LOML and I have been addicted to the coverage of this year’s presidential election. We may just have to feed that need by watching reruns of The West Wing and repeat Netflix rentals of The Candidate, Primary Colors, Dave, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in order to bring ourselves back to normalcy.

Sure, we had our favorites, and for a time, we just avoided discussions with those who didn’t agree with us. But today I searched the political blogs for news of the families of both winners and losers. What first felt much like watching families walk out of court after a bitter divorce quickly became more a sense that we are like a big American family that has survived yet another family feud. I wanted to know what kind of dog the Obama girls will take to the White House and whether Joe Biden will miss the folks he’s grown accustomed to seeing each night on that train to Delaware. I searched for news that Cindy McCain will get some deserved rest from the breakneck campaigning she has done for so many months. And finally, I searched for and happily found that Michelle and Laura will share a visit, transitioning as one family downsizes while yet another young family moves into our nation’s family house and makes it home.

Just feeling gratitude to those families who are willing to serve us, with well wishes to them all.