Serving as a Delegate a Tremendous Honor

I don't take what I'm about to do lightly. I am humbled and honored. I am now getting calls from media, getting last-minute calls from family and friends wishing me well, and it is settling in that I am actually going to a Democratic National Convention. Running for delegate and attending the delegate caucus seems like a distant memory. Recognizing that I actually won an election myself seems like a dream, but starting to think about what I'll pack, planning for which events I'll make an appearance at and knowing that I will be rubbing elbows with some of the more famous and important people in this country is actually giving me chills at this moment.

To think that only two short years ago, I told my wife that I was tired of doing nothing but voting every four years. I vowed that I would do more this presidential election. I had no idea that that innocent statement would land me here. I have met so many dedicated, spirited and amazing people along the way that I feel truly blessed by all of them. I can honestly say that I have never known more wonderful, enjoyable and genuine people in my entire life. If one were to judge a candidate by the people that work so hard to support him and truly admre and cherish him, then Barack is the candidate of not just this generation, but of the last three generations.

On a road that is now taking a wild turn toward the Rocky Mountains and to the aptly named Mile High City, there are have been so many spectacular stops along the way. From sitting in a veterinarian's office and finding myself raising my hand at my first meeting, the group's second meeting to volunteer to become the communications director, to helping to organize and ultimately meeting with a couple dozen people at Martin Luther King Center to fan out across San Mateo County to canvass for the first time, to ultimately hosting city meetings in my living room, this has been an amazing ride.

And now I and hundreds of my fellow delegates will go do what will hopefully be the next big step in nominating the next president of the United States. That awesome responsibility is easily the most important thing I've ever done. I feel like I carry each and every one of my friends, family, neighborhood, city and county on my shoulders as I go to Denver to represent every Democrat at the DNC. My task is clear, but the remarkable thing is that I have never been more sure of anything in my life. I have not had one reservation about the man that I will cast a vote for.

Although the convention will be a tremendous event, one filled with pageantry, memorable speeches and the culmination of a dream when an unknown man who would soon become a new senator made the speech that would launch a national political career that would catapult him on to the national stage and into a presidential bid, this road has a lot of traveling yet to go. We must get out the vote. We must register as many voters as is humanly posible. We must train as many volunteers as we can to go out into every community of this country to reach out to every possible voter and make sure that they get the message that we have all received.

This has been a campaign filled with excitement and spirit, but also one with frustration and some resentment. I have never experienced so many triumphant moments, from surprisingly seeing Barack win the Iowa caucus so handily, to watching a candidate who transcends race getting picked apart by bigotry, fear and yes, outright hatred. But at the same time, I have been so moved and inspired watching a man who never gives up, lives up to his word and tells me every day that we are doing the right thing. Along with the hundreds of people I've worked with in three dynamic and vibrant Obama offices in three separate counties, it is my candidate, the next president of the United States, who lifts me up and encourages me to keep carrying his torch each and every day.

I will hopefully be blogging from either the convention floor or from my hotel room late at night. If you want to follow along and get some of my thoughts, insights, reactions and experiences on a daily basis, you can log on to www.markbrickman.blogspot.com or find me on myBO. My wife tells me that I have finally found an outlet that allows me to express myself and let off some steam, and I can honestly say that if I wasn't able to write my blog every day or so, I'd have probably exploded a long time ago.

So this convention is huge, but it will be just another fun party if we don't get Barack elected president. Let's give it everything we've got. There are only 75 days left until election day. We can all rest on November 10th, but until then, let's go for it. This country desperately needs new leadership. It is time for massive changes, and Barack Obama can deliver those changes. Please join me, my fellow delegates and my hundreds of dedicated volunteer colleagues and let's put everything else on the back burner for a couple more months. We can do this! Let's elect Barack Obama president of the US. This is our time, and if we aren't willing to devote our time to this cause, then when will we?

I am dedicating this blog to my dad, who I sadly lost just after New Year's 2000. On Sunday, the day I leave for Denver, is his birthday. He would be so proud of me right now. He was a staunch Democrat, and one of my fondest memories are of him calling me the night before every election to find out how I was voting. He knew that I had done my homework, and he wanted to discuss his ideas with me. I miss him terribly, and it is for him, my wonderful family, but particularly my lovely grandchildren that I am wishing to make this a better and more prosperous country, a safer world and a place where they can live in peace and where they are free to pursue happiness.