CNN iReport

Today while the St. Petersburg Rays are fighting for their World Series, baseball lives in the cold, rainy city of Philadelphia, we, my husband, daughter, her friend and I went to Early Voting in our hometown of St Petersburg, Florida. With our vote we were fighting for a change in our lives in the United States.

And so was Willie Rayford. Who you ask is Willie Rayford? I didn't know, and still really don't know the full extent of his story. As we were leaving the voting place, I saw an elderly Black gentleman struggling with his walker to get to the door for early voting. After asking him if he minded if I took a picture of him for my ireport on CNN, his face lit up displaying the pride that he took in each of his steps forward both physically and politically. He was voting for the hope that Barack Obama symbolizes for many Americans. Assuring us that he didn't have to wait in line because he was handicapped, we took our leave and goodbyes. My husband yelled back to him, "Slow and steady." He responded repeating the phrase, and in those seconds both knew that slow and steady wins the race. After 20 months of arduous political campaigns, the one candidate who most thought would never make it to the end will be the right choice at the end of 8 years of a bad time.

Before we voted, I had readied myself with my one complete, overall, voting ballot in order to vote in a knowledgeable way. On the way to vote at 1 of only 3 early voting places serving 649,000 voters in Pinellas County contrived by our Republican county of elections supervisor, we talked of the amendments, the judges, the school board members, the property appraiser. We tried to really understand the different things and people for which we were voting.

But the one thing we all agreed on was Barack Obama and Joe Biden for President and Vice-President of our country.

Parking only a block away from the early voting building, the crisp, 60 degree weather gave us a lift to our walks and enhanced the spark in our hearts as we anticipated the long line. As the county security ushered us back along the line, I said in a loud intentional voice that at least this wasn't as long as the line we were in when we saw Barack Obama speak in Dunedin. With that proclamation, faces lifted and smiles brightened the faces of the diversity of voters. The scare tactics of the Republican ticket were not affecting these people joined together as voters of the USA seeking a change from the past, looking to the present and hoping for the future.

When we found our spot at the end of the line, we soon joined in the talks that centered on the voting that was soon to take place. After an hour of camaraderie and discussion, further enlightening us to the amendments and candidates, we reached the door. The pictures that I featured in my report were all met with enthusiasm as I explained that I would post them on my CNN ireport.

After we voted and scanned our ballots, the four of us left, only to meet Willie Rayford, Our delight and hope was confirmed knowing that all our votes will count for the next President of the United States, Barack Obama. Yes, the temperature may be cold for Floridians in St. Petersburg, but we are Hot for our Rays and for Barack Obama.