it seems heaven sent/we ain’t ready to see a black president.
That was recorded in 1995.
Obviously, things have changed — and that’s just the way it is.

Good things come to those that wait.
And we waited 28 years!
Phillies phinally pulled it off — and beat the Rays 4-1 and won the 2008 World Series.
Thank God.
Philadelphia teams had a history of choking in the most dire moments ... like the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX and the conference championships in 2001, 2002 and 2003, the Phils in last year’s Division Series, the Flyers in the 1995 and 2000 playoffs and the Sixers have done it too, in the 2001 Finals (and it’s been downhill ever since).
Now, the Phillies have proven how a team that once sucked can be kings of the mountain.
Thank you, Phils, for making a city proud.
Too bad some in Philly had to ruin the spirit of the moment with vandalism. Oh well.
Even when you win them all, you can’t win them all.
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I’m sick of Joe.
There’s been a slogan recently with the McCain and Obama campaigns using this guy from Ohio as a metaphor for the middle class businessman in relation to tax cuts.
“Joe The Plumber,” “Joe Six Pack,” and someone at the cancelled McCain rally in Quakertown said on Tuesday he wished he was “Joe the Hot Coffee Salesman” after standing in line for a chilly hour.
First, this “Joe the Plumber” reportedly has tax liens, and he isn’t even a licensed plumber. So what’s his qualification? Hey, I changed the flapper in my toilet tank the other day, so I guess I’m “Tony the Plumber.” I also screwed a screw into a piece of wood the other day. Hi, I’m “Tony the Carpenter.”
If McCain and Obama want to talk about real Americans that are affected by this election, then let’s mention some real people, people I know.
Like Bob The Engineer, a self-employed American who managed his own business of custom machining and building for more than 20 years, helped design popular roller coaster cars, put two kids through college and is about to put one more through, saved enough money to pay off the mortgage and recently merged his business with another firm.
There’s Diane The Day Care Worker, who struggled to find a part-time job and landed one watching the children of parents who worked full-time every day, finds time to go home and cook a meal for her family and deal with widowed aunts and an elderly father, cleans the house and pays the bills.
How about Renee The Art Teacher, who influences the lives of teens at Pennbrook Middle School, raises two children with her husband Frank The Hunter/Children and Youth Services fiscal director, and solidified her local legacy with sports paintings on the wall of the Memorial Park ballfield along Line Street.
Don’t forget Gina The Substitute Teacher, who struggles to find the right job, eagerly wakes up each day to change lives of children and still keeps a smile, and there’s her boyfriend, Derek The Rental Store Manager, who works 10 or 11-hour days, makes sure everything runs smoothly in the store and bravely tracks down delinquent accounts in a time when people are struggling financially.
Then there’s me: Tony The Writer, a talented journalist who writes two stories a day for the general public, taking phone calls at the spur of the moment from people complaining about taxes, open space, the economy and the election, listening to the gripes of the common man and woman, telling their story the way they’d like it to be told, and doing it all in 40 hours a week with no overtime.
There’s your real America.
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Halloween is here, and it seemed just yesterday we were getting sand in places where we didn’t think we could get sand.
So, being the kid at heart that I am, I am dressing up yet again for Halloween. Last weekend, Elizabeth and I went to a friend’s Halloween party in Philly, and I got to show off my costume that Elizabeth, her sister Melissa and I have been working on for a couple weeks.
Of course, I am The Joker from “The Dark Knight.”
Weeks prior, I scoured thrift stores and second-hand shops to piece together my outfit. I found some light khaki pants, tie and a dress shirt similar to the one from the film. A month ago, I got some white, black and red face paint.
Elizabeth’s sister did the duty of dying the pants purple — and they turned out great! She and Elizabeth also found a lab coat at the Salvation Army, which was also dyed purple.
She also found a cane, which I spraypainted purple.
I was nervous that I wouldn’t find a green vest. After a half-hour searching at local establishment, I thought all hope was lost. Then, I pushed aside some other imperfect vests and there it was, hidden on the rack.
Everything was complete, except for the gloves. A quick buy on the Internet did the trick.
Yeah, I don’t have a life.
Last Friday evening, before the trek to Philly, I began the process of applying the makeup. It’s been years since I put makeup on my face and I feared my skin would break out.
Well, it was worth it. I mean, it’s the most popular costume this year — even “The Office” spoofed it last night.
I kept my masculinity intact as I applied this mascara-like material I picked up for the eyes and bright red lipstick for the lips. Then, I applied the white face paint.
The only qualm — the green hairspray. It didn’t work as well as I would have liked.
In a half-hour, I was done, and in full Joker mode, complete with Joker cards I collected from various decks of cards over the past couple months.
I may have looked like a freak, but I didn’t care. It would have felt worse if I was single and doing this.
We made it to the party — with Elizabeth as an alluring witch —and the costume was a blast. I was in character and handed out “my card” to others at the party.
Now, I have to do it all again tonight, for Elizabeth and I are hosting our own party.
If I keep doing this, I might get used to it.
In all seriousness, Halloween isn’t for children anymore. You get to be someone else for a night. If there’s any “Dark Knight” fans out there, try the Joker costume.
It’ll put a smile on your face.