I am so filled with hope and optimism right now I feel like I’m glowing. Sunday night I attended “Women for Obama” a benefit dinner held in downtown Greenville. I had invited a group of my friends and hoped that some of them would show up along with 20 or so others. When I arrived the line went out the door and down the street. The place was filled to capacity and the energy inside that room was intense. I saw my staunch old lady Democratic Party friends, alongside 40-something career women and women of all ages, genders and lifestyles. It was freaking amazing. Everyone was talking loud and laughing and just connecting on some level that you only seem to reach with old friends and close family. Most of us cried at least once and spoke of our hope that for once the right man would get the job. There were many memorable t-shirt and button slogans, my personal favorites were “Old white women for Obama” and the ever-popular “That One”.

The friends I had invited had never met each other and yet by the end of the night we were joking and laughing like we had known each other since college. Maybe it was because we felt comfortable proclaiming our political preferences or maybe it was just being filled with the belief that one man can make a difference if given the right opportunity.

I simply can’t imagine a Republican that could bring together this diverse a group of women united as one. Maybe that’s my prejudice because I certainly know a ton of Republicans including my parents that I love, just disagree with…but you’ll have to admit the John McCain rallies are pretty white-bread.

Monday night I finally made it to my first meeting of Dining for Women, a unique charity founded in Greenville by Marsha Wallace www.diningforwomen.org . The concept is simple; women meet for a potluck dinner and kick in money for various charities. The cool thing for me was that Dining for Women’s chosen charities are mostly international and focused on empowering women. What a novel and inspiring cause. I recently read the book “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and was so taken by the power of one person to truly change the world or a seemingly hopeless and overwhelming set of circumstances simply because he cared enough to try. Mortenson’s way of giving back to the rural area of Pakistan where he once nearly lost his life was to empower children with education. Mortenson and local volunteers began building schools in isolated areas of Pakistan near K2 one of the world’s tallest peaks. He knew that if girls were allowed to attend school along with boys, they would lift up their village by educating others. Mortenson is something of a hero in Pakistan because of his success in building schools and community.

Marsha Wallace seeks to emulate Motenson’s example with her lovely charity Dining for Women. Women of all ages and races are brought together by the common desire to do good and to help others. Former SC state representative Sara Manley was a member of Dining for Women and in fact died of a heart attack while visiting India with a Dining for Women group. My donation to Dining for Women in Sarah Manley’s honor went to help girls of Matrichaya, in Ranchi, India go to school beyond 2^nd grade. I was so gratified by my small part in this life changing venture.

I can’t help but think that my reading of Three Cups of Tea and my visit to Dining for Women were some sort of divine providence. I feel connected and empowered to change not only my country with my vote but the world with my contributions.