Her very proud father, Scott Thode
Last night I made the 2-hour both ways trip to NYC to vote for our first female president.
Last night I stood and watched CNN in Whig-Clio, feeling the same seesaw of elation and horror as everyone else, as states oscillated between blue and red before our eyes.
Last night I sat on the floor in a circle that represented the best of America. Smart, diverse, loving, thoughtful, inspiring young people whom I am proud to call my friends.
Last night we crowded around a laptop and watched as an America we didn't recognize voted in a president who will never respect us.
Last night I saw people crying and people cheering, people stonefaced with shock and people animated with glee, people in Hillary tee shirts and people in Trump hats. All are people. All have rights. Some see the rights of others.
Today I woke up to a phone full of notifications. Texts and headlines and messages and fear.
Today I sat in a lecture hall and watched as two of my professors embraced in the front of the room, shaking their heads in disbelief. I was reminded of my mother's description of the school on the day Kennedy was assassinated, all the teachers holding each other in shock.
Today my professor opened lecture by asking a series of questions: How do we exist when our outside circumstances don't reflect our inner freedom? How do we express our spirits? When is the right time to speak up or stay silent? How do we deal with tyrants who don't represent or respect our inner freedom?
She was speaking about ancient Rome.
Today I felt the love as 52 of the strongest girls I know and had the honor to grow up with, who are now spread out across the country, came together to support one another, even though hundreds of miles apart.
Today I seek out my communities, and I give and receive comfort and assurance.
Tomorrow we look ahead.
Tomorrow we rally, regroup, and reassess.
Tomorrow we reach out and join hands and create a chain. A chain of understanding, of faith, of trust, of friendship, of love and of humanity. Let THIS be the chain that binds us, and no others.
Tomorrow we spread love.
"In this world and the world of tomorrow, we must go forward together or not at all." -HRC
Sylvie Thode