The neighbors have suddenly put a jack o' lantern on the stoop, four days after Halloween. There may be a language barrier issue.

I wonder what they think about election day?

Many people in the neighborhood probably aren't citizens; there was no wait at all at my polling station, in the basement of the public school on Monitor Street.

I want it to end! No matter what happens, I can never take any pleasure in some people's disappointments. Comes of growing up in such a politically fraught house, I guess; in small ways there's rarely ever a full 'victory.' Democracy's not made for such things, but I'm glad that for the next few months at least some people can pretend it is. That's important, and it's contagious, too.