I am back from working many hours a day for the Obama campaign in Dallas. It was inspiring, interesting, enlightening and exhausting. One of the best by-products, I lost 8 lbs in 2 weeks. The other best by-product, Barack Obama will win more delegates in Texas than the announced winner, Hillary Clinton.

I have to admit it was quite a shock to arrive at the results watch party and see the main stream media reporting that Hillary had won Texas. For goodness sake, many of us didn't leave our precinct caucuses until close to midnight, so how did they declare Hillary a winner at 11PM? Oh, that would be the popular vote, which accounted for 2/3rds of the delegates. But, as it has unfolded, the other 1/3, decided through the caucuses, are breaking for Obama. I am enjoying the slow trickle of media pundits finally admitting that Obama will 'win' Texas eventually.

Of course, there are two more steps to go in Texas (yes, even after the Texas two-step we have already completed!). We have to show up as delegates to the regional convention and then the state convention. Pierre and I are both delegates - part of an awesome team from our precinct which covers all diversities - age, sexual orientation, race, religion, and everything in between.

Many of us got to know each other working on the campaign and attending the various training sessions. We cemented our relationships in the parking lot outside the polling place starting at 6:30AM. Later that night, it was easy to identify the Obama stalwarts - we were the ones with the beet red faces - either from the ice cold winds in the eary morning or the bright sun later in the day.

During the day as Pierre and I stood on the side of the street waving our Obama signs. We watched the Hillary crowd doing the same. In their midst, however, was Rob Reiner. As he left our precinct, he came over and shook our hands and we all muttered niceties about there being two good candidates, etc. etc.

Now I am planning my on-going strategy. Definitely get involved in bulking up the grassroots Obama organization here in Dallas for the November election. Go to Pennsylvania to work on the next big state. When I sent an email to my ex-husband, whom I divorced in 1972, telling him I was planning on staying with him, he answered, in all caps, "OH MY GOD", which I am sure means he is thrilled to have me!

I am going to keep remembering that the Republicans want Hillary so badly to be the Democratic nominee that there is no doubt they know they can beat her. Keep remembering that watching Bill hug Monica and Hillary talk about the vast right wing conspiracy is DEFINITELY not what I want to relive over and over and over.

I want new ideas and new energy and new people coming out of the woodwork to be a part of taking back our country. And that's what I saw and was a part of here in Dallas where we won Texas for Obama.

Gillian Parrillo
SacWomen