"Seismic" is how the pundits described Barack Obama's speech accepting the Democratic party's nomination for President of the United States.

Shaken free of my cynicism is how I feel right now. I experienced this history with Twitterfriends and my mom on Twitter. Simultaneously I was instant messaging my oldest friend, who is in all ways except biology my "sister," and who was at Mile High Stadium.

And I was also on the phone with my dear husband who is in Europe on business; we watched together. I cried less than I thought I would, but I was much more deeply moved and motivated than I anticipated. I think I needed to be sure that Barack Obama would fight to win in November. I had to be sure Barack Obama would be willing to punch back without hesitation at every insulting and diminishing John McCain/Karl Rove attack lobbed his way.

For a long time, I did not believe it was possible for Barack Obama to win the nomination. I thought Obama was too ambitious and I thought America too closed-minded to vote for this new voice. It was not only that Barack Obama self-identified as black, but that his full name is Barack Hussein Obama. I figured the first black candidate to win a major party nomination would be like Colin Powell or Condi Rice. I figured it would have to be a black person who was a self-described conservative, one who would pledge in some unspoken way not to stir things up too much.

It was another of my oldest friends, a fifty-something, white conservative Republican, political dynamo, who kept pressing her point to me that Barack Obama would indeed win the nomination. At about mid-point in the primary battle she called Obama's victory correctly. But we've flipped now. I believe he will win the presidency and she believes he cannot. This time I need to be right.

All I can know is that I will work in my little corner of the world to make sure Barack Obama wins in November. I feel like we are in a battle for the soul of America right now. I know it sounds like hyperbole, but that is actually how I feel. I want every child in this nation to have the opportunities and support I had to move from poverty to abundance. And I believe only Barack Obama will restore support for the middle class. I've already recruited some friends to volunteer for Barack Obama and I will recruit others. I will call the Obama campaign tomorrow to get busy with voter registration. And on November 4th, I will be supervising a very big precinct and I assure you no shenanigans will be taking place on my watch.

I first saw Barack Obama speak in a small room, with only a hundred or two others, about 16 months ago. He was confident, open, comfortable and whip smart. I did leave that room with my head spinning. I understand the accusations of "Obamamania" because it easy to be seduced by keen intelligence and articulated passion when we have been starving for it for the last 8 years. I am not glassy eyed anymore. I am steely and determined. No matter how this all plays out, I am determined to not be one who will say "I sat on the sidelines."

How about you?